Medicamen ex inventione nostra defendens basin ab omni periculo
Medicine to Defend the Base from all Danger

Tradition:


Western / Unani

Source / Author:


De morbus internis curandis, Mesue, 1551

Herb Name

Red Coral
Mace
Bone of a Stag’s Heart
Ambergris
Pearl
Crystal
Gold leaf
Silver leaf
Ivory
Ruby
Sapphire
Hyacinth (Zircon)
Balsam
Musk
Rosemary
Tabasheer
Sandalwood
Clove
Galangal
Calamus *
Cubeb
Indian Spikenard
Staceorum bark
Cuttlefish bone

Basil
Cardamon
White Pepper
Long Pepper
Bay berry
Pellitory
Storax
Calamus
Magnet
Myrrh
Thebane Opium
Peony seed *

Camomile
Wild Sage (
Lilifagus)
Marjoram
Balsamita **
Ammi
Round Birthwort
Dianthos
Saffron
Aloeswood
White Poppy seed
Sugar

Latin


Corallum rubrum
Myristica fragrans
Os Cordis Cervii
Ambre gris
Margarita
Crystallos

Aurum
Argentum
Eboris
Rubinus
Sapphirus
Hyacinthus
Commiphora opobalsamum
Moschus

Rosmarinus officinalis
Bambusae silicae
Santalum album
Eugenia caryophyllus
Alpina officinarum
Acorus calamus
Piper cubeba
Nardostachys jatamansi
uncertain

Os Sepia
Ocinum basilicum
Elettaria cardamomum
Piper alba
Piper longum
Laurus nobilis
Anacyclus pyrethrum
Styrax officinalis
Acorus calamus
Magnetitum
Commiphora molmol
Opium Thebanum
Peonia officinalis
Matricaria recutita
Salvia agrestris
Oreganum marjorana
Mentha aquatica ?
Ammi majus
Aristolchia rotunda
a compound
Crocus sativus
Aquillaria agallocha
Papaver somniferum
Saccharum

Amount













5 drams ea.
2 drams
1⁄2 dram ea.















3 drams ea.




1 dram ea.







3 drams ea.
1⁄2 dram

2 drams ea.
sufficient


* Peony seed is to be collected during the New Moon
** Several herbs were calleed Balsamita. It could refer to Achillaea ageratum or other herbs

Preparation:


The stones must be levigated until very fine. The gums and Opium are dissolved in a little aromatic wine, then the powdered herbs are mixed in along with the Dianthos and stones and then sufficient sugar is mixed in to form a confection, adding the Musk at the end.

Function:


Moves Qi and Blood, calms the Mind and Spirit, strengthens Qi and Yang

Use:


1. Promotes Cheerfulness
2. Good for those who suffer from Sorrow, Melancholy, who love Solitude, and hate themselves. It makes them pleasant and courteous.

3. Removes Deficiency of the Principle Organs
4. Promotes Menstruation.
5. Syncope of Women
6. Helps in Paralysis

7. “Defends the foundation from all danger of the past and future’”

Dose:


2–3 drams with wine or warm water

Cautions:


If recreated, the stones require proper preparation and some modifications would be needed.

Modifications:


This could be used as the foundation to create a simpler formula without Opium.

This is a quite remarkable formula for several reasons. The combination of Gems, Magnetite and Cuttlefish bone along with a large number of aromatics makes this a unique medicine to calm the Mind and Spirit, move Qi and Blood, restore strength and promote wellbeing.


The source text states that it removes weariness of the principle Organs (Heart, Liver, Brain and Kidneys), and “defends the foundation’, sounding familiar to the TCM concept of perhaps the ‘Source Qi”.
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