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Authors and Sources


The following gives a brief introduction to some of the major Authors and Sources of Materia Medica and Formulas. The left column shows major authors of the Western Tradition along with formulas they wrote. The right column gives links to Wikipedia biographies of various noted authors and physicians of Traditional Medicine. Wikipedia links are given purely for biographical information as this is outside the scope of this website.

See also Principal Herbals from 1470–1670 (many downloadable)

1. The Western Tradition

The original sources of many formulas is obscure. In some cases, an author has traditionally been ascribed a formula to him, when in fact he may have either copied or modified an existing formula.
     
Hiera Picra is a good example. For nearly 2000 years, various versions appeared by various authors, and many agreed Galen to be the originator. However, some authors stated that it was not penned by the hand of Galen, and that it was in use long before him.
     
It is also to be noted that many formulas were in common use throughout England, Europe and the Mediterranean for many centuries, and yet they bared the name of no author.

Further, authors that were commonly the source of formulas, such as Mesue and Nicholas, often had their own versions of formulas that went by the same name. So later European writers may have written the name of a formula, and sometimes without the name of an author. Thankfully, a formula that bears the name of a herb usually had the same or similar virtue irrespective of the author.
     
It is also important to note that any formula which was in use over a great period of time, and over a great geographical distance was likely to be modified, so that a great many variations existed of various commonly used formulas. In some cases, different Apothecaries within one country or city may have had radically different preparations sold under the same name.


A. Classical Greek Physicians

Andromachus
Andromachus was physician to Nero; his most famous achievement was Theriac, which was modified by Galen, and then used for nearly 2 millennia.

    Sweet scented Troches for Theriac
    Sweet Smelling Troches
    Troches of Squill for Theriac       
    Troches Polyidae   
    Treacle of Andromachus (Theriac)


Azaricon (thought to be Aeschrion)
A teacher of Galen

    Electuary for Stones
   
Electuary for Crass and Viscid Humors
    Electuary to Strengthen the Internal Members

Galen
Galen of Pergamum (129-c. 216 AD). Took the teachings of Hippocrates to a new level; his works remained in use for over 1500 years after his death. His work was again elevated by Avicenna around 1000 AD.

   
Anodyne Troches (Galen)
    Potion for Headache        
   
Decoction for Back Pain and Kidney Stones
    Hiera Picra
    Compound Hiera Picra of Galen
    Powder for Hemoptysis
    Powder for Dysentery
   
Powder Proven for Lung Defects and All Coughs
    Lohoch of Squills

    Troches of Agaric  
    Troches of Saffron   
    Pills for Migraine
    Pills for Migraine (2)
    Pills proven to Improve Vision
    Foetid Pills Lesser
    Foetid Pills Greater
    Lesser Pills of Cocchia
    
Philonium Romanum
    Antidote for Back Pain
    Confection for Melancholy
    Electuary to Clarify the Voice
    Electuary for Head and Stomach Pain
    Electuary of Calamint
    Electuarium Dianthu
    Cooling Ointment
    Troches of Andronius       


Zenon (Zeno)
Greek Physician, 3rd to 2nd century BCE. Follower of Herophilis, quoted by Galen. A noted master of Materia Medica.

    Electuary of Black Hellebore
    Electuary of Centaury
    Electuary of Frankincense
    Electuary of Gums
    Electuary of Indian leaf
    Electuary of Maidenhair
    Electuary of Rhubarb
    Electuary of Sealed Earth
    Electuary of Turbith


B. Arab and Persian Physicians

Avicenna
Abu Ali el-Hosein ben Abdallah Ibn Sina (‘Avicenna’), a Persian Physician, 980-1037. He wrote the Canon of Medicine (Britannica) which modernised and elevated the medical teachings of Galen, and was to become a major reference-book of medicine throughout Europe for the next 8 centuries and is still taught in Unani colleges today.

 
   
Albotin (Electuary of Turpentine)
    Warming Pearl Powder
    Powder of Turbith
   
Troches of Spodium (Tabasheer)
    Pills to Cleanse the Chest       
    Pills of Agaric   
    Pilulae Assajeret
    Pills of Fumitory       
   
Electuary of Aloeswood
    Electuary of Figwort
    Electuary of Pearl
    The Apostles Ointment


Mesue
The name Mesue is associated with two different Physicians, a ‘Younger’ and an ‘Elder’ Mesue. There were a number of formulas used that were penned under that name, but it is not always certain who was responsible for what. The Elder Mesue created various elegant laxative/purgatives using fruit such as Myrobalans, Cassia etc. The Younger Mesue was responsible for the majority of formulas listed in various European Pharmacopoeias under the name ‘Mesue’. Many formulas penned under the name Mesue remained in common use well into the 18th and 19th centuries, a large number appeared in the early London Pharmacopoeias.

