Trochisci de Succino,
or Trochisci de Carabe,
or Trochisci de Electro
Qurs Kahruba (Unani)
Troches of Amber

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Amber	Succinum
Burnt Deer horn	Cornu Cervii Usta	1 oz. ea.
Burnt Gum Arabic	Acacia arabica
Burnt Red Coral	Corallum Rubrum
Gum Tragacanth	Astragalus tragacanth
Acacia	Acacia spp.
Mastic	Pistacia lentiscus
Hypocistus	Cytinus hypocistus
Pomegranate fl owers	Punica granatum
Lacca washed	Laccifer lacca
Black Poppy seed toasted	Papaver somniferum	2 drams, 2 scruples ea.
Frankincense	Boswellia sacra
Sa ff ron	Crocus sativus
Opium	Papaver somniferum	2 drams ea.

A version from Hunain’s Dispensatory:

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Amber	Succinum
Red Coral	Corallum rubrum
Purslane seed	Portulaceae oleracea	4 parts ea.
Burnt Deer horn	Cornu Cervii Usta
Gum Arabic	Acacia arabica	3 parts ea.
roasted Coriander seed	Coriandrum sativum
White Poppy seed	Papaver somniferum album	6 parts ea.
burnt Mussel shells	Concha usta
Henbane seed	Hyoscyamus niger
Hematite	Haematitum
Sealed Earth	Terra Sigillata	3 parts ea.

A version from The Medical Formulary of al Samarqandi:

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Rose	Rosa gallica
Gum Arabic	Acacia arabica
Yellow Amber	Succinum	3 drams ea.
Starch	Amylum
Armenian Earth	Terra Armenia
Red Coral	Corallum rubrum
Tabasheer	Bambusae silicae
Licorice juice	Glycyrrhiza glabra
Pomegranate fl ower	Punica granatum	1 drams ea.
Acacia	Acacia spp.	1 ½ dirhams

A Contemporary Unani version:

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Amber	Succinum
Purslane seed	Portulaceae oleracea	20 grams ea.
Starch	Amylum	15 grams
Burnt Deer horn	Cornu Cervii Usta
Gum Tragacanth	Astragalus tragacanth
Gum Arabic	Acacia arabica
roasted Coriander seed	Coriandrum sativum
White Poppy seed	Papaver somniferum	10 grams ea.

Preparation:

Powder, and with mucilage of Psyllium seed, form Troches

Function:

Clears Heat, stops Bleeding

Use:

“These Troches stop the Blood, out of whatsoever place it should flow: as women’s Terms [Menstruation], the Piles [Hemorrhoids], and excessive making of Water [Urine]: it heals also all inward exulceration, viz. of the Liver, and of the Lights [Lungs]”. (Wirtzung)
1. Hemoptysis
2. Bleeding Hemorrhoids;
3. Excessive Menstruation
4. Hematuria
5. Heat-type Bleeding in general
6. Internal Ulcers
7. Lung Ulcers and Catarrh.
8. Wirtzung also noted it for swellings behind the ears during the Plague or during other epidemic diseases

Dose:

10 grains–1⁄2 dram, up to 1 or 1 1⁄2 drams. Usually taken in Plantain or Rose water, Decoction of Broom seeds etc. For Ulcers, take with Honey water or Mead; to stop Bleeding, with Yarrow or Plantain juice.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. For excessive Menstruation or Leukorrhea, take 1 dram daily for a week with Plantain or Yarrow juice.
2. Another for excess Menstruation, combine Troches of Amber. with Troches of Terra Lemnia, and take in 1 dram doses.
3. Another for excess Menstruation: Troches of Amber. 2 drams, Conserve of Roses 0.5 oz., prepared Earth of Armenia 3 drams, Coral 0.5 dram, and Bistort root 1 oz. Mix well.
4. For Hemoptysis, Troches of Amber is taken with Plantain water and Syrup of Myrtles.
5. Two scruples of Troches of Amber was taken with Borax and Savin for retained Afterbirth.
6. For Ulcers, take Troches of Amber with Honey water.
7. For Bloody Dysentery: Red Coral, Tormentil, Bistort, Armenian Earth, prepared Hematite, Troches of Amber of each 0.5 dram, Conserve of Roses 3 oz. Mix. Dose: 1–2 drams.
8. Another for Bloody Dysentery: Dragon’s Blood, Armenian Earth, Plantain seed of each 0.5 dram, Troches of Amber 3 drams, Sugar 4 oz. Form a confection with Rose water.
9. Another for Bloody Dysentery: Troches of Amber, Plantain water 1 dram ea., Confectio Alkermes, Confection of Hyacinth 1 scruple ea., mix with 1.5 oz. of Syrup of Rose.

Extra Info
History
Research
Comment

I have selected these Pastils of Mesue, as most efficacious amongst fifteen of that name, described by as many Authors: a great part whereof are only nominally like these. They are denominated from Amber, which the Arabians call Karabe; and the Grecians Electrum; which is very good to roborate [strengthen] the bowels, cohibit restrains] bloody flux [dysentery], and stay the Rheumatism of the Uterus. Its incrassative [thickening] faculty is augmented by the interjection of Gum and Opium; its astrictive [astringent] faculty by the shrubs of Cistus and Acacia; Opium is castigated [corrected] by Saffron; the ventricle [Stomach] is roborated [strengthened] by Mastic; all are comprehended in the mucilage of Fleabane; and the asperity of their parts levigated. Mesue commands many things to be burned for their preparation; but if they be admitted crude, the Medicament will be no worse: for if Hartshorn or Coral have any eximious [excellent] vertue in them, it is probable they have it while crude, and not by Ustion [burning]. I am not ignorant, what ustion conduces to Medicaments, what it takes from them or what it adds to them; only some are so weak, that they will not endure such preparation without much loss: But let those burn them that will, so they retain their faculties with their ashes. Acacia and Hypocistis should be first minutely cut, then pulverated with Pomegranate flowers, and then the rest. Troches may be made of all of them, brayed in oder, and by art, with the mucilage of Fleabane [seed].

 They are roborative and astrictive. One dragm of them taken in Plantain or Rose water, stay all flux of Blood [stops all bleeding], especially from the upper region of the body, the Lung, Liver, Reins, Uterus and Hemorrhoids; they cure the Dysentery, whether assumed at the mouth, or injected at the Fundament [ie. in enema]. (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)