Electuarium Laetificans
Letificans Electuary

Tradition:

Unani

Source / Author:

Pharmacopoeia Persica (1681)

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Pearl	Margarita	3 drams
Ruby *	Rubinus
Lapis lazuli prepared	Lapis Azureus
Red Coral	Corallum rubrum
Amber	Succinum
Jasper	Jaspidis
Jew’s stone	Lapis Judaicus
Musk	Moschus	2 drams ea.
Aloeswood	Aquillaria agallocha	4 drams
Green Pistachio skin	Pistachio verum	2 drams
Citron peel	Citrus medica	3 drams
Red Behen	Salvia hemotodes
White Behen	Centaurea behen	2 drams ea
Doronicum	Doronicum hookeri	3 drams
Ginger	Zingiber officinalis
Colchicum	Colchicum luteum
Long Pepper	Piper longum
Black Pepper	Piper nigrum	2 drams ea.
Asarum	Asarum europeum
Red Sandalwood	Pterocarpus santalinus
White Sandalwood	Santalum album
Usnea	Moschi arborei	3 drams ea.
Orchis	Orchis spp.	2 drams
Wild Parsnip	Pastinacae sylvestris
Rose	Rosa gallica	3 drams ea.
Tabasheer	Bambusae silicae	2 drams
Mastic	Pistacia lentiscus	5 drams
Costus	Saussurea lappa	2 drams
Chicory	Chicorium intybus	3 drams
Cinnamon **	Cinnamonum zeylanicum
Pyrethrum	Anacyclus pyrethrum	2 drams ea.
Euphorbium	Euphorbium resinifera
White Henbane seed	Hyoscyamus alba	1 drams ea
Balsam Apple seed	Momordica balsamina	2 drams
Opium	Opium
Sa ffron	Crocus sativus	10 drams ea.
Greater Cardamon	Amomum subulatum	3 drams

* source text says Hyacinth (Zircon) can also be used
** source text listed Carfa, called “Cinamomi crassioris”, thick or coarse Cinnamon

Preparation:

With three times the weight of clarified Hioney, form an Electuary.

Function:

Strengthens Heart and Stomach, Clears Damp, Moves Qi, Promotes Joy

Use:

1. Heart weakness, Palpitations with Anxiety
2. Stomach debility
3. Melancholy
4. Sadness without cause
5. Anxiety

Dose:

1–2 drams

Comment:

This is an interesting variation on the Letificans family of formulas. It is the only one that has Opium in such a large proportion. Some medicines, such as Jew’s Stone and Euphorbium seem out of place.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

This formula would stand without the Opium, as none of the other Letificans formulas rely on such a large dose of Opium.

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Electuarium LaetificansLetificans Electuary