Pilulae Aggregative Majores,
or Pilulae Polychrestae
Pills of Many Virtues
or Greater Polycrest Pills
Tradition:
Western, Unani
Source / Author:
Mesue
Herb Name | Latin | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Operculina turpethum | ||
Aloe spp. | 6 drams ea. | |
Convovulus scammonia | 5 drams | |
Rheum palmatum | ||
Terminalia chebula (yellow) | 4 drams ea. | |
Agrimonia eupatoria | ||
Artemisia absinthum | ||
Fomitopsis officinalis | ||
Troschisci Alhandal | ||
Polypodium vulgare | ||
Terminalia chebula | ||
Terminalia chebula (black) | 2 drams ea. | |
Pistacia lentiscus | ||
Rosa gallica | ||
Sal Gem | ||
Cuscuta europea | ||
Pimpinella anisum | ||
Zingiber officinalis | 1 dram ea. |
Preparation:
Powder all the dry ingredients together, except for the Mastic, Scammony, and Aloe which should be powdered apart then added. With a little Syrup of Damask Roses, or Electuary of Rose, form a pill mass.
Function:
Purges all Humors from the Head, Stomach, Liver and Bowels, Opens Obstructions
Use:
“These Pills be very good in all ligering Agues, in all diseases of the head, of the stomach, and of the Liver, they expel Cholera [Bile], and all slimy matter”. (Wirtzung, 1598)
“purges all cold diseases of the Head”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
1. Complex and Chronic Fever
2. Chronic and Obstinate diseases from Mixed Humors (especially Phlegm and Bile, Damp–Heat)
3. Opens obstruction of the Liver and Spleen
4. Chronic Liver disease
5. Melancholy diseases
6. Hypochondriac Melancholy
7. Scrofula
8. Tumors
9. Leprosy
10. Chronic Arthritic diseases, Sciatica, Gout
11. Used periodically in the treatment of various obstinate and chronic diseases.
12. Anasarca type of Edema (excess Phlegm)
Dose:
½ dram–2 scruples, rarely up to 1 dram, taken in the morning on an empty stomach
Cautions:
1. Not used during Pregnancy.
2. Not used in marked debility
Modifications:
1. Some version omitted Chebulic and Black Myrobalans
2. Spleen obstruction, add Gum Ammoniac.
3. Gonorrhea, form Pills with Turpentine
4. Erysipelas, combine with Pills of Rhubarb and form pills with Syrup of Violet.
Similar Formulas:
Used similarly to Pills of Eight Things, Pills of the Five Kinds of Myrobalans, Imperial Pills and Arabian Pills.
Comment:
They were called Aggregative or Polycrest ‘because they congregate and purge several bad Humors together, drawing them from all parts of the body’.
Mesue had three versions of these Pills originally, but only this one remained in common use. Aggregative Minores contained Yellow, Black and Emblic Myrobalans, 3 drams ea., Mastic, Aniseed, juice of Agrimony and Wormwood, Rose, 2 drams ea., Rhubarb 5 drams, Hiera Picra Galenii 10 drams; form pills with Celery juice.
Culpeper said ‘It purges the head of Choler [Bile], Phlegm and Melancholy, and that stoutly: it is good against Quotidian Agues, and faults in the Stomach and Liver, yet because it is well corrected if you take but half a dram at a time, and keep yourself warm, I suppose you may take it without danger’.
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“We hold to the ancient description of Mesue, and change only the order of the Simples, and substitute the Syrup of Roses, for the subaction of the composition, in stead of the Electuary of Roses.
Mesue gives three descriptions of Pills of this name; the first whereof is most usual, and prepared almost in all Shops; the other, both Greater and Lesser Aggregatives, are omitted. The are called Aggregative Pills, because of the aggregation of many Faculties; as also Polychrest, and Catholical, because they are of much use, and expurge all humours.
The manner of their mixtion is manifest; the roots must be first brayed, then the fruits, and afterwards the seeds; only Rhubarb and Agaric must be prepared apart, the Trochisks whereof are better then the simple. The succe [juice] of Agrimony and Wormwood dried and brayed, must be added thereunto; then all being duly pulverated, must be subacted into a mass, with the Syrup of pale Roses which must be involved in leather madefied with Oil of Almonds. And it is not unreasonable, that the Powders should be received in the Syrup of Pale Roses; partly, because it accedes nearest the mind of the Author, for nothing is liker Roses then Roses; and partly, because that Electuary of Roses, which Mesue mentions, is not now made in shops, seeing its composition is inept, and of no use.
Aggregative Pills are not only conducible, to many affections of the head, but also of the Ventricle [Stomach] and Liver: for from these parts they detract and purge pituity, Bile, and Melancholical succe [juices]; and therefore help in complex and inveterate Fevers; and complicated diseases. He may be without the Pills of Eight Things, and Five kinds of Myrobolans, that hath Aggregative ones”. (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)
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