Pulvis Diatragacanth Frigidii
Tragacanth Cooling Powder

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Nicholas Myrepsus

Herb Name

Latin

Amount

Gum Tragacanth

Astragalus tragacanth

2 ounces

Gum Arabic

Acacia arabica

1 oz., 2 drams

White starch

Amylum

1⁄2 ounce

Licorice

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Melon seed, husked

Citrullus vulgaris

White Poppy seed

Papaver somniferum

3 drams ea.

Pumpkin seed, husked

Cucurbita pepo

Cucumber seed, husked

Cucumis sativus

Gourd seed, husked

Cucurbitas spp.

2 drams ea.

Sugar Penids

Saccharum Penidum

3 ounces

Camphor

Camphora

1⁄2 scruple

Preparation:

Powder; it can be prepared into an Electuary with Syrup of Violets. It was also formed into Tablets, 1 ounce of the powder being mixed with 1 pound of Sugar and formed into Tablets with a little Rose or Violet water.

Function:

Clears Heat and Phlegm, Nourishes Yin, Benefits Lungs, stops Cough

Use:

“For every disease of the Chest and Lungs that is caused by heat, especially for Phthisis, Hectic Fever, Pleurisy, Peripleumonia, and for every cough that is caused by heat or dryness and for every roughness of the tongue and throat”. (Nicholas, Antidotarium)
1. Heat or Heat and Dry-type Coughs
2. Lung-heat Wheezing
3. Chronic Cough
4. Pleurisy
5. Consumption
6. Spitting Blood
7. Sore Throat.
8. Especially good for Cough in Children.
9. Also for Hectic (Yin-deficient) Fever.

Dose:

1–2 drams for an adult; 1 scruple–1⁄2 dram for a Child; it should be held in the mouth and allowed to dissolve.
For Children, a Licorice stick was dipped into the powder which was sucked o
ff by the child.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. When Orris root is added to the above, it forms Diaireos Simplex, used for the same conditions but with more thick and cold Phlegm.
2. For Spitting of Blood, take with Flowers of Sulphur.
3. Also for Spitting Blood, add 10% Armenian Earth.
4. For Consumption and Wasting, take with Haly’s Powder
5. For Hoarseness, make lozenges with Anise seed.
6. A reformed French version was made simply using Tragacanth 2 oz., Gum Arabic 10 drams, Licorice and Starch 1⁄2 oz. each.

Similar Formulas:

Sugar Penids (Diapenidium)


“”It helps all hot affections of the Lungs and Breast, conduces much to such as are macilent or consumed; it cures the Pleurisy, asperity of the Tongue and Jaws, and cocts and expectorates Spittle”. (Renodeus)”This Powder hath its name and basis from Tragacanthum, which in its composition is most prepollent. It receives many Bechical [antitussive], viscid, refrigerative [cooling], and lenitive simples, whereunto Myrepsus its Author adds Nettle-seed, as very accommodate for the attenuation and expurgation of crass humours: which, because it makes the compound both in colour and sapour ingrateful, is by Neotericks omitted, others supplying its faculty better.

It is kept either in form of a Powder, as the rest; or of a tabulated Electuary; each ounce of Powder admitting of a pound of Sugar.


It helps all hot affections of the Lungs and Breast, conduces much to such as are macilent or consumed; it cures the Pleurisy, asperity of the tongue and jaws, and cocts and expectorates spittle”. (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)

Picture

Back to POWDERS
Back to FORMULAS
How to Modify a Formula
Substitutes
Weights & Measures

DISCLAIMER

This Website is intended for the study of Traditional Medicine. Some of the information is Intended for Historical reference only and may be illegal or dangerous if used by unskilled hands. MedicineTraditions cannot be held responsible for the use or misuse of the information contained herein, nor can it be held responsible for injury, sickness or death due to use or misuse of the information contained herein.

Picture