Confectio Alkermes Regia
Royal Confection of Kermes
Tradition:
Western, Unani
Source / Author:
Mesue
|
Herb Name |
Latin |
Amount * |
|---|---|---|
|
Succus Pommi Renneti | ||
|
Rose Water |
Aqua Rosata |
1 1⁄2 lbs. ea. |
|
Serici |
4 oz. | |
|
Aquillaria agallocha | ||
|
Cinnamonum zeylanicum |
6 drams ea. | |
|
Ambergris ** |
Ambre gris | |
|
Lapis Azureus praeparata | ||
|
Margarita |
2 drams ea. | |
|
Aurum |
1 dram | |
|
Moschus |
1 scruple |
* cleansed and cut small
** powdered with 3 drops of Cinnamon oil
*** heated to red hot 3 times and quenched in Rose Water, then washed and levigated with the same.
Preparation:
Digest the juice, rose water and Silkworm cocoons in a sealed vessel and heat in a water bath for 24 hours, then squeeze out the Silk in a press, and gently boil to the consistency of an Electuary with 2 lbs. of the best Sugar. Next remove from the fire, and dissolve in it 1 lb. of the thickened juice of Grains of Kermes. Then add the rest in fine powder, adding the Musk and Ambergris at the end.
Function:
Strengthens the Heart and Spirits, strengthens Spleen Qi, clears Heat and Melancholy
Use:
1. Palpitations
2. Fainting
3. Sadness, Fear, Melancholy
4. Strengthens in weakness, chronic disease or convalescence
5. Tiredness, Fatigue
6. Stomach Weakness, continual vomiting, chronic indigestion
7. ‘Preserves both body and mind in good estate’.
8. Impotence
9. Infertility
10. Weakness during or after Childbirth
11. Threatened Miscarriage
12. Bleeding after Childbirth
Dose:
1⁄2–1 scruple, up to 11⁄2 drams in Wine, Broth, or in any other Cordial Liquor; one dram was a common dose.
Comment:
Kermes is the dried body of a scale insect, Kermes ilicis, which infects the Kermes Oak and are crushed to yield a crimson dye.
‘This Confection is without question one of the best Cordials that ever Galenic Physick invented. For it repairs and recreates the Vital and Animal Spirits; it ceases Palpitations of the Heart, and Swooning Fits. It fortifies the Brain and all the Noble parts very much. It is an Enemy to putrefaction, reestablishes the languishing and decayed Strength, drives away Melancholy and Sadness, and restores and preserves both body and mind in good estate’. (Royal Pharmacopoeia of France, Charras, 1678)
‘It is very efficacious for many things; for it cures the Palpitation of the Heart, Swoonings, Dotings, and Sadness without a manifest cause, and much helps such as are languid, wearied with Long Sickness, and newly recovered’. (Renodeus, his Dispensatory … 1657)
Cautions:
None noted
Modifications:
1. Later physicians, perhaps not convinced of the benefit or strength of Silkworm Cocoons used 1 lb.
2. Some used 6 drams of Pearl.
3. Some used Sandalwood instead of Aloeswood.
4. musk and Ambergris were often omitted, and the Gold leaf was reduced in dosage or omitted altogether.
5. For Palpitations, take with Tincture, Wine or Infusion of Cinnamon or Saffron
6. Confection for Memory: Confect. Alkermes 2 scruples, Cinnamon, Nutmeg 1 scruple each, Clove, Saffron 1⁄2 scruple, Musk 6 Grains. Form pills for 3 doses.
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Kermes is the dried body of a scale insect, Kermes ilicis, which infects the Kermes Oak and are crushed to yield a crimson dye.
‘This Confection is without question one of the best Cordials that ever Galenic Physick invented. For it repairs and recreates the Vital and Animal Spirits; it ceases Palpitations of the Heart, and Swooning Fits. It fortifies the Brain and all the Noble parts very much. It is an Enemy to putrefaction, reestablishes the languishing and decayed Strength, drives away Melancholy and Sadness, and restores and preserves both body and mind in good estate’. (Royal Pharmacopoeia of France, Charras, 1678)
“The greater part of of Pharmacopolists infuse Silk dyed in the succe [juice] of tinctured grains, or Kermes newly tinctured in Rose water; but Joubertus, to whom I assent, would rather infuse crude Silk in the said liquor, and then add the succe of Kermes to the expression, for so there is less lost; and the vertue of the Silk, if it have any, may be easily elicited before tincture, by infusion: And though its first Author Mesue instituted it otherwise, yet it is no piacle to discede either from him, or any other Author, if the thing may be made either better, or more useful thereby. I rather assent therefore to such as Infuse crude Silk in Rose-water, and succe of Apples, and afterwards add Kermes to the expression.
It is prudently provided in the Roman Antidotary, that only four ounces of Silk be macerated, seeing it may not be totally omitted with loss to the Medicament: for, as I would not be refractory, so would not I be too credulous, nor suffer everything that is spoken or written, too precipitantly to inhere in my mind, And that I may speak freely, Sericum [Silk] being the excrement of a certain sordid Insect, I can scarce persuade myself, that it is indued with so great vertue as the Ancients put upon it. I know indeed that Clay is not destitute of faculties, and that the qualities of Animals Hair, Claws, and very dung, are not contemptible; but, if not cordial, yet efficacious, by their sharp and troublesome quality. But more of Silk in its proper place. I now return to our confection, wherein the Azure stone. is put; yet not so prepared, as in the confection of those Pills which are denominated from it: for therein, it is exhibited crude, that its purgative faculty may remain entire; but here burnt, that it may perish; in both pulverared, and frequently washed, that it may depose its vomitory, and keep its cordial and roborative [strengthening] faculty.
It must be burned in a crucible or small earthen pot, then brayed, and often washed, first in common water, then in cordial, as Rose-water, or such convenient liquor, and dried, till the water after lotion remain limpid.
This is a precious, but not so operous a compound, as the Augustane Dispensatory portends: it is prepared as other Confections. The sole dissent about its composition, is in the tincture of the Silk, and the weight of Musk; which some augment, others minuate; if Aloes-wood cannot be had, Citrian Santals [Yellow Sandalwood] may be substituted.
It is very efficacious for many things; for it cures the Palpitation of the Heart, swoundings, dotings and sadness without a manifest cause; and much helps such as are languid, wearied with long sickness, and newly recovered [from illness]”. (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)