Philonium Nicolai,
or Philonium Romanum,
or Philonium Magnum
Roman Philonium,
or Greater Philonium,
or Philonium of Nicholas
Tradition:
Western, Unani
Source / Author:
Nicholas
Herb Name | Latin | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Hyoscyamus alba | ||
Piper album | 5 drams ea. | |
Opium | 2 1⁄2 drams | |
Cinnamonum cassia | ||
Cinnamonum zeylanicum | 1 1⁄2 drams ea. | |
Apium graveolens | ||
Commiphora molmol | ||
Euphorbium resinifera | ||
Saussurea lappa | 1 dram ea. | |
Petroselinum macedonicum | ||
Foeniculum vulgare | ||
Daucus spp. | 2 scruples, 5 grains ea. | |
Crocus sativus | 1 1⁄2 scruples | |
Anacyclus pyrethrum | ||
Nardostachys jatamansi | ||
Curcuma zedoaria | 15 grains ea. |
Preparation:
Powder and with three times their weight of clarified Honey, form an Electuary.
Function:
Relieves Pain, stops Cough, promotes Rest
Use:
1. Persistent Cough
2. Difficulty Breathing, Breathlessness
3. Hemoptysis
4. Pleurisy
5. Pneumonia
6. Consumption
7. “all internal dolours [pain]” including Kidney Stones, severe Colic, serious abdominal pain and organ pain.
8. Promotes rest and sleep
9. Applied topically to Toothache
Dose:
1⁄2–1 scruple; or a piece as big as a Pea, dissolved in a suitable decoction, or taken dissolved in wine.
Renodeus said “it must be assumed at the mouth only in small quantity, as the bigness of a Pea, or little more, according to the age and strength … and it must be variously dissolved, for various purposes; sometimes in the decoction of plants; sometimes in wine”.
Cautions:
Obsolete due to the narcotics.
1. If used, overdose should be avoided.
2. Not used during Pregnancy.
Modifications:
1. Poppy seed can substitute Henbane seed and Opium.
2. It was commonly made without Euphorbium. Some also omitted Costus.
3. In the 1746 London Pharmacopoeia, it was reduced to White Pepper, Ginger, Caraway, Opium and using Syrup of Poppy instead of Honey. This was called Philonium Londinense.
Philonium was a famous antidote invented by Philon of Tarsus who lived in the first century AD. Galen said by his time it had already developed a long and sound reputation, and that it was one of the earliest of this type of formula. Galen was responsible for translating the recipe out of obscure Greek poetry that would have been lost if not for him. It thus usually bared Galen’s name, although it was penned by Philon.
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How to Modify a Formula
Substitutes
Weights & Measures
The Philonium formulas are very powerful medicines and were important and highly regarded formulas in the past, being an early form of Opiate. It was advised to get the “counsel of a learned Physician” before using this type of medicine.
They are largely obsolete today due to their heavy reliance on Henbane seed and Opium. Some of the Triphera formula are used similarly, but are far safer.
“No Medicament is so doubtful and various, as Philonius the Phiosopher’s Antidote; to which it happens, as it doth to wine which is poured out of one vessel into another, which cannot be without loss: for as many as have written of Pharmacy, have retained its name; but nothing more. Galen alone approves of it; but withall he saith, he subscribes many under it more famous and better. Myrepsus gave four Antidotes of that name; one whereof admits of Opium; one dimits it; the other are scarce like these, and very incongruent to the true Philonium. Prepositus detracted a few things from the former description, and added many more: some have added Castoreum, others Poppy-seed: We approve of Prepositus his description; instead o Costum, substituting Castoreum, the true castigator of Opium. We have otherwise disposed the order of the Simples, and lessened the quantity of Pepper, Euphorbium, and Bartram; for so we have made it more secure, without fear of inflammation: For we have seen some complaining of great ardour in the bottom of the belly, and the straight intestine, by the injection of a Glyster [enema], wherein half a dragm of Philonium had been dissolved; which is no wonder, seeing it consists of seventeen Simples, besides Opium, which some say is hot alfo, and Henbane; yea, it can scarce be swallowed, but it offends the jaws with its ardour and acrimony. But as it is by us emended, it may be safely assumed at the mouth, without any offence to the ventricle [stomach], gale or jaws. It is called Roman Philonium, because it was much used at Rome.
It is prescribed to the Pleurisie and Cholic: whence some call it the Cholical Antidote; and to all internal dolours [[ain]. It conciliates sleep, stays blood issuing from the internals, takes away loathsomeness [nausea], allays the dolours [pain] of the belly, spleen, liver and reins, arising from a cold distemper, flatulency, or crude humours, and stays sighing.
It must be assumed at the mouth only in small quantity, as the bigness of Pea, or a little more, according to the age and strength of the assument; and it must be variously dissolved, for various purposes; sometimes in the decections of Plants; sometimes in wine; Actuarius gave it to the sick in the stomach, in the succe [juice] of the sprigs of Cistus [Hypocistus], and a little