Hiera Pachi,
or Hiera Archigenis,
or Hiera Diacolochyntidos
The Hiera of Pachius
or, Hiera of Archigenis
Tradition:
Western
Source / Author:
Scribonius
|
Herb Name |
Latin |
Amount * |
|---|---|---|
|
Citrullus colocynthus |
| |
|
Fomitopsis officinalis | ||
|
Teucrium chamaedrys | ||
|
Marrubium vulgare | ||
|
Lavendula stoeachs |
10 oz. ea. | |
|
Ferula persica | ||
|
Petroselinum cripsum | ||
|
Aristolchia spp. | ||
|
Piper album |
5 oz. ea. | |
|
Nardostachys jatamansi | ||
|
Cinnamonum zeylanicum | ||
|
Commiphora molmol | ||
|
Crocus sativus |
4 oz. ea. |
Preparation:
The gums are macerated overnight in Honey-water or Wine, then strained; these are then mixed with the Honey (3 lbs., 3 oz., & 5 drams) and boiled gently together, after which the others in powder are gradually added, stirring consistently, adding the Saffron, Agaric and Colocynth alone at the end. Form an electuary.
Function:
Purges Melancholy, Purges the Head and Stomach, settles Wind and guides Qi down.
Use:
Used in all Chronic diseases
1. Epilepsy
2. Vertigo (for which it was called specific)
3. Headache
4. Nightmare
5. Mental Illness
6. Melancholy
7. Dementia
8. Classed as Exhilarative
9. Liver obstruction with foul humors
10. Abscesses
11. Hardness of the Liver or Spleen
12. Scrofula
13. Cancer
14. Leprosy, Elephantiasis
15. Coma
16. Stubborn Amenorrhea
17. Sciatica
18. Venemous Bites including Snake and Rabid Dog bite
Dose:
½–1, or 2 drams, taken in infusion of Thyme
Cautions:
1. This is elegantly formulated, but still a strong purge, and therefore only suitable in strong bodies
2. Not used during Pregnancy
Modifications:
Some added Opopanax with the Sagapenum.
The author was uncertain. Some attributed it to Ruffus, others to Archigenus (Aetius called it Hiera of Archigenus). Pharmacopoeia Augustana listed Nicholas Alexandrius (Nicholas Myrepsus) as the author.
One account of the story of its origin goes like this: Scribonius Largus, Physician to Emperor Tiberius (52 CE.) said that this formula was in high demand, and that large sums of money had been offered for the formula. When Pachius (the supposed author) died, a book containing the formula dedicated to Tiberius was found. The Emperor handed it to his court Physician, Scribonius, who published it.
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“Oribasis attributes this Hiera to Ruiffius; Paulus, to Archigenus; Seribonius Largus, to Pacchius: yet he was not the first author, but a prudent celebrator thereof, who getting much lucre thereby kept it to himself as a hidden Secret, till his death. When he was dead its description, as it is here given, was brought to Tiberius Caesar, from whom Scribonius got it, who before that time was by no art able to extort it. Aetius calls it sometimes the Hiera of Archigenus, sometimes of Antiochus; and we call it Pachius his Hiera: and it is thus made
Sarpagenum, Opopanax, and Myrrhe, must be macerated. a whole night in Hydromel or Wine, rather then Vinegar; then trajected through a strong strainer, that all their impurer parts may, be secerned; afterwards mixed with despumed honey. Together other pulverated simples: but Saffron, Agaric and Coloquintida, must be brayed apart; and 1n the pulveration of Coloquintida a drop or two of Oil put to it, that its vertue may not exhale, and that its pulveration may be more facile: yet its pulp must only be assumed, and white Horehound rather then black.
Pacchius his Heira is efficacious to many things; for it cures the Epileptical, the furious, vertiginous, cephalalgicous [headache], suspirious [heavy breathing], anhelant [shortness of breath], comatous, and such as are obnoxious to the Incubus [nightmares], and other affections of the eyes, ears, and head. It purges also the Stomach, emends the affections of the Liver, takes away the sand in the spleen, and diminishes its hardness; auxiliates [assists] the diseases of the intestines, discusses or opens imposthumes [abscesses], either already made there, or in making; and moves flours [menses] in such women as can hardly be purged [ie. with stopped menstruation]”. (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)
Out of a number of similar and related formula, Renodeus said “But we prefer Hiera of Pacchius before them all, which we call Magisterial because of the excellency of its basis and faculties. He that has this, may easily be without all the Hiera’s which admit Coloquintida [Colocynth]’.
The Hiera formulas are purgative drugs compounded with their correctives to reduce side effects, help relieve the condition, and which are gentle in action.