Gallia Muscata
Troches of Musk
Tradition:
Western, Unani
Source / Author:
Mesue
|
Herb Name |
Latin |
Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Aquillaria agallocha |
5 drams | |
|
Ambre gris |
3 drams | |
|
Moschus |
1 dram |
Preparation:
Powder separately and with Tragacanth dissolved in Rose water, form Troches
Function:
Opens the Orifices of the Brain, Awakens the Senses, Moves the Blood and Qi
Use:
This was primarily added to larger Formula.
1. Palpitations
2. Arrhythmia
3. Chest Pain
4. Cold Headaches
5. Mental Fatigue, Mental Weakness
6. Dullness, Lethargy
7. Menstrual Pain
8. Hysteria
9. “Its inhalation is exhilarating for the Heart”. (Avicenna)
10. “Useful for treating cases of Coma”. (Avicenna)
11. “Softens hard swelling” (Avicenna)
12. “Its pessary proves to be useful in cold Uteralgia and hard phlegmatic swellings of the Uterus”. (Avicenna)
13. “It dilates the opening of the constricted and awry uterus, fascilitates its cleansing and prepares it for pregnancy”. (Avicenna)
14. Dissolved in Lilac oil and dropped in for Earache (Avicenna)
Dose:
1⁄2–1 scruple with wine
Cautions:
Not used during Pregnancy
Modifications:
1. Synthetic Musk and Ambergris, or suitable suibstitutes can replace the Musk and Ambergris. Storax is a suitable vegetable substitute.
2. A more compound version called Diambar added Clove, Nutmeg, Mace, Galangal and Cinnamon.
Similar Formulas:
1. A related formula called Pastilli Nerae (Species Nere) combined the same 3 ingredients, but added Camphor.
2. Nicholas had a version that went by the same name, Gallia Muscata, but was primarily herbal, with only a small dose of Musk; it is more practical to be made today.
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How to Modify a Formula
Substitutes
Weights & Measures
“The word Gallia no little troubled Jac. Manlius, in seeking to accommodate the reason of that name to these Trochisks; one while he refers it to an odoriferous Herb; another while to some Province in France: but that Herb is fictitious; and Mesue never dreamed of France in his life: Neither is it probable did he design this Composition by the name of Gallia; for aromatical Confections are by the Arabians called Alephangine, as consisting of hotter Aromata’s; and sometimes by Rhasis, Ramich; and more specially Such, when they are compounded of Musk, Amber, Civet, and such suaveolent things. But these may rather be called the sweet Trochisks of Aloes-wood, then of Gallia. Yet I do not yield to change the name, which a whole age hath received and approved: neither will I labor in the pervestigation of the name, where I know the thing.
For their preparation. each must be brayed apart; and first Aloes-wood, then Amber, last Musk; then all must be received in Tragacanthum diluted in Rose-water, and made into Trochisks, which will emit a pleasant halite: but Pharmacopolists keep them more for sanity then for suavity. There is much mention of them in many Medicaments which they ingrede.
They recreate the Heart, Brain, and Spirits, commend the odour of the body, roborate the imbecility and vomitory distemper of childrens ventricles, and resartiate lost strength.” (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)