Latin Formula Names
Many Formulas used in the Western Tradition were known by their Latin names.
- Many formulas are named after their primary ingredient, but sometimes are named after their function or origin etc.
- The Latin naming of a formula often begins with ‘Dia’, effectively meaning ‘Compound’. So, Diacinnamonum is a Compound of Cinnamon.
- Sometimes the common English name for the formula is not a correct translation of the Latin name, but we have used them as they are the name most commonly used in English texts.
- It is common to have the authors name associated with some formulas as there may be a number of formulas of the same name, usually with similar functions, but penned by different authors.
A Few Basic Latin terms:
Antidotus – Antidote, Remedy
Aromaticum – Aromatic
Calidum – Warm
Compositus – Composition, Compound
cum – with
de – of
Dia – Compound
Frigidum – Cold
Magnum, Magnus – Greater
Majores – Greater
Minores – Lesser
Pro – for
Simplex – Simple
Tri, Trion – Three
Latin Formula Names with Their English Translations
Aloe Rosata – Rosed Aloes
Aloes Violatum (Grulingus) – Angelical Pills, Frankfurt Pills, or Aloes Violated
Alphenicum (Bulcasis) – Penids, or Sugar Penids
Antidotus Analeptica (Nicholas) – Restorative Electuary
Antidotum Haemogogum (Nicholas) – Electuary Provoking Menstruation
Antidotum Orvietanum – The Orvietan Antidote
Aromaticum Caryophyllatum (Mesue) – Aromatic Clove Powder
Aromaticum Rosatum (Gabriel) – Aromatic Rose Formula
Benedicta Laxativa (Nicholas) – The Blessed Laxative
Confectio Alkermes Regia (Mesue) – Royal Confection of Kermes
Confectio Hamech (Fernel) – The Arabian Confect Purging Melancholy
Confectio Humain (Mesue) – Eyebright Confection
Confectio de Hyacintho – Confection of Hyacinth
Diabalzemer – Electuary of Senna
Diacalaminthe Simplex (Nicholas) – Lesser Calamint Powder
Diacalciteos (Mesue) – Plaster of Palm, or Plaster of Chalcite
Diacarthamum (Arnold de Villanova) – Electuary of Safflower
Diacatholicum (Nicholas) – Catholicum, Universal Purging Electuary
Diachilon Magnum – Greater Diachilon Plaster, or Greater Mucilaginous Plaster
Diachilon Simplex – Simple Diachilon Plaster, or Simple Mucilaginous Plaster
Diachioln cum Gumme (Mesue) – Plaster with Gums, Compound Mucilaginous Plaster, or Mucilaginous Plaster with Gums
Diacinnamomum (Mesue) – Compound Cinnamon Powder
Diacorallion Compound – Coral Electuary
Diacorum (Mesue) – Electuary of Calamus
Diacrocon (Mesue) – Electuary of Saffron
Diacurcuma (Mesue) – Electuary of Saffron
Diacydonium Compositae – Electuary of Quinces Compound
Diacydonium Simplex – Simple Electuary of Quince
Diacydonium cum Spicatum – Electuary of Quinces with Spices
Diagalangae (Mesue) – Compound Galangal Powder
Diaireos Salomonis (Nicholas) – Electuary of Orris Root
Diamargariton Calidum (Avicenna) – Warming Pearl Powder
Diamargariton Frigidum (Nicholas) – Compound Cooling Pearl Powder
Diamascenum (Nicholas) – Electuary of Prunes
Diambra (Mesue) – Ambergris Powder
Diamoschu Amarum (Mesue) – Bitter Powder of Musk
Diamoschu Dulce (Mesue) – Sweet Powder of Musk
Dianisum (Mesue) – Compound Powder of Aniseed
Dianthos (Nicholas) – Compound Rosemary Powder
Diapenidion Magni (Nicholas) – Sugar Penid Compound with Spices, or Greater Sugar Penid Compound
Diapenidon Compositum (Nicholas) – Sugar Penid Compound with Spices, or Greater Sugar Penid Compound
