Electuarium Ducis
Electuary for a Duke

Tradition:

Western

Source / Author:

Nicholas

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Aniseed	Pimpinella anisum	2 dr., 15 gr.
Licorice	Glycyrrhiza glabra
Mastic	Pistacia lentiscus	2 scr.. 5 gr. ea.
Germander	Teucrium chamaedrys
Cinnamon	Cinnamonum zeylanicum
Ginger	Zingiber officinalis
Galangal	Alpina officinarum
Fennel seed	Foeniculum vulgare
Caraway seed	Carum carvi	1 scr., 15 gr. ea.
Cassia Wood	Cinnamonum cassia
Calamint	Calamintha officinalis
Carrot seed	Daucus carrota
Pellitory	Anacyclus pyrethrum
Long Pepper	Piper longum
White Pepper	Piper album
Cyperus	Cyperus rotundus
Orris	Iris germanica
Schoenanth	Cymbopogon schoenanthus
Amomum	Amomum subulatum
Indian leaf	Cinnamonum tamala
Asarabacca	Asarum europeum	1 scruple ea.
Sa ffron	Crocus sativus
Gum Arabic	Acacia arabica
Tragacanth	Astragalus tragacanth
Cubeb	Piper cubeba
Clove	Eugenia caryophyllus
Balsam	Commiphora opobalsamum
Cardamon	Elettaria cardamomum
Juniper	Juniperus communis
Nutmeg	Myristica fragrans
Aloeswood	Aquillaria agallocha
Lovage root	Levisticum officinale
Flower-de-Luce	Iris germanica
Rhubarb	Rheum palmatum
Cinquefoil root	Potentilla reptens
Indian Spikenard	Nardostachys jatamansi
Calamus	Acorus calamus
Red Behen	Salvia hemotodes
White Behen	Centaurea behen
Siler Montane seed	Siler montanum
Alexander seed	Smyrnium olusatrum
Dill seed	Anethum graveolens
Asparagus seed	Asparagus officinale
Lemon seed	Citrus limonum
Amomum seed	Amomum subulatum
Clove	Eugenia caryophyllus
Basil seed	Ocinum basilicum
Gromwell seed	Lithospermum officinale
Saxifrage seed	Pimpinella saxifraga
Chicory seed	Chicorium intybus
Macedonian Parsley seed	Petroselinum macedonicum
Melon seed	Citrullus vulgaris
Gourd seed	Lagenaria vulgaris
Pumpkin seed	Cucurbita pepo
Cucumber seed	Cucumis sativus
Storax	Styrax officinalis	25 grains ea.
Sugar Penid	Penidium	4 oz., 2 1⁄2 scr.

Preparation:

Powder and prepare an Electuary with three times their weight of Honey

Function:

Warms and strengthens the Stomach and Spleen, benefits Digestion, moves Qi, promotes Urine, clears Stones

Use:

1. Indigestion
2. Poor appetite
3. Nausea, Vomiting
4. Wind-Colic
5. Internal Coldness
6. Promotes Urine in Cold bodies
7. Gravel and Stones “for which cause it was principally ordaine” (Wirtzung)

Dose:

1–1 1⁄2 or 2 drams

Comment:

Wirtzung (1598) said “This Confection was prepared for a Duke”. As was common with medicines prepared for Royalty, the medicine invariably tastes sweet and pleasant.
Nicholas (Antidotarium) said “It is called the Electuary of the Duke because the Abbot of the Court composed it for the Duke Rogerius son of Robert the Vicar“.