Electurium Passer Cerebrus
Or, Electuarium Fertilitas
Electuary of Sparrow’s Brains
Or. Electuary to Promote Fertility

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Wirtzung

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Sparrows Brains	Cerebullum Passer	50
Testicles of a Boar	Testiculus Aper	1 pair
Testicles of a Fox	Testiculus Vulpes	4 pair
Genitals of a Stag	Genitalis Cervus	1⁄2 oz.
Yellow Turnip root	Brassica rapa
Sea Holly root	Eryngium maritinum
Orchis confected	Orchis spp.	3 1⁄2 oz. ea.
Cinnamon	Cinnamonum zeylanicum
Bull Genitals	Genitalis Taurus
Pine Nuts	Nux Pinea
Dates	Diospyros lotus
India Nut	Cocos nucifera	2 oz. ea.
Long Pepper	Piper longum
Ginger	Zingiber officinalis
Rosemary fl owers	Rosmarinus officinalis	1⁄2 oz. ea.
Nettle seed	Urtica dioica
Cloves	Eugenia caryophyllus
Sa ffron	Crocus sativus
Mace	Myristica fragrans
Galangal	Alpina officinarum
Cyperus roots	Cyperus rotundus
Nutmeg	Myristica fragrans
Cassia Wood	Cinnamonum cassia
Seseli	Siler trilobum
Cubebs	Piper cubeba
Doronicum	Doronicum hookeri
Wild Mint	Mentha arvensis
Pennyroyal	Mentha pulegium
Indian Spikenard	Nardostachys jatamansi
Musk	Moschus
Ambergris	Ambre gris	1 dram ea.

Preparation:

Powder, and with White Sugar refined in Water of Mints 4.5 lbs., form a Confection.

Function:

Warms and strengthens Kidney Yang, promotes Fertility

Use:

1. Infertility in male or female associated with Kidney Yang deficiency
2. Impotence, Frigidity

Dose:

1⁄2–1 dram daily

Comment:

Electuary of Sparrows Brains is still listed in the modern Unani Formularly, also used for Impotence and Infertility. It is uncertain if the use of Sparrows brains was imported from the Arabs, or exported to them. It is therefore uncertain where the origin of this formula is from.
Chinese Kidney Yang tonics also often use testes and or pizzle of Bulls or Stags for similar purposes.

The use of animal testicles and genitals to increase Yang in Impotence and Infertility, and as aphrodisiacs is common throughout Traditional Medicine systems around the World, and is still common in TCM. They are rich sources of testosterone and other androgens, as well as being rich in nutrients such as Zinc. They are often made into compound Tinctures in which form this could be used.

‘This Confection may be both by Men and Women used in the morning fasting, and in the evening when they go to bed, whereof have been great wonders seen’. (Wirtzung)