Requies
‘Rest’, or ‘Relaxation’

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Nicholas

Herb Name Rose Violet Opium Mandrake root-bark Henbane seed White Poppy seed Black Poppy seed Chicory seed Lettuce seed Purslane seed Psyllium Nutmeg Cinnamon Sugar Red Sandalwood White Sandalwood Yellow Sandalwood Tabasheer Tragacanth

Latin Rosa gallica Viola odorata Opium Mandragora officinalis Hyoscyamus niger Papaver somniferum Papaver nigra Chicorium intybus Lactuosa sativa Portulaceae oleracea Plantago afra Myristica fragrans Cinnamonum zeylanicum Saccharum Pterocarpus santalinus Santalum album Santalum citrinum Bambusae silicae Astragalus tragacanth Amount 3 drams ea. 1 1⁄2 drams ea. 2 scr., 5 gr.

Preparation:

With three times their weight of clarified Honey, form an Electuary according to Art.

Function:

Clears Heat, calms the Mind and Nerves, stops Pain

Use:

1. All types of Severe Pain: after severe trauma, beatings, burns, the pain of Urinary stones etc.
2. Pain, restlessness and insomnia from excess Heat
3. Also used as an anesthetic for minor surgery including Surgery, Cautery, Amputations etc.
4. In desperate cases, it was used for Mad, Manic and Frantic people

Dose:

1–2 scruples (some gave a piece the size of a chestnut). In Fever, give with decoction or juice of Endive or Chicory, or decoction of the seed of Lettuce and Purslane.
It may be dissolved in Lettuce or Poppy juice or decoction and applied to the temples to induce sleep.

Cautions:

Avoid overdose, and only used for a short time.

Modifications:

Rulandus called Requiem Nicholai ultimum refugium, ‘the last refuge’, meaning that when all else had failed, there was this medicine to relieve pain and suffering.
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