Diatrion Piperion
Powder of Three Peppers

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name Long Pepper White Pepper Black Pepper Aniseed Thyme Ginger

Latin Piper longum Piper album Piper nigrum Pimpinella anisum Thymus vulgaris Zingiber officinalis Amount 6 dr., 15 gr. ea. 1 dram ea.

dr. – dram, gr. = grains

Preparation:

Powder

Function:

Warms the Stomach, clears Cold, Wind and Phlegm from the Lungs, Stomach, Bowels and Bladder

Use:

1. Colic
2. digestive Weakness
3. poor Appetite
4. Nausea
5. Diarrhea
6. Cough and Cold with excess Phlegm
7. it also strongly promotes Menstruation (when obstructed by Cold)

Dose:

1⁄2–1 dram with Honey; before meals to Heat the Stomach, after meals to clear Wind and Colic

Cautions:

Should not be used in excess Heat or Dryness / Yin deficiency

Modifications:

Mesue had a more compound version which added Indian Spikenard, Amomum, Ammi seed, Cinnamon, Cassia Wood, Celery seed, Siler, Asarum and Elecampane.

Similar Formulas:

Electuary of Ginger (Diazingiber)

This is an important formula for clearing Cold, Wind and Phlegm, especially from the Digestive System, but also from the Lungs. It contains the Ayurvedic Trikatu (Black Pepper, Long Pepper and Ginger) as its basis.

The original version from Galen contained the Three Peppers with Anise and Thyme, mixed with Honey. Mesue added Ginger and kept it as a powder.
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