Electuary for Sadness and Worry

Tradition:

Western

Source / Author:

Galen (Omnia Quae extant in Latinum Sermonem Conversa, 1556)

Herb Name Basil seed Bugloss Mint Lapis lazuli prepared * Pearl Crab washed White Coral Armenian Earth Silk burnt Gallia ** Indian Spikenard Chebulic Myrobalan Dodder Cinnamon Frankincense Mastic Zedoary Doronicum Red Behen White Behen Indian leaf Cardamon Clove Usnea Castoreum Licorice Saffron Lettuce seed Henbane seed Squinanth Mandrake root bark Aloeswood Peony Rhubarb Wild Rue seed Nutmeg Pomegranate bark Carob Agnus Castus Coriander seed Silver filings Gold filings Camphor Rose Tabasheer *** Musk

Latin Ocinum basilicum Anchusa officinalis Mentha arvensis Lapis Azureus usta abluti Margarita Cancer Corallum album Terra Armenius Sericum usta Gallia Moschata Nardostachys jatamansi Terminalia chebula Cuscuta europea Cinnamonum zeylanicum Boswellia sacra Pistacia lentiscus Curcuma zedoaria Doronicum hookeri Salvia hemotodes Centaurea behen Cinnamonum tamala Elettaria cardamomum Eugenia caryophyllus Muscus Castoreum Glycyrrhiza glabra Crocus sativus Lactuosa sativa Hyoscyamus niger Juncus odoratus Mandragora officinalis Aquillaria agallocha Paeonia officinalis Rheum palmatum Peganum harmala Myristica fragrans Punica granatum Ceratonia siliqua Vitex agnus-castus Coriandrum sativum Limatura Argenti Limatura Aurii Camphora Rosa gallica Bambusae silicae Moschus Amount 10 drams ea. 5 drams ea. 4 drams 1⁄2 dram 1 dram 7 drams 1 aur.

* Lapis Lazuli is prepared by being burnt and washed
** Gallia here probably refers to Gallia Moschata, an aromatic compound of Musk. The versions of these we have now are much later than Galen, so perhaps a similar compound is meant. Or perhaps it was a later addition to Galen’s original formula.
*** The original form of Spodium, if this formula is from Galen, would be burnt Ivory. However, Tabasheer is a suiatble substitute.

Preparation:

Powder; mix with 1 oz. Oil of Rose and 1⁄4 oz. Balsam oil; next mix with powdered sugar, the weight of all the medicines, then with sufficient Syrup of Quince, form an Electuary. It is left for 6 months, stirring regularly.

Function:

Moves the Qi, clears Melancholy, strengthens the Heart and Spirit, Strengthens the Mind and Body

Use:

1. Sadness, Melancholy, Depression
2. Worry, excess Thinking
3. Debility, weakness
4. Anguish
5. Mental weakness

Dose:

1–2 drams daily.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

This is a large formula which could be reduced and still be effective.

This formula is attributed to Galen in the source text. However, some of the medicines Galen was unfamiliar with. It may be a later invention by the Arabs, or it may have been a formula of Galens that was modified at a later date. It is basically a variety of Letificans.

Gallia, listed in the source text usually refers to Gallia Muscata, an aromatic compound of Musk. Also the Gallia formulas we have are much later than Galen, perhaps it is a later addition.

Likewise Spodium is listed. This would have meant burnt Ivory. However, as we have stated elsewhere, the general use of Spodium in later times was as a substitute for the unavailable Tabasheer which was used in Arab formulas.
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