Diaprunis Laxattivuum – Solutive Electuary of Prunes
Diarrhodon Abbatis (Nicholas) – The Abbots’ Confect of Roses
Diasatyrion (Nicholas) – Electuary of Satyrion, or Orchid
Diascordium – Electuary of Scordium
Diasebeten – Electuary of Sebestens
Diasenna (Nicholas) – Electuary of Senna
Diaseptum – Electuary of Centaury, or Electuary of Seven Things
Diaspermaton – Electuary of Seeds
Diatessaron (Mesue) – Theriac of 4 Ingredients
Diatragacanth Calidii (Nicholas) – Tragacanth Warming Powder
Diatragacanth Frigidum (Nicholas) – Tragacanth Cooling Powder
Diatrion Piperion (Galen) – Powder of Three Peppers
Diatrion Santalon (Nicholas) – Powder of Three Sandalwoods
Diaturbith cum Rhubarbaro – Turbith Powder with Rhubarb
Diaturbith cum Sennatum – Turbith Powder with Senna
Diaturbith Magnus – Greater Turbith Powder
Dia Zingiber (Nicholas) – Electuary of Ginger
Diospoliticum (Galen) – Lesser Cumin Composition or, The Egyptian Confect
Electuarium Aurum Ovi – Electuary of Eggs or ‘The Golden Egg’
Electuarium Catholicum (Nicholas) – Catholicum, Universal Purging Electuary
Electuarium Cassiae (Nicholas) – Electuary of Senna
Electuarium Centaurium – Electuary of Centaury, or Electuary of Seven Things
Electuarium Croci (Mesue) – Electuary of Saffron
Electuarium de Baccis Lauri – Electuary of Bayberries
Electuarium de Calamintha (Galen) – Electuary of Calamint
Electuarium de Cineribus – Confection of Ashes
Electuarium de Citro – Electuary of Citron
Electuarium de Ovo (Maximilian) – Electuary of Eggs or ‘The Golden Egg’
Electuarium de Sebesten (Montagnana) – Electuary of Sebestens
Electuarium de Succo Rosarum (Mesue) – Electuary of the Juice of Roses
Electuarium Diaphoenicon (Mesue) – Electuary of Dates
Electuarium Diaprunis Lenitiva (Nicholas) – Electuary of Prunes
Electuarium Diaprunis Solutive – Solutive Electuary of Prunes
Electuarium Diaspermaton – Electuary of Seeds
Electuarium Ducis (Nicholas) – Electuary for a Duke
Electuarium Hystericum (Schroder) – Electuary for the Womb
Electuarium Lenetivum (Rhasis) – The Lenitive or Mild Electuary
Electuarium Micleta (Nicholas) – Electuary of Micleta
Electuarium Nucis (Mithridate) – Electuary of Nuts
Electuarium Orvietanum – The Orvietan Antidote
Electuarium Papus Innocentii – Electuary of Pope Innocent Against Blindness
Electuarium pro Vertigo – Electuary of Great Virtue for Vertigo
Electuarium Regale (Mesue) – Royal Electuary
Electuarium Regina Colenii – The Queen of Colen’s Electuary
Electuarium Resumptivum (Nicholas) – Restorative Electuary
Electuarium Sanum et Expertum (Mesue) – A Sound and Experienced Electuary
Electuarium Scoria Ferri (Rhasis) – Electuary of the Flakes of Iron
Electuarium Sennatum – Electuary of Senna
Electuarium Zingiber Lenitiva – Laxative Electuary of Ginger
Emplastrum Album Coctum – White Plaster of Ceruse
Emplastrum Apostolicon (Mesue) – The Plaster of 3 Medicines, and The Apostles Plaster
Emplastrum De pelle Arietina – Plaster of a Ram’s Skin
Emplastrum de Baccis Lauri – Plaster of Bayberries
Emplastrum Barbarum Magnum – Greater Plaster of the Surgeons
Emplastrum Basilicum Magnus (Mesue) – Basilicum the Greater, or Basilicum of the Chirurgians
Emplastrum Basilicum Minus (Mesue) – Lesser Basilicum, or The Plaster of 4 Ingredients
Emplastrum de Betonica Magnus – Greater Plaster of Betony
