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 are 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
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.
See our separate page on Mesue and his formulas
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
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
Rhazes
Abu Bakr Mohammad Ibn Zakariya al-Razi (864-930); Philosopher, Physician, Alchemist, Astronomer, Mathematician.
See our separate page on Rhazes and his formulas
Serapion
Three notable Physicians go by this name. Serapion of Alexandria (3rd Century BCE); Serapion the Elder (9th Century Christian Syrian Physician), Seapion the Younger (12th Century), wrote Book of Simple Medicines in Arabic. Most of the Formulas under this name appear to be from Serapion the Elder who wrote 2 medical compilations of formulas.
Powder for Bleeding from the Stomach
Powder for Excess Menstruation
Powder for Hoarseness of the Throat
Powder for Vomiting of Blood
Pills for Epilepsy from Melancholy
Lohoch Effective for Asthma
C. English and 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 for the Stomach
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)
Pills of Spurge
Imperial Pills
Astringent Ointment
Montagnana
Confection of Montagnana for the Sight
Powder of Polypody
Electuary of Sebestens
Mynsicht, Adrian
German Physician of the 17th century; published Armamentarium Medico-Chymicum.
Decoction for Arthritis
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
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
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 for Melancholy
Panchymagogue
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 BCE
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 1000 BCE
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 (surviving copies compiled 7th–9th centuries, although some traditions hold it to date back to 1917 BCE), the starter of both Bon religion and Tibetan Medicine
-Four Tantras or Gyushi (རྒྱུད་བཞི།) (8th century), compiled in the 8th century by Yuthok Yontan Gonpo
-Heart Essence Teachings of Yuthog; Composed by Yuthok the Younger
-The Blue Beryl; A 17th-century commentary on the Four Tantras by Desi Sangye Gyats
