Electuarium Laetificans
Letificans Electuary

Tradition:

Unani

Source / Author:

Pharmacopoeia Persica (1681)

Herb Name Pearl Ruby * Lapis lazuli prepared Red Coral Amber Jasper Jew’s stone Musk Aloeswood Green Pistachio skin Citron peel Red Behen White Behen Doronicum Ginger Colchicum Long Pepper Black Pepper Asarum Red Sandalwood White Sandalwood Usnea Orchis Wild Parsnip Rose Tabasheer Mastic Costus Chicory Cinnamon ** Pyrethrum Euphorbium White Henbane seed Balsam Apple seed Opium Saffron Greater Cardamon

Latin Margarita Rubinus Lapis Azureus Corallum rubrum Succinum Jaspidis Lapis Judaicus Moschus Aquillaria agallocha Pistachio verum Citrus medica Salvia hemotodes Centaurea behen Doronicum hookeri Zingiber officinalis Colchicum luteum Piper longum Piper nigrum Asarum europeum Pterocarpus santalinus Santalum album Moschi arborei Orchis spp. Pastinacae sylvestris Rosa gallica Bambusae silicae Pistacia lentiscus Saussurea lappa Chicorium intybus Cinnamonum zeylanicum Anacyclus pyrethrum Euphorbium resinifera Hyoscyamus alba Momordica balsamina Opium Crocus sativus Amomum subulatum Amount 3 drams 2 drams ea. 4 drams 2 drams 3 drams 2 drams ea 3 drams 2 drams ea. 3 drams ea. 2 drams 3 drams ea. 2 drams 5 drams 2 drams 3 drams 2 drams ea. 1 drams ea 2 drams 10 drams ea. 3 drams

* source text says Hyacinth (Zircon) can also be used
** source text listed Carfa, called “Cinamomi crassioris”, thick or coarse Cinnamon

Preparation:

With three times the weight of clarified Hioney, form an Electuary.

Function:

Strengthens Heart and Stomach, Clears Damp, Moves Qi, Promotes Joy

Use:

1. Heart weakness, Palpitations with Anxiety
2. Stomach debility
3. Melancholy
4. Sadness without cause
5. Anxiety

Dose:

1–2 drams

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

This formula would stand without the Opium, as none of the other Letificans formulas rely on such a large dose of Opium.

This is an interesting variation on the Letificans family of formulas. It is the only one that has Opium in such a large proportion. Some medicines, such as Jew’s Stone and Euphorbium seem out of place.
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