Mesue the Elder.
Abu Zakerijja Jahja ben Maseweih (776–855)
A Christian who was director of the Bhagdad School of Medicine; supervised the translation of ancient Greek texts. He was noted for opposing the use of harsh and violent cathartic medicines used so commonly by the Greeks and Romans. Instead, he used Cassia, Tamarinds, Myrobalans, Jujubes and similar gentle laxative compounds. He also promoted correction of the stronger medicines, either with preparation, or in formula. He wrote Aphorisms (with Rhasis)

Mesue the Younger

Yahyā ibn Masawaih al-Mardini (Died 1015, aged 90); contemporary of Avicenna. Wrote several important books on Medicine and Pharmacy. More than 70 editions, mostly in Latin, of his Receptarium Antidotarii were printed from the invention of the printing press to the mid-seventeenth century. Nearly half of the formula of the first London Pharmacopoeia are attributed to him. Nearly all formula attributed to Mesue in the present work are from Mesue the Younger.
                   
Of Mesue, Culpeper said he ‘is called the Physicians Evangelist, for the certainty of his Medicines, and the truth of his Opinions’. This type of praise was common. Thus, his formulas were in common use throughout Europe and the Arab world for a millennia and his formulas are still the basis for the modern Unani Pharmacopoeia.

    Simple Syrup of Sorrel       
    Simple Syrup of Vinegar
    Syrup of Poppy

    Comp. Syrup of Wormwood   
    Comp. Syrup of Vinegar
    Byzantine Syrup (Simple)
    Byzantine Syrup (Compound)

    Comp. Syrup of Fumitory
    Comp. Syrup of Licorice
    Comp. Syrup of Hyssop   
    Comp. Syrup of Horehound   
    Comp. Syrup of Mint   
    Comp. Syrup of Poppy
    Syrup of Apples Purgative
    Syrup of Purslane seed
    Syrup of the Five Opening Roots
    Syrup of Stoechas
    Comp. Syrup of Violet
    Comp. Syrup of Jujubes   
    Oxymel
    Oxymel of Squill (Simple & Comp.)
    Electuary of Calamus (Diacorum)
    Royal Confection of Alkermes   
    Electuary of Saffron (Diacrocon)       
    Eyebright Confection (Confectio Humain)
    Philonium Persicum        
    Electuary of Dates 
    Electuary of Pine kernels
    A Sound and Experienced Electuary
   
Indian Electuary Lesser (Mesue)
    Electuary of the Juice of Roses       
    Theriac of 4 Ingredients (Diatessaron)
    Triphera Minor (The Delicate Electuary)
   
Triphera Persica (Mesue)
    Triphera of the Saracens
    Triphera of Dodder of Thyme (Mesue)

    Lohoch of Poppy (Lohoch de Papaver)
    Lohoch of Fox Lungs
    Comp. Amber Powder       
    Comp. Powder of Aniseed (Dianisum)
   
Aromatic Powder (Mesue)
    Aromatic Clove Powder (Aromatic. Caryophyllat.)
    Comp. Cinnamon Powder (Diacinnamonum)
    Comp. Galangal Powder (Diagalanga)   
    Warming Powder of Gems   
    Powder of Gum Lacca Lesser
    Powder of Gum Lacca Greater   
    Warming Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Calidum)
    Sweet Powder of Musk
    Bitter Powder of Musk
    Powder of Three Peppers (Diatrion Pipieron)   
    Troches of Wormwood Lesser
    Troches of Wormwood Greater
    Troches of Colocynth
    Troches of Winter Cherries
    Troches of Aloeswood
    Black Troches for Coughs (Trochisci Bechici)
    Troches of Barberries (Trochisci de Berberi)
    Troches of Capers
    Troches of Gum Lacca
    Musked Troches of Aloeswood
    Troches of Ramich   
    Troches of Rhubarb

    Troches of Rose
    Troches of Sandalwood
    Troches of Spodium
    Troches of Amber
    Troches of Earth of Lemnos
    Troches of Violet Solutive
    Troches of Vipers

    Polycrest Pills
    Aromatic Pills of Aloes
    Pills of Bdellium
 
   Lesser Pills of Agrimony
    Greater Pills of Agrimony
    Pills of Euphorbium
    Foetid Pills
    Pills of Colchicum Lesser
    Pills of Colchicum Greater
    Indian Pills
    Pills of Lapis Armenius
    Pills of Lapis Lazuli
    Pills to Clarify
    Pills of Mastic
    Pills of Rhubarb
    Pills of Rhubarb Greater
    Pills of Rhubarb and Agaric
    Stomach Pills
    Pills of Three Things
    Pills of Three Things with Rhubarb

