HUMORAL TREATMENT
Preparers and Purgers of Melancholy
Melanagoga
Unani Medicines to Purge Melancholy
Materia Medica in Arabic & Persian, Shirazy, 1793
Melanagoga
Medicine to Purge Melancholy
| Medicine | Correctives | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Senna | Anise, Ginger, Clove, Cinnamon | Powder: ½–1 ½ drams; Infusion: 2–5 drams |
| Polypody | Licorice, Anise, Fennel, Ginger | 2–3 drams, to ½ oz. |
| Dodder | Mastic, Licorice, Raisins, Violet, Borage | 2–3 drams, to ½ oz. |
| Black Hellebore prepared | Cinnamon, Anise, Fennel | Powder: 15 grains–½ dram; Infusion or Decoction: 1–2 drams |
| Lapis Lazuli / Lapis Armenius | 1. Frequent washing; 2. Mastic | ½–1 dram |
See also:
Introduction to Humoral Medicine
Purging the Humours
Preparers and Purgers of Bile
Preparers and Purgers of Phlegm
Purging Mixed Humors
Preparatives of Melancholy
Simples
Opening Roots
Raisins
Fig
Elecampane
Mallow seed
Centaury
Bugloss root
Parsley root
Maidenhair
Blessed Thistle seed
Basil
Calendula
Rose
Aniseed
Agnus Castus
Broom
Polypody
Gum Ammoniac
Honey
Cordial Flowers
Apples
Jujube
Licorice
Marshmallow seed
Fumitory
Borage root
Fennel root
Hops
Dodder herb & seed
Balm
Elder flower
Saffron
Fennel seed
Caper root bark
Ash tree rind
Tamarisk
Bdellium
Silkworm Cocoon
Compounds
Purgatives of Melancholy
Mild
Prune
Calamint
Wormwood
Basil seed
Lesser Centaury
Thyme
Dittany
Feverfew
Agaric
Senna leaf
Black Myrobalan
Madder
Asarum
Sal Gem
Whey
Apple
Pennyroyal
Oregano
Sesame seed
Fumitory
Wild Thyme
Stoechas
Mistletoe
Polypody
Aloe
Chebulic Myrobalan
Dodder
Squill
Pyrites
Strong
Black Hellebore prepared
Colocynth
Spurge
Mezereon
Lapis Lazuli
Mandrake
Scammony
Euphorbium
Safflower seed
Lapis Armenius
Compounds
Infusion of Senna
Decoction of Dodder
Oxymel of Squill
Vinegar of Squill
Syrup of Dodder
Confected Chebula
Powder to Purge Melancholy
Catharticum Imperiale
Diasenna
Hiera Ruffi
Hiera Rasis
Hiera Archigenis
Pills of Fumitory
Sample Preparatives for Melancholy Humor
- Balm
Basil
Hops - Borage
Fumitory
Dodder
3. Elecampane
Aniseed
Licorice
4. Syrup of Dodder (simp)
Syrup of Fumitory (simp) 1 oz.
Infusion of Senna 3 oz.
Primary Purgatives for Melancholy Humor
1. Powder to Purge Melancholy 1 (Mesue)
Senna
Black Myrobalan 1 dram
Lapis Lazuli 1 scruple
2. Powder to Purge Melancholy 2 (Mesue)
Black Myrobalan 5 drams
Ginger
Cinnamon
Sal Gem ½ scruple
Infuse in Fumitory water, strain and sweeten.
3. Decoction of Dodder of Thyme (Rhasis)
Indian Myrobalan 1¼ oz.
Polypody root 5 drams
Senna leaf 9 drams
Turbith ½ oz.
Dodder of Thyme 10 drams
4. Syrup of Fumitory
Endive
Wormwood
Dodder
Hart’s Tongue
Hops 1 handful
Dodder of Thyme 1½ oz.
Boil in 4 lbs. of water until 2 lbs. remain. Strain, then add:
clarified Fumitory juice 1½ lbs.
White Sugar 4 lbs.
Boil gently to a syrup. Dose: 1–2 oz.
5. Pills of Fumitory
Myrobalans, Chebulic
Yellow
Black
Scammony prepared 5 drams
Aloes 7 drams
Form pills with clarified and condensed Fumitory juice.
Dose: 1 scruple–1 dram
6. Indian Pills
Indian Myrobalan
prepared Black Hellebore
Polypody root 2½ drams
Thyme
Dodder of Thyme
Stoechas 3 drams
Agaric
Troches of Alhandal
Rock Salt
prepared Lapis Lazuli 2 drams
Clove ½ dram
Hiera Picra Galeni 6 drams
With clarified Celery juice form Pills.
Dose: ½–1 dram
7. Pills for Melancholy (1) (Mesue)
Lapis Lazuli prepared 1 dram
Camphor
Annis
Cinnamon
Ginger
Mastic 6 grains
Powder and form pills with Sage juice.
8. Pills for Melancholy (2) (Mesue)
Lapis Lazuli 4 drams
Black Hellebore 6 drams
Cinnamon
Ginger 1 scruple
Mastic 1 dram
Camphor ½ dram
Annis
Fennel 2 scruples
Form pills with Cabbage juice.
9. Pills of Lapis Lazuli (Mesue)
Lapis Lazuli prepared 5 drams
Dodder of Thyme
Polypody
Agaric 1 oz.
Scammony
Black Hellebore prepared
Rock Salt 2½ drams
Clove
Aniseed ½ oz.
Hiera Picra Galeni 15 drams
Form Pills with Syrup of the juice of Fumitory or Chicory.
Dose: ½–1 dram
10. Pills of Black Hellebore (Mesue)
Black Hellebore 2 scruples
Ginger
Mastic
Red Rose
Cinnamon
Annis
Carrot seed
Camphor 3 grains
Form pills.
11. Infusion for Vehement Burnt Bile (Mesue)
Senna 1 dram
Oregano
Pennyroyal 3 dram
Black Myrobalan 2 dram
Borage flower
Bugloss flower
Rose
Violet 2 dram
Black Hellebore
Ginger
Cinnamon ½ dram
Infuse in 8 ounces Borage water for 10 hours, express and sweeten.
