Electuarium Alcharif
or Alharif

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name Chebulic Myrobalan Yellow Myrobalan Black Myrobalan Emblic Myrobalan Belleric Myrobalan Turbith Ginger Cinnamon Cardamon Aloeswood Mastic Clove Black Pepper Mace Pine nut Cubeb Celery seed White Sugar Galangal Indian Spikenard Sugar Candy

Latin Terminalia chebula Terminalia chebula (yellow) Terminalia chebula (black) Emblica officinalis Terminalia bellerica Operculina turpethum Zingiber officinalis Cinnamonum zeylanicum Elettaria cardamomum Aquillaria agallocha Pistacia lentiscus Eugenia caryophyllus Piper nigrum Myristica fragrans Nux Pinea Piper cubeba Apium graveolens Saccharum alba Alpina officinarum Nardostachys jatamansi Saccharum candi Amount 1 part ea. 1⁄2 part ea 1 1⁄2 drams ea. 2 scruples ea. 12 oz.

Preparation:

Powder the Myrobalans, triturate with Almond oil; to 14 drams of triturated Myrobalans, add the rest in fine powder, then with sufficient clarified Honey, form an Electuary.

Function:

Restorative, strengthens Qi and Yang

Use:

1. Keeps and Promotes Youthfulness
2. ‘Restores Life’; benefits Qi
3. Aphrodisiac
4. purges Stomach, Liver and Head

Dose:

1–3 drams

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

This formula can be calssed as a Tryphera (Triphala, or Itraphal) formula. It was regarded as a potent tonic, capable of restoring and keeping Youthfulness. It is sweet and warm, and capable of tonifying Qi and Yang. The use of Turbith would appear to go against the nature of a tonic medicine; however, it works here to cleanse Phlegm and Damp, and thereby help increase Spleen function, enabling it to increase Qi.
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