Pilulae Lucis Majores,
or Pilulae Opticae
Pills to Clarify

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name Rose Violet Wormwood Colocynth Turbith Cubeb Calamus Nutmeg Dodder of Thyme Indian Spikenard Balsam fruit (or Cardamon) Balsam wood (or Aloeswood) Seseli seed (or Hartwort) Rue Annis Fennel seed Celery seed Squinanth Asarabacca Mastic Clove Cinnamon Cassia wood Saffron Mace                Chebulia Myrobalan Emblic Myrobalan Belleric Myrobalan Yellow Myrobalan Black Myrobalan Rhubarb Agaric Senna Eyebright Aloes

Latin Rosa gallica Viola odorata Artemisia absinthium Citrullus colocynthis Operculina turpethum Piper cubeba Acorus calamus Myristica fragrans Cuscuta europea Nardostachys jatamansi Commiphora opobalsamum Commiphora opobalsamum Siler montanum Ruta graveolens Pimpinella anisum Foeniculum vulgare Apium graveolens Juncus odoratus Asarum europeum Pistacia lentiscus Eugenia caryophyllus Cinnamomum zeylanicum Cinnamomum cassia Crocus sativus Myristica fragrans Terminalia chebula Emblica officinalis Terminalia bellerica Terminalia chebula (Yellow) Terminalia chebula (Black) Rheum officinale Fomitopsis officinale Cassia angustfolia Euphrasia officinalis Aloe spp. Amount . 2 drams ea. 4 drams ea. 5 drams ea 7 drams equal to the rest

Preparation:

Powder and form pills with clarified Fennel juice.

Function:

Purges Phlegm and Melancholy from the Head, clears the Senses, Clarifies the Eyesight

Use:

1. Poor or Failing Eyesight
2. Floaters
3. Blindness
4. Nightblindness
5. Eye pain
6. Excess humors affecting the Head and Senses
7. To purge in Melancholy diseases of the Head
8. Some apparently used in to hasten Labor.

Dose:

1–2 drams (up to 3 drams).
Often a daily dose was given for a week or more. In long-term treatment, it was common to give a dose once or twice per month.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

This can be made without Colocynth.

‘It purges mixed Humors from the Head, and clears it of such excrements as hinder the Sight’. (Culpeper)

These were commonly used and highly regarded for poor or failing eyesight. They clear the humors which obstruct the fine circulation of the eyes and were regarded as sharpening the sight. They are most suited to Phlegm and Melancholy humors.
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