Electuarium Ducis
Electuary for a Duke

Tradition:

Western

Source / Author:

Nicholas

Herb Name Aniseed Licorice Mastic Germander Cinnamon Ginger Galangal Fennel seed Caraway seed Cassia Wood Calamint Carrot seed Pellitory Long Pepper White Pepper Cyperus Orris Schoenanth Amomum Indian leaf Asarabacca Saffron Gum Arabic Tragacanth Cubeb Clove Balsam Cardamon Juniper Nutmeg Aloeswood Lovage root Flower-de-Luce Rhubarb Cinquefoil root Indian Spikenard Calamus Red Behen White Behen Siler Montane seed Alexander seed Dill seed Asparagus seed Lemon seed Amomum seed Clove Basil seed Gromwell seed Saxifrage seed Chicory seed Macedonian Parsley seed Melon seed Gourd seed Pumpkin seed Cucumber seed Storax Sugar Penid

Latin Pimpinella anisum Glycyrrhiza glabra Pistacia lentiscus Teucrium chamaedrys Cinnamonum zeylanicum Zingiber officinalis Alpina officinarum Foeniculum vulgare Carum carvi Cinnamonum cassia Calamintha officinalis Daucus carrota Anacyclus pyrethrum Piper longum Piper album Cyperus rotundus Iris germanica Cymbopogon schoenanthus Amomum subulatum Cinnamonum tamala Asarum europeum Crocus sativus Acacia arabica Astragalus tragacanth Piper cubeba Eugenia caryophyllus Commiphora opobalsamum Elettaria cardamomum Juniperus communis Myristica fragrans Aquillaria agallocha Levisticum officinale Iris germanica Rheum palmatum Potentilla reptens Nardostachys jatamansi Acorus calamus Salvia hemotodes Centaurea behen Siler montanum Smyrnium olusatrum Anethum graveolens Asparagus officinale Citrus limonum Amomum subulatum Eugenia caryophyllus Ocinum basilicum Lithospermum officinale Pimpinella saxifraga Chicorium intybus Petroselinum macedonicum Citrullus vulgaris Lagenaria vulgaris Cucurbita pepo Cucumis sativus Styrax officinalis Penidium Amount 2 dr., 15 gr. 2 scr.. 5 gr. ea. 1 scr., 15 gr. ea. 1 scruple ea. 25 grains ea. 4 oz., 2 1⁄2 scr.

Preparation:

Powder and prepare an Electuary with three times their weight of Honey

Function:

Warms and strengthens the Stomach and Spleen, benefits Digestion, moves Qi, promotes Urine, clears Stones

Use:

1. Indigestion
2. Poor appetite
3. Nausea, Vomiting
4. Wind-Colic
5. Internal Coldness
6. Promotes Urine in Cold bodies
7. Gravel and Stones “for which cause it was principally ordaine” (Wirtzung)

Dose:

1–1 1⁄2 or 2 drams

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

Wirtzung (1598) said “This Confection was prepared for a Duke”. As was common with medicines prepared for Royalty, the medicine invariably tastes sweet and pleasant.

Nicholas (Antidotarium) said “It is called the Electuary of the Duke because the Abbot of the Court composed it for the Duke Rogerius son of Robert the Vicar“.
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