Pilulae de Raved Sceni,
or Pilulae de Rhabarbaro
Pills of Rhubarb (Greater)

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name Gum Ammoniacum Sagapen Bdellium Turbith Yellow Myrobalan Lacca Rhubarb Mastic Indian Spikenard Poley Montane Aloe Opopanax Mezereon prepared Gum Arabic

Latin Dorema ammoniacum Ferula persica Commiphora mukul Operculina turpethum Terminalia chebula (yellow) Laccifer lacca Rheum palmatum Pistacia lentiscus Nardostachys jatamansi Teucrium polium Aloe spp. Commiphora guidottii Daphne mezereum Acacia arabica Amount 10 drams ea. 8 drams 7 drams 6 drams 5 drams ea. 4 drams ea.

Preparation:

Dissolve the gums in wine, powder the remaining, mix and form into pills

Function:

Opens obstructions (caused by mixed Humors), clear Phlegm, moves the Blood

Use:

1. Liver or Spleen obstruction;
2. Bile and Phlegm obstructing the Abdominal Organs
3. Beginning of Edema
4. Some commended them for Tertian (Malarial) and Quotidian Fevers
5. Used for Hardness and Tumors

Dose:

1–2 scruples, up to 1 dram

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. If the Mezereon is omitted this can be made today.

As with other similar formulas of Mesue, there were a number of formulas called Pills of Rhubarb; Mesue himself had several versions.
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