    Oil of Wall flowers   
    Oil of Orris
    Oil of Mastic
    Oil of Scorpions

    Oil of Saffron
    Comp. Oil of Foxes
    Plaster of Bayberries
    Lesser Basilicum Plaster
    Meliot Plaster
    Mucilaginous Plaster (Dichylon)   
    The Apostles Plaster
    Egyptian Ungent
    The Golden Ointment
    Ointment of Ceruse
    Ointment of Roses               
    Ointment of Sandalwood
    Ointment of Litharge

Nicholas (Nicolaus, Nicolas)
Two different authors under the name of Nicholas were sources for many formula. In some cases, it is uncertain which Nicholas was the source, and each had several names they were known under.

Nicholas Myrepsus
Nicholas Myrepsus (Myrepsus means ‘ointment-maker’), sometimes called Nicholas Alexandrinus, lived in the 13th century in Constantinople, and was physician to the Emperor. He made a collection of prescriptions, his Antidotary, which was a standard Formulary for centuries, and upon this the early European dispensatories were based.


    Quince Syrup with Spices
    Electuary Provoking Menstruation
    Hiera Logadii
    Compound Hiera of Nicholas
    Restorative Electuary (Antidotus Analeptica)
    Electuary of Prunes
    Lesser Calamint Powder
    Diapenidion Compound (Diapenidion Comp.)
    Compound Rosemary Powder (Dianthos)
    Tragacanth Cooling Powder (Diatragacanth Frigid.)
    Golden Pills
    The Restorative of Nicholas (Pleres Arconticon)
    Greater Cumin Composition
    Stone Breaking Powder (Lithontribon)
    Arabic Pills
    Pills for Arthritis   
    Pills of Nitre
    Saffron Plaster
    Agrippas Ointment
    Ointment of Marshmallow       
    The Citrine Ointment
    The Martiate Ointment
    Ointment of Tutty
    Ointment of Poplar

Nicholas Praepositus
Nicholas Praepositus, also called Nicholas Salernitus and Nicholas Florentinus was the Director of the School of Salerno in the first half of the 12th century. His Antidotary (Antidotarium Nicolai) was a source of various famous formulas for centuries.

    Syrup of Chicory with Rhubarb       
    The Blessed Laxative           
    Electuary of Micleta
    Electuary Catholicum
    Abbots Confect of Roses (Diarrhodon Abbatis)
    Powder of Three Sandalwoods
    Troches of Camphor
    The Surgeons Musked Troches
    ‘Pills without which I would not Be’
    Simple Plaster of Betony
    Plaster for Hernias


Rhasis
Abu Bakr Mohammad Ibn Zakariya al-Razi (864-930); Philosopher, Physician, Alchemist, Astronomer, Mathematician.
He wrote a number of important medical works including Medical Textbook, Famous Medical Encyclopedia, Diagnostic Encyclopedia, The Book of Nutrition and Health, and On the Plague. Wrote the first treatise on Smallpox and Chicken Pox. Many of his texts were translated into Latin in the 15th Century. Was almost as significant as Avicenna.


    Decoction of Dodder of Thyme
    Lenitive or Mild Electuary
    Electuary of Flakes of Iron
    Powder of Gum Lacca Lesser of Rhasis
    Powder for Incontinence
    Troches of Rose
    Troches of Myrrh
    Troches of Nutmeg
    Troches of Musk of Rhasis
    Letificans Almansoris
    Greater Pills of Cocchia
    Plaster of Ceruse
    White Ointment / Ointment of Camphor
    Emollient Ointment
    White Troches


C. English & European Authors

Bates, George (1608-1669)
English; Physician to the King; Member of Royal College of Physicians; Had has own Pharmacopeia Bateana (published posthumously, 1688, translated into English by Salmon, 1694). Not all of these formulas may have been created by him but his Pharmacopoeia was the first written or published source for many of them.

    Infusion for the Eyes   
    Infusion of Tin
    Decoction of River Crayfish
    Decoction Against Lung Ulcers
    The Strengthening Gelatin
    Extract Against Yellow Jaundice
    Powder of Windpipes
    Stomach Powder       
    Tablets of Coltsfoot
    Tablets Against Spitting Blood
    Crystal Mineral (Fixed Nitre)
    Sugared Crystal Mineral
    Oil of Toads
    Oil of Datura
    Ointment of Egg White
    Alum Water
    Tincture of Ceruse
    Paralysis Tincture
    Medicinal Stone of Bates

Fernelius, Jean (1485-1558)
French Physician; Attempted to modernise the teachings of Galen. His formulas were well formed and effective for the intended purposes, but were often large and complex.

