Requies
‘Rest’, or ‘Relaxation’

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Nicholas

Herb Name	Latin	Amount *
Rose	Rosa gallica
Violet	Viola odorata	3 drams ea.
Opium	Opium
Mandrake root-bark	Mandragora officinalis
Henbane seed	Hyoscyamus niger
White Poppy seed	Papaver somniferum
Black Poppy seed	Papaver nigra
Chicory seed	Chicorium intybus
Lettuce seed	Lactuosa sativa
Purslane seed	Portulaceae oleracea
Psyllium	Plantago afra
Nutmeg	Myristica fragrans
Cinnamon	Cinnamonum zeylanicum
Sugar	Saccharum	1 1⁄2 drams ea.
Red Sandalwood	Pterocarpus santalinus
White Sandalwood	Santalum album
Yellow Sandalwood	Santalum citrinum
Tabasheer	Bambusae silicae
Tragacanth	Astragalus tragacanth	2 scr., 5 gr.

Preparation:

With three times their weight of clarified Honey, form an Electuary according to Art.

Function:

Clears Heat, calms the Mind and Nerves, stops Pain

Use:

1. All types of Severe Pain: after severe trauma, beatings, burns, the pain of Urinary stones etc.
2. Pain, restlessness and insomnia from excess Heat
3. Also used as an anesthetic for minor surgery including Surgery, Cautery, Amputations etc.
4. In desperate cases, it was used for Mad, Manic and Frantic people

Dose:

1–2 scruples (some gave a piece the size of a chestnut). In Fever, give with decoction or juice of Endive or Chicory, or decoction of the seed of Lettuce and Purslane.
It may be dissolved in Lettuce or Poppy juice or decoction and applied to the temples to induce sleep.

Comment:

Rulandus called Requiem Nicholai ultimum refugium, ‘the last refuge’, meaning that when all else had failed, there was this medicine to relieve pain and suffering.