Diaprassium
Electuary of Horehound

Tradition:

Western

Source / Author:

Nicholas (Luminare Majus, 1551)

Herb Name Horehound Tragacanth Pine nut Sweet Almonds Pistachio Date Fig Raisins Cinnamon Clove Nutmeg Mace Aloeswood Galangal Zedoary Ginger Indian Spikenard Licorice Rhaponticum Anacardium Storax Mastic Myrrh Galbanum Terebinth Orris Round Birthwort Caper root bark Gentian Black Pepper Aniseed Fennel seed Dill seed Macedonian Parsley seed Saxifrage Colchicum Oregano Hog Fennel Squinanth Cardamon White Pepper Caraway Lovage Swallow-wort Balsam herb Pennyroyal Dittany Costus Pellitory Savory Basil Long Pepper Amomum Wild Parsley Orobus Balsam wood Cassia Wood Red Coral Ivory Balsam fruit Cretian Carrot Musk Ambergris Bone of a Stag’s Heart

Latin Marrubium vulgare Astragalus tragacanth Nux Pinea Prunus amygdalus dulcis Pistachio verum Diospyros lotus Ficus carica Vitis vinifera Cinnamonum zeylanicum Eugenia caryophyllus Myristica fragrans Myristica fragrans Aquillaria agallocha Alpina officinarum Curcuma zedoaria Zingiber officinalis Nardostachys jatamansi Glycyrrhiza glabra Rheum rhaponticum Anacardium occidentale Styrax officinalis Pistacia lentiscus Commiphora molmol Ferula spp. Pistacia spp. Iris germanica Aristolchia spp. Capparis spinosa Gentiana lutea Piper nigrum Pimpinella anisum Foeniculum vulgare Anethum graveolens Petroselinum macedonicum Pimpinella saxifraga Colchicum autumnale Oreganum vulgare Peucedanum officinale Juncus odoratus Elettaria cardamomum Piper album Carum carvi Levisticum officinale Vincetoxicum officinale Chrysanthemum balsamita Mentha pulegium Dictamnus albus Saussurea lappa Anacyclus pyrethrum Satureja montana Ocinum basilicum Piper longum Amomum subulatum Petroselinum spp. Vicia orobus Commiphora opobalsamum Cinnamonum cassia Corallum rubrum Eboris Commiphora opobalsamum Daucus spp. Moschus Ambre gris Os Cordis Cervii Amount 5 1⁄2 drams 3 1⁄2 drams ea. 1 1⁄2 dr, 2 1⁄2 gr. ea. 1 1⁄2 drams ea. 1 dram, 2 gr. ea. 1⁄2 dram ea. 4 grains ea.

Preparation:

Powder and with three times their weight of clarified Honey, form an Electuary.

Function:

Clears Cold Phlegm, strengthens the Lungs, stops Cough and Wheezing, opens Obstructions

Use:

“Effective for all coldness of the chest. and especially for Catarrh and coldness of the Brain. cures Vertigo and cloudiness of the Eyes … and every kind of Catarrh which is caused by coldness it is wonderfully beneficial, and relieves the pain of the Teeth”. (Nicholas, Antidotarium)
1. Cough with Cold Phlegm
2. Asthma
3. Wheezing
4. Tightness of the Chest
5. Pain of the Lungs
6. Catarrh from Cold
7. Debility of the Stomach with Cold and Damp
8. Stomach Pain or Spasms
9. Also for Cold diseases of the Liver and Spleen
10. Obstruction of the Liver, Spleen or Abdominal organs with Cold Phlegm
11. Liver pain from Cold, Damp and Qi stagnation
12. Cold diseases of the abdominal organs
13. Pain of the Abdominal organs
14. Strangury
15. Dysuria
16. Kidney disease with Cold Phlegm or Damp
17. Disease of the Head from Cold and Phlegm
18. Darkness of Sight; Dull, Dim or Weak Eyesight
19. Vertigo
20. Toothache

Dose:

2 drams

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. To clear Cold Phlegm from the Lungs, it was combined with Diaireos
2. This can be greatly simplified. The source text says regular Parsley can be used in instead of Wild Parsley; the large number of seeds of the Apiaceae can be reduced, the spices also lessened and some of the medicines can be omitted, such as Colchicum, Swallow-wort, Anacardium, and the animal medicines.

This is an extraordinarily large formula, yet was highly regarded by older Physicians. It is primarily for Cold Phlegm diseases of the Lungs. It is also used for Cold, Phlegm or Damp of the Liver, Spleen, Stomach, Kidneys or Head.

It is possible to use this formula as a basis, but to greatly simplify it.

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