Emplastrum de Cerussa (Rhasis) – Plaster of Ceruse
Emplastrum Diachilon Magnum – Greater Diachilon Plaster, or Greater Mucilaginous Plaster
Emplastrum Diachilon Simplex – Simple Diachilon Plaster, or Simple Mucilaginous Plaster
Emplastrum Diachioln cum Gumme (Mesue) – Plaster with Gums, or Compound Mucilaginous Plaster, or Mucilaginous Plaster with Gums
Emplastrum Diapalma (Mesue) – Plaster of Palm, or Plaster of Chalcite
Emplastrum de Lapis Caliminaris – Plaster of Calamine
Emplastrum Muscilaginibus – Simple Diachilon Plaster, or Simple Mucilaginous Plaster
Emplastrum Muscilaginibus cum Gummi (Mesue) – Diachilon Plaster with Gums, or Compound Mucilaginous Plaster, or Mucilaginous Plaster with Gums
Emplastrum Muscilaginibus Magnum (Mesue) – Greater Diachilon Plaster, or Greater Mucilaginous Plaster
Emplastrum Nervinum – Nerve Plaster
Emplastrum de Oxycroceum (Nicholas) – Saffron Plaster
Emplastrum ad Ruptura – Plaster for Hernias
Emplastrum Tripharmacon (Mesue) – Plaster of 3 Medicines, or The Apostles Plaster
Hiera Picra – Holy Bitters
Lapis de Goa –The Goa Stone
Lithontripticon (Nicholas) – The Stone–Breaking Powder
Lohoch de Pino (Mesue) – Electuary of Pine kernels
Lohoch Scilliticum (Galen) – Lohoch of Squills
Medicamen de Turbith (Avicenna) – Compound of Turbith
Montagnana Electuarium Occulista – Montagnana’s Electuary for the Eyes
Penidum (Bulcasis) – Penids, or Sugar Penids
Philonium (Philon) – Philon’s Antidote
Philonium Persicum (Mesue) – Philon’s Persian Antidote
Philonium Magnum (Nicholas) – Roman, or Greater Philonium
Philonium Romanum (Nicholas) – Roman, or Greater Philonium
Pilulae Aggregative Majores (Mesue) – Greater Polycrest Pills, or Pills of Many Virtues
Pilulae Alhandal – Pills of Colocynth
Pilulae Aloephangine (Mesue) – Aromatic Pills of Aloes, or Sweet Pills of Aloe
Pilulae de Aloe lota – Pills of Washed Aloes
Pilulae Angelicae (Sala) – Angelica Pills
Pilulae Angelicae (Grulingus) – Angelical Pills, Frankfurt Pills, or Aloes Violated
Pilulae Arabicae (Nicholas) – Arabian Pills
Pilulae Arthritica (Nicholas) – Pills for Arthritis
Pilulae Aureae (Nicholas) – Golden Pills
Pilulae de Bdellio (Mesue) – Pills of Bdellium
Pilulae de Bdellio Majores (Mesue) – Greater Pills of Bdellium
Pilulae Cochiae Minores (Galen) – Lesser Pills of Cochia
Pilulae Communis (Ruffus) – The Pills of Ruffus, Pestilential Pills, or Common Pills
Pilulae Contra Gonorrheae – Pills Against Gonorrhea
Pilulae ex Duobus – Pills of Two Things
Pilulae de Esula (Fernel) – Pills of Spurge
Pilulae de Eupatorio Majores (Mesue) – Greater Pills of Agrimony
Pilulae de Eupatorio Minores (Mesue) – Lesser Pills of Agrimony
Pilulae de Euphorbio (Mesue) – Pills of Euphorbium
Pilulae de Foetida (Mesue) – Foetid, or Stinking Pills
Pilulae Frankfurtii (Grulingus) – Angelical Pills, Frankfurt Pills, or Aloes Violated
Pilulae de Fumaria (Avicenna) – Pills of Fumitory
Pilulae de Fumo terrae (Avicenna) – Pills of Fumitory
Pilulae de Hermodactylis majores (Mesue) – Greater Pills of Colchicum
Pilulae Imperiales (Fernel) – Imperial Pills
Pilulae Indie (Mesue) – Indian Pills
Pilulae de Lapid Armenius (Mesue) – Pills of Azurite
Pilulae de Lapide Lazuli (Mesue) – Pills of Lapis Lazuli
Pilulae Lucis Majores (Mesue) – Pills to Clarify
Pilulae Macri – Compound Pills of Aloes
Pilulae Masticinae (Mesue) – Pills of Mastic
