Pilulae Fumaria
Pills of Fumitory
Tradition:
Western, Unani
Source / Author:
Avicenna
|
Herb Name |
Latin |
Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Terminalia chebula | ||
|
Terminalia chebula (yellow) | ||
|
Terminalia chebula (black) | ||
|
Convolvulus scammonia |
5 drams ea. | |
|
Aloe spp. |
7 drams |
* Diagridium is the name given to prepared Scammony.
Preparation:
Powder and mix into a paste with clarified Fumitory juice, dry, and repeat twice more with new Fumitory juice. Lastly, powder, and mix with Syrup of Fumitory and form Pills.
Function:
Opens Obstructions, clear Heat, Salt-Phlegm and Melancholy from the Blood
Use:
1. Scabs (various skin diseases with redness, itching, pustules)
2. Scurf (like Dandruff)
3. Morphew
4. Pruritus
5. Eczema, Psoriasis
6. Chronic skin diseases with red, itchy skin
7. “Pustules and Roughness of the Privities [genitals]”,
8. Skin Cancers.
Dose:
1 scruple–1 dram
Cautions:
1. Not used during Pregnancy
2. Not used in a cold and weak Digestive system.
Modifications:
1. This formula is still effective without Scammony. The dose of Aloe can be increased or Rhubarb could be used in its place.
2. Avicenna had a version with Senna, Dodder, Polypody and prepared Black Hellebore root-bark added for more obstinate cases.
3. To purge Melancholy: Pills of Fumitory, Pills of Lapis Lazuli equal parts; form pills.
Comment:
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Back to FORMULAS
How to Modify a Formula
Substitutes
Weights & Measures
This formula written by Avicenna became one of the main formulas of his to be used for centuries throughout Europe, due largely to its effectiveness.
“They open Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen, purge Salt Phlegm and Melancholy, and are good for such diseases as proceed therefrom, as Scabs, Leprosy, Scurf, Morphew, Tetters, Cancers, Itch, &c.” (Wirtzung)
“These Pills are denominated from Fumitory, in whose succe [juice] their Powders must be twice or thrice imbuted [moistened], and then dried as often, according to their Authors prescript; and at length received, not into the same succe, as many ignorantly conjecture, but into Honey wherein this succe hath been by coction [boiling] dissipated, or rather into the Syrup of Fumitory, which is better, and more agreeable to the Authors mind: For unless the mass be subacted in the one of these, or such alike liquor, the powders will soon arefie [dry]. The manner of their preparation is easy, and apparent enough by the description.
Pills of Fumitory purge bilious and sharp humours, salt phlegm, and other adust [burnt] and melancholical humours, from which many vices of the skin, as Scab, Itch, Tetters and the like, arise”. (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)