Diaprassium
Electuary of Horehound

Tradition:

Western

Source / Author:

Nicholas (Luminare Majus, 1551)

Herb Name

Latin

Amount *

Horehound

Marrubium vulgare

5 1⁄2 drams

Tragacanth

Astragalus tragacanth

Pine nut

Nux Pinea

Sweet Almonds

Prunus amygdalus dulcis

Pistachio

Pistachio verum

Date

Diospyros lotus

Fig

Ficus carica

Raisins

Vitis vinifera

3 1⁄2 drams ea.

Cinnamon

Cinnamonum zeylanicum

Clove

Eugenia caryophyllus

Nutmeg

Myristica fragrans

Mace

Myristica fragrans

Aloeswood

Aquillaria agallocha

Galangal

Alpina officinarum

Zedoary

Curcuma zedoaria

Ginger

Zingiber officinalis

Indian Spikenard

Nardostachys jatamansi

Licorice

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Rhaponticum

Rheum rhaponticum

Anacardium

Anacardium occidentale

Storax

Styrax officinalis

Mastic

Pistacia lentiscus

Myrrh

Commiphora molmol

Galbanum

Ferula spp.

Terebinth

Pistacia spp.

Orris

Iris germanica

Round Birthwort

Aristolchia spp.

Caper root bark

Capparis spinosa

Gentian

Gentiana lutea

Black Pepper

Piper nigrum

Aniseed

Pimpinella anisum

Fennel seed

Foeniculum vulgare

Dill seed

Anethum graveolens

Macedonian Parsley seed

Petroselinum macedonicum

Saxifrage

Pimpinella saxifraga

1 1⁄2 dr, 2 1⁄2 gr. ea.

Colchicum

Colchicum autumnale

Oregano

Oreganum vulgare

Hog Fennel

Peucedanum officinale

Squinanth

Juncus odoratus

Cardamon

Elettaria cardamomum

White Pepper

Piper album

Caraway

Carum carvi

Lovage

Levisticum officinale

Swallow-wort

Vincetoxicum officinale

1 1⁄2 drams ea.

Balsam herb

Chrysanthemum balsamita

Pennyroyal

Mentha pulegium

Dittany

Dictamnus albus

Costus

Saussurea lappa

Pellitory

Anacyclus pyrethrum

Savory

Satureja montana

Basil

Ocinum basilicum

Long Pepper

Piper longum

Amomum

Amomum subulatum

Wild Parsley

Petroselinum spp.

Orobus

Vicia orobus

1 dram, 2 gr. ea.

Balsam wood

Commiphora opobalsamum

Cassia Wood

Cinnamonum cassia

Red Coral

Corallum rubrum

Ivory

Eboris

Balsam fruit

Commiphora opobalsamum

Cretian Carrot

Daucus spp.

1⁄2 dram ea.

Musk

Moschus

Ambergris

Ambre gris

Bone of a Stag’s Heart

Os Cordis Cervii

4 grains ea.

Preparation:

Powder and with three times their weight of clarified Honey, form an Electuary.

Function:

Clears Cold Phlegm, strengthens the Lungs, stops Cough and Wheezing, opens Obstructions

Use:

“Effective for all coldness of the chest. and especially for Catarrh and coldness of the Brain. cures Vertigo and cloudiness of the Eyes … and every kind of Catarrh which is caused by coldness it is wonderfully beneficial, and relieves the pain of the Teeth”. (Nicholas, Antidotarium)
1. Cough with Cold Phlegm
2. Asthma
3. Wheezing
4. Tightness of the Chest

5. Pain of the Lungs
6. Catarrh from Cold
7. Debility of the Stomach with Cold and Damp
8. Stomach Pain or Spasms
9. Also for Cold diseases of the Liver and Spleen
10. Obstruction of the Liver, Spleen or Abdominal organs with Cold Phlegm
11. Liver pain from Cold, Damp and Qi stagnation
12. Cold diseases of the abdominal organs
13. Pain of the Abdominal organs
14. Strangury
15. Dysuria
16. Kidney disease with Cold Phlegm or Damp
17. Disease of the Head from Cold and Phlegm
18. Darkness of Sight; Dull, Dim or Weak Eyesight
19. Vertigo
20. Toothache

Dose:

2 drams

Comment:

This is an extraordinarily large formula, yet was highly regarded by older Physicians. It is primarily for Cold Phlegm diseases of the Lungs. It is also used for Cold, Phlegm or Damp of the Liver, Spleen, Stomach, Kidneys or Head.

It is possible to use this formula as a basis, but to greatly simplify it.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. To clear Cold Phlegm from the Lungs, it was combined with Diaireos
2. This can be greatly simplified. The source text says regular Parsley can be used in instead of Wild Parsley; the large number of seeds of the Apiaceae can be reduced, the spices also lessened and some of the medicines can be omitted, such as Colchicum, Swallow-wort, Anacardium, and the animal medicines.

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