    Simple Syrup of Dried Roses
    Comp. Syrup of Marshmallow
    Comp. Syrup of Mugwort
    Comp. Syrup of Horehound   
    Comp. Syrup of Balm
    Alterative Syrup of Apples   
    Syrup of Stoecahs
    Comp. Syrup of Comfrey
    Electuary of Asarum
    Arabian Confect Purging Melancholy (Confectio
       Hamech) (Mesue)

    Pills of Spurge
    Imperial Pills
    Astringent Ointment

Quercetan (Joseph Du Chesne)
French; Introduced medicines of Paracelsus, especially Antimony, into France in the 16th century.

    Decoction for the Liver
    Decoction for Sterility
    Decoction of Oxe Spleen
    Simple Syrup of Annis
    Bloody Extract of Comfrey
    Hysteric Powder
    Stone Breaking Powder
    Powder to Purge Melancholy
    Panchymagogue

Montagnana

    Montagnana’s Electuary for the Eyes
    Electuary of Sebestens

Mynsicht, Adrian
German Physician of the 17th century; published Armamentarium Medico-Chymicum.

    Decoction Against Arthritis and Gout   
    Decoction of Guaiacum
    Ginger Rosate
    Comp. Tincture of Hypericum
    Tincture of Life
    Apoplectic Wine
    Wine for Gout
    Stomach Wine
    Sudorific Vinegar
    Epileptic Powder
    Oil Against Deafness
    Liquor of Tutty

Schroder, John
German physician, 17th C.; Wrote The Chymical Dispensatory (translated into English in 1669)

    Decoction for the Womb
    Electuary of Saffron
    Electuary for the Womb
    Arthritic Wine
    Wine for the Womb
    Pills Against Fever
    Sweet or Alkalious Salt


2. TCM Texts & Physicians


Some Primary TCM Texts
Ben Cao Gang Mu (Li Shi Zhen, 1518~1593), Compendium of Materia-Medica, largest TCM Materia Medica.
Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine) prob Han (200 BCE–200 CE)
Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet), c. 220 CE
Ling Shu (Divine Pivot), prob. Eastern Han (25–200 CE)
Nan Jing (Classic of Difficulties), prob. Eastern Han (25–200 CE)
Shang Han Lun (Discussion of Cold Damage), c. 220 CE.
Sheng Nong Ben Cao (Divine Husbandmans Classic of Materia Medica), First Chinese Materia Medica; prob. Eastern Han (25–200 CE)
Su Wen (Basic Questions), Eastern Han (25–200 CE)
Wen re feng yuan (Encountering Sources of Warm-Febrile Diseases), late Qing Dysnasty (19th Century)


3. Ayurvedic Texts & Physicians


Primary Ayurvedic Texts
Ayurveda Saukhyam 16th C
Ashtaanga Hridaya 7th C
Ashtaanga Nighantu 8th C
Ashtaanga Sangraha 6th C
Bhaavaprakaasha 16th C
Bangasena 18th C
Bhaishajya Ratnaavali 17th C
Bhela Samhitaa 7th C?
Chakrapaani/Chakradatta 11th C
Charaka Samhita 
1000 BC
Dalhan 12th C
Dhanvantari Nighantu before 13th C
Gadanigraha 12th C
Haarita Samhita before 7th C
Kaashyapa Samhitaa before 7th C
Kaiyadeva Nighanu 1450CE
Maadhava Dravyaguna (Nighantu) prior to 12th C
Madanpaal Nighantu 1374 CE
Nighantu Ratnaakara 1837CE
Nighantu Sangraha 1748CE
Raaja Maarttanda 11th C
Raaja Nighantu 14th C
Rajavallabha Nighantu 17th C
Shaarangadhara Samhitaa 13th C
Shaaligaraama Nighantu 1896 CE
Sahasrayoga 4th C
Shodhala Nighantu 12th C
Siddha-bheshaja-manimaalaa 18th C
Sushruta Samhitaa 1000BCE
Vagabhatta I, III, 6th & 7th C
Vaidya Manoramaa 13th C
Vrindamaadhava 8th C
Yoga Ratnaakara 16th C


4. Tibetan Texts & Physicians

gSo rig 'bum bzhi, Shenrab Miwo (reportedly 2000 BCE), the starter of both Bon religion and Tibetan Medicine

A more detailed Look at the Individual Systems:
Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Introduction to Traditional Indian Medicine
Introduction to Traditional Tibetan Medicine
Introduction to Traditional Unani Medicine
Introduction to Traditional Western Medicine

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