Diasenna
Or, Electuarium de Cassia
Electuary of Senna

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Nicholas

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Senna	Cassia angustifolia	3 oz.
Hazel Nuts, torrefi ed	Corylus avellana usta	50
Silk, torre fi ed	Sericum usta	2 drams
Lapis Armenius, washed	Terra Armenius praeparata	1 dram
Lapis Lazuli, washed	Lapis Azureus praeparata	3 drams
Sugar	Saccharum	6 oz.
Cinnamon	Cinnamonum zeylanicum	1 oz.
Clove	Eugenia caryophyllus
Galangal	Alpina officinarum
Pepper	Piper nigrum
Indian Spikenard	Nardostachys jatamansi
Basil seed	Ocinum basilicum
Mace	Myristica fragrans
Cardamon	Elettaria cardamomum
Sa ff ron	Crocus sativus
Ginger	Zingiber officinalis
Zedoary	Curcuma zedoaria
Rosemary fl owers	Rosmarinus officinalis
Long Pepper	Piper longum	2 drams ea.

An alternate version from Dispensarium Magistri Nicolai:

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Aloeswood	Aquillaria agallocha
Clove	Eugenia caryophyllus
Galangal	Alpina officinarum
Nutmeg	Myristica fragrans
Indian leaf	Cinnamonum tamala
Mace	Myristica fragrans
Cinnamon	Cinnamonum zeylanicum	2 drams ea.
Lapis Lazuli, washed	Lapis Azureus praeparata
Lapis Armenius, washed	Terra Armenius praeparata	2 ½ drams ea.
Senna	Cassia angustifolia	38 drams
Sa ff ron	Crocus sativus	1 dram
Silk, torre fi ed	Sericum usta	2 scruples
Ivory	Eboris
Tabasheer	Bambusae silicae
Anacardium	Anacardium occidentale
Bone of a Stags Heart	Os Cordis Cervii
Blatta Byzantina	Unguis Odoratus	2 drams ea.
Colchicum	Colchicum autumnale	1 oz.
Myrrh	Commiphora molmol
Gentian	Gentiana lutea
Bay berry	Laurus nobilis
Black Hellebore, prepared	Helleborus niger	2 drams ea.
Hazel Nuts, torrefi ed	Corylus avellana usta	15 in number
Ambergris	Ambre gris	2 scruples

Preparation:

Powder the Hazelnuts and boil in 2 lbs. of clarified Honey, then add the rest in Powder and form an Electuary

Function:

Purges Melancholy

Use:

‘It is good against Melancholy, Madness, and discontent of the Mind; also affects of the Spleen, Boils, Scabs, Elaphantiasis &c’.
1. Melancholy
2. Sadness
3. Madness, Mania, Lunatics
4. troubled Mind
5. Boils
6. Chronic skin diseases
7. Leprosy, Elephantiasis

Dose:

1⁄2–1 oz.

Cautions:

1. Not used during Pregnancy.
2. Not used in Yin deficiency

Modifications:

1. For Melancholy of the Head, take (the first version) with a little prepared Black Hellebore root. Note that Hellebore is added in the second version.
2. Leprosy, add 2 oz. of Viper powder.