Aromaticum Caryophyllatum
Aromatic Clove Powder

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name Clove Mace Zedoary Galangal Yellow Sandalwood Troches Diarrhodon Cinnamon Aloeswood Indian Spikenard Long Pepper Cardamon Rose Licorice Gallia Moschata Indian leaf Cubeb Ambergris (optional) Musk (optional)

Latin Eugenia caryophyllus Myristica fragrans Curcuma zedoaria Alpina officinarum Santalum citrinum a compound Cinnamonum zeylanicum Aquillaria agallocha Nardostachys jatamansi Piper longum Elettaria cardamomum Rosa gallica Glycyrrhiza glabra a compound Cinnamonum tamala Piper cubeba Ambre gris Moschus Amount 7 drams 1 dram ea. 4 drams 2 drams ea. 2 scruples ea. 1 dram 1⁄2 scruple

Preparation:

The was commonly kept as a powder, but can be made into a solid confection, adding 1 dram of the powder to 1 oz. of sugar, and form a confection. It may be made into a soft Electuary with Syrup of Orange peel.
Some versions omitted the Ambergris and Musk.

Function:

Warms, moves Qi, strengthens the Heart and Stomach, opens Obstructions

Use:

1. Digestive weakness associated with Cold, Damp or Wind: Nausea, Vomiting, Indigestion, Stomach Pain
2. mild Heart conditions associated with cold, such as Chest Oppression, Palpitations
3. Internal Wind affecting the Heart
4. Coldness of the Heart or Abdomen

Dose:

1⁄2 scruple–1 dram, in Rose water for those with heat

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

‘This powder strengthens the Heart and Stomach, helps digestion, expels wind, stays vomiting, and cleanses the stomach of putrified humors’. (Culpeper)

‘They do strengthen the Heart and the Stomach, they expel the wambling and parbraking, and do separate all tough sliminess of the Stomach, they do warm all nourishing parts, and also expel all Winds’ (Wirtzung).
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