Diamargarum
Electuary of Pearl

Tradition:

Western

Source / Author:

Actuarius (Luminare Majus, 1551)

Herb Name Cinnamon Clove Indian Spikenard Galangal Licorice Aloeswood Troches of Rose Troches of Violet Nutmeg Mace Zedoary Rhubarb Storax Pearl Ginger Bone of a Stag’s Heart Ivory Blatta Byzantina Musk Ambergris Camphor

Latin Cinnamonum zeylanicum Eugenia caryophyllus Nardostachys jatamansi Alpina officinarum Glycyrrhiza glabra Aquillaria agallocha Troschici Rosarum Troschici Violarum Myristica fragrans Myristica fragrans Curcuma zedoaria Rheum palmatum Styrax officinalis Margarita Zingiber officinalis Os Cordis Cervii Eboris Unguis Odoratus Moschus Ambre gris Camphora Amount 1 dram ea. 2 drams ea. 1 dram ea. 1 1⁄2 scruple 6 grains ea.

Preparation:

Powder all, then with three times their weight of Honey, form an Electuary.

Function:

Calms the Mind and Spirit, Strengthens the Heart and Brain, clears Cold and Damp, Settles Wind and stops Spasms.

Use:

1. Palpitations
2. Heart weakness with Cold and Damp or Yang deficiency
3. Sadness, Melancholy
4. Shaking, Parkinsonism
5. Stomach weakness

Dose:

1⁄2–1 dram; in summer with Rose water or cool water, in winter with Wine.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

Similar Formulas:

This is similar to Warming Pearl Powder of Avicenna, which was far more commonly used. That is more strengthening, while this is stronger to calm the Mind and Spirit and settle the Nerves to stop Spasms. It has a stronger effect of stopping rising Qi and settling Wind.

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