Hiera Logadii

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Nicholas Myrepsus

A version from the Syrian Book of Medicine:

Preparation:

Powder them all individually, then with three times their weight of Honey, form an Electuary, according to Art.

Function:

Purges Melancholy, clears Damp, settles Wind

Use:

Used for all Chronic Diseases of the Head
“purges all cold diseases of the Head”. (The Treasury of Health, 1550)
1. Madness, Insanity, Raving
2. Melancholy
3. Rage, Anger
4. Stupidity
5. Dementia
6. Dizziness
7. Vertigo
8. Deafness
9. Loss of Speech
10. Convulsions, Epilepsy
11. Apoplexy
12. Headache
13. Migraine
14. Neuralgias of the Head
15. Paralysis
16. Tremors, Shaking, Parkinsonism
17. Pleurisy
18. Chronic Asthma
19. Arthritis, Sciatica, Lower Back Pain
20. Pain in the Tendons and Sinews
21. Eczema, Psoriasis
22. Liver or Spleen disease
23. Leprosy
24. Tumors including Fibroid Tumors, Cancers
25. “Running Sores” (usually skin cancers)
26. Poison
27. Chronic Fever
28. Poor Vision

Dose:

½–1 ½, or 2 drams; 1 dram was a common dose, being taken with Wine to which a little Salt has been added
Typically used for several days in acute cases, or once per week in chronic cases.

Comment:

“Good against all old Madness, against the Melancholy, against all Falling Sickness [Epilepsy], and all other Ragings or Madness, against the Giddiness [Dizziness], and all pain of the Head. Item, it is very good against all Palsies [Paralysis], against all Shaking, and against all Heart-beating [Palpitations]. It is also good in the Pleurisy, in all sickness of the Liver and of the Spleen, it provokes Women’s Terms [Menstruation]; and is also good against all Gouts [Arthritis], against all Poison, Leprosy, and Scurfe”. (Wirtzung)

Culpeper said: “It takes away by the roots daily Evils coming of Melancholy, Falling Sickness, Vertigo, Convulsions, Migraine, Leprosy, and many other infirmities”.

The Hiera formulas are purgative drugs compounded with their correctives to reduce side effects, help relieve the condition, and which are (relatively) gentle in action, Hiera Logadii being one of the stronger Hiera formulas.

Cautions:

Culpeper praised it but warned against its indiscriminate use, and its use in inexperienced hands.
1. Avoid overdose and long-term use.
2. Not used in Pregnancy, the very young, very old, the weak, or in Yin deficiency.

Modifications:

This can be simplified and relieved of some of its strong, irritant medicines.
1. For Gout and Arthritis take Hiera Logadii 3–5 drams, Turbith 0.5 scruple, Prepared Scammony 2 grains, Ginger 3 grains; mix for a dose. (Wirtzung)
2. For the same joint diseases, some highly recommended this enema: Make a decoction of Orris, Wild Cucumber roots, Cyperus rotundus, St. John’s Wort, 2 handfuls ea.; to 12–16 oz. of the strained decoction add Hiera Logadii 1 oz., infused Oil of Rue 3 oz., Honey of Roses 1 oz., 1 beaten Egg yolk, Salt 1 dram. Use daily. (Wirtzung)
3. Loss of Speech: take 1.5 drams of Hiera Logadii twice a week with decoction of Rosemary.

Similar Formula:

Hiera Theodoretus

Back To ELECTUARIES
Back to FORMULAS
How to Modify a Formula
Substitutes
Weights & Measures