Pilulae de Nitro (Nicholas) – Pills of Nitre
Pilulae Opticae (Mesue) – Pills to Clarify
Pilulae Panchymagoge – Quercetan’s Purging Pills
Pilulae Pectus Abstergentes (Avicenna) – Pills to Cleanse the Chest
Pilulae Pestilentiales (Ruffus) – The Pills of Ruffus, Pestilential Pills, or Common Pills
Pilulae Polychrestae (Mesue) – Greater Polycrest Pills, or Pills of Many Virtues
Pilulae de Raved Sceni (Mesue) – Rhubarb Pills
Pilulae de Rhabarbaro (Mesue) – Rhubarb Pills
Pilulae Rudii – Pills of Rudius
Pilulae Ruffi (Ruffus) – The Pills of Ruffus, Pestilential Pills, or Common Pills
Pilulae Sine Quibus (Nicholas) – Pills without which I would not be
Pilulae Stomachica (Mesue) – Stomach Pills, or Pills before Meals
Pilulae de Succino (Crato) – Pills of Amber
Pilulae de Tribus cum Rhabarbaro (Mesue) – Pills of Three things with Rhubarb, or Pill of Three Solutives
Pilulae de Tribus Solutiva (Mesue) – Pills of Three things with Rhubarb, or Pill of Three Solutives
Pilulae ex Tribus (Mesue) – Pills of Three Things
Pilulae Turbith Aureae (Mesue) – Golden Pills of Turbith
Plastrum Gratia Dei (Nicholas) – A Plaster by the Grace of God
Pleres Arconticon (Nicholas) – The Restorative of Nicholas
Pulvis ad Casum (Mesue) – Bruise Powder
Pulvis Albus – The White Powder
Pulvis Bezoardicus – Bezoardic Powder
Pulvis Cancrorum Comp. – Lesser Compound Powder of Crab’s Claws
Pulvis Comitissae Cantii – The Countess of Kent’s Powder, or Powder of Crabs Claws Compound, or Gascoines Powder
Pulvis Conservatum – The Preservative Powder
Pulvis De Gutteta – Powder Against Epilepsy
Pulvis Diacymini Magnus (Nicholas) – Greater Cumin Composition
Pulvis Diagalangae (Mesue) – Compound Galangal Powder
Pulvis Dianisi (Mesue) – Compound Powder of Aniseed
Pulvis Diatragacanth Calidii (Nicholas) – Tragacanth Warming Powder
Pulvis Diatragacanth Frigidum (Nicholas) – Tragacanth Cooling Powder
Pulvis Diatrion Santalon (Nicholas) – Powder of Three Sandalwoods
Pulvis e Chelis Cancrorum Compositus – The Countess of Kent’s Powder, or Powder of Crabs Claws Compound, or Gascoines Powder
Pulvis Haly (Haly) – Haly’s Powder
Pulvis Imperator Contra Pestilentialis – The Emperor’s Powder Against the Plague
Pulvis Lapidibus (Nicholas) – The Stone–Breaking Powder
Pulvis Letificans – Powder of Happiness
Pulvis Oxytocius – The Birth Powder
Pulvis Pannonicus Rubra – The Red Hungarian Powder
Pulvis Triasantalum (Nicholas) – Powder of Three Sandalwoods
Pulvis Trithemi – The Powder of Trithemius
Requies (Nicholas) – Relaxation
Species de Ambrae (Mesue) – Ambergris Powder
Species de Caryophyllis (Mesue) – Aromatic Clove Powder
Species de Cinnamomo (Mesue) – Compound Cinnamon Powder
Species de Gemmis Calidi (Mesue) – Warming Powder of Gems
Species de Gemmis Cordiales Temperate – Temperate Cordial Powder of Gems
Species de Gemmis Frigidi – Cooling Powder of Gems
Speceis de Seminibus – Powder of Seeds
Species Diaireos Simplicis – Orris Powder Simple
Species Dialacca Majores (Mesue) – Greater Gum Lacca Powder
Species Dianthos (Nicholas) – Compound Rosemary Powder
Species Diatrion Piperion (Galen) – Powder of Three Peppers
Species Liberantes – The Preservative Powder
Species Lithontribon (Nicholas) – The Stone–Breaking Powder
Species Pestilentialis Maximilini – Maximilian’s Powder Against the Plague
Species Rosata Novella (Nicholas) – New Rose Powder
Species Rosmarinus (Nicholas) – Compound Rosemary Powder
Tetrapharmacum (Mesue) – Lesser Basilicum, or The Plaster of 4 Ingredients
Theriaca Diatessaron (Mesue) – Theriac of 4 Ingredients
Triphera Foenonis (Mesue) – Lesser Triphera, or The Delicate Electuary
Triphera Magnus (Nicholas) – Greater Triphera
Triphera Minus (Mesue) – Lesser Triphera, or The Delicate Electuary
Triphera Solutiva – The Delicate Solutive Electuary
Trochisci Absinthio (Mesue) – Troches of Wormwood
Trochisci ad Gonorrheam – Troches of Agnus Castus, or Troches for Gonorrhea
Trochisci Adulphi – Troches of Sulphur
Trochisci Agaricus (Galen) – Troches of Agaric
Trochisci de Agrimoniae – Troches of Agrimony
Trochisci Alhandal (Mesue) – Troches of Colocynth
Trochisci Alkekengi (Mesue) – Troches of Winter Cherries
Trochisci Alipta Muscata (Nicholas) – The Surgeon’s Musked Troches
Trochisci Aquilaria (Mesue) – Troches of Aloeswood
Trochisci Bechici Nigra (Mesue) – Black Troches for Coughs
Trochisci de Berberis (Mesue) – Troches of Barberries
Trochisci de Camphora (Nicholas) – Troches of Camphor
Trochisci de Capparis (Mesue) – Troches of Capers
Trochisci de Carabe (Mesue) – Troches of Amber
Trochisci de Croci (Damocrates) – Troches of Saffron
Trochisci Cypheo pro Mithridatio (Andromachus) – Sweet-scented Troches for Mithridate
Trochisci Diarrhodon (Mesue) – Troches of Roses
Trochisci de Electro (Mesue) – Troches of Amber
Trochisci de Eupatorio – Troches of Agrimony
Trochisci Gallia Muscata (Mesue) – Musked Troches of Mesue
Trochisci Gordonii – Troches of Gordon
Trochisci Hedychroi (Andromachus) – Sweet-Smelling Troches
Trochisci de Lacca (Mesue) – Troches of Gum Lacca
Trochisci Muscata – Troches of Musk
Trochisci Myrrhae (Rhasis) – Troches of Myrrh
Trochisci de Olibano – Troches of Frankincense
Trochisci Ramich (Mesue) – Troches of Ramich
Trochisci de Rhabarbaro (Mesue) – Troches of Rhubarb
Trochisci Santalon (Mesue) – Troches of Sandalwoods
Trochisci de Scilliae ad Theriacam (Andromachus) – Troches of Squill for Treacle
Trochisci de Spodio (Mesue) – Troches of Spodium
Trochisci de Succino (Mesue) – Troches of Amber
Trochisci de Sulphure – Troches of Sulphur
Trochisci de Terra Lemna (Mesue) – Troches of Earth of Lemnos, Troches of Sealed Earth
Trochisci de Terra Sigillata (Mesue) – Troches of Earth of Lemnos, Troches of Sealed Earth
Trochisci de Viola Solutiva (Nicholas) – Troches of Violet Solutive
Trochisci Viticis – Troches of Agnus Castus, or Troches for Gonorrhea
Ungentum Aegypticum (Mesue) – The Egyptian Ungent
Ungentum Agrippa (Nicholas) – Agrippa’s Ointment
Ungentum Alabastris – Ointment of Alabaster
Ungentum Album (Rhasis) – The White Ointment
Ungentum Apostolorum (Avicenna) – The Apostles Ointment
Ungentum Aureum (Mesue) – The Golden Salve
Ungentum de Ceruse Camphorate (Rhasis) – Ointment of Ceruse Camphorated
Ungentum Citrinum (Nicholas) – The Citrine Ointment
Ungentum Crudum (Mesue) – Ointment of Three Things, or The Crude Ointment, or Ointment of Litharge
Ungentum Martiatum (Nicholas) – The Martiate Ointment, or The Soldier’s Ointment
Ungentum Nutritum (Mesue) – Ointment of Three Things, or The Crude Ointment, or Ointment of Litharge
Ungentum Populeon (Nicholas) – Ointment of Poplar
Ungentum Tripharmacum (Mesue) – Ointment of Three Things, or The Crude Ointment, or Ointment of Litharge
