Pilulae de Lapide Lazuli (1)
Pills of Lapis Lazuli (1)
Tradition:
Western, Unani
Source / Author:
Mesue
|
Herb Name |
Latin |
Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Lapis Azureus |
5 drams | |
|
Cuscuta europea | ||
|
Polypodium vulgare | ||
|
Fomitopsis officinalis |
1 ounce ea. | |
|
Convovulus scammonia | ||
|
Helleborus niger | ||
|
Sal Gem |
2 1⁄2 drams ea. | |
|
Eugenia caryophyllus | ||
|
Pimpinella anisum |
1⁄2 ounce ea. | |
|
Hiera Picra |
15 drams |
* Lapis Lazuli is preprared by washing a number of times, then levigating with Rose water.
A contemporary version used in Unani Medicine:
|
Herb Name |
Latin |
Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Lapis Azureus |
10 grams | |
|
Cuscuta europea | ||
|
Polypodium vulgare | ||
|
Fomitopsis officinalis |
15 grams | |
|
Eugenia caryophyllus | ||
|
Pimpinella anisum | ||
|
Convovulus scammonia |
3 grams | |
|
Hiera Picra |
20 grams |
* Lapis Lazuli is preprared by washing a number of times, then levigating with Rose water.
Preparation:
Form Pills with Celery juice (sometimes juice of Fumitory or Chicory was used)
Function:
Purges Melancholy and Black Bile
Use:
“These Pills were invented to evacuate Black Choler and Melancholy: they take away hardness, and open Obstructions of the Spleen, cure the Jaundice, Elephantiasis, Leprosy, Mange, Cancers, Tetters, Ringworms, and all diseases arising from Atrabilis [Black Bile]. They are powerful against Frenzy, Madness and Hypochondriac Melancholy”. (Renodeus)
1. Melancholy,
2. Madness, Insanity, Fear, Sadness and Worry without real cause;
3. Black Jaundice
4. Eczema
5. Leprosy
6. Fibroids and Cancer.
Dose:
1⁄2–1 dram; it was often taken once or twice weekly in the long-term managements of obstinate cases. The Unani version is typically given in doses of 2–3 grams
Cautions:
1. Should not be used daily on a long-term basis,
2. Not used during Pregnancy
Modifications:
1. To purge more strongly, they were taken with an equal amount of Aggregative Pills.
2. Fibroids, Pills of Lapis Lazuli, Pills of Fumitory. 0.5 dram ea., extract of Black Hellebore 4 grains, oil of Marjoram 2 drops; form a pill mass with Syrup of Rose Solutive.
Similar Formulas:
Pills of Lapis Lazuli
Pills of Lapis Lazuli
Indian Pills
Pills of Azurite
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Weights & Measures
“That every humour might have its peculiar Cathartick, we have exhibited these Pills described by Mesue, to educe the melancholical humour. They are denominated from the Azure-stone [Lapis Lazuli] which is their Basis; which participating of some alien and vomitory quality, needs some antecedent preparation: but it must not be burned, as in the confection of Alkermes, lest its purgative faculty perish, but pulverated very small, and ten or twelve times washed first in common water, then in the water of Bugloss, or the like: after each lotion, it must be dried, and these courses iterated, till depose its vomitory quality, and retain only its dejective [purging] and roborative [strengthening],
Its manner of preparation, is all one with the former; we substitute gemmous instead of Indian Salt, which we want, and King Sabors Syrup, instead the water of Endive: for hereby the powders will be more commodiously subacted, and the mass hence concinnated, more safely kept, of a better consistence, more excellent faculties, and more apt to educe Melancholical humours,
These Pills help the Leprosy, Cancer, Quartan Fever, and all diseases that arise from Melancholical humours, or adust [burnt] Bile; their faculties are the same, but better then the Pills of Indies [Indian Pills] have, which such may want as keep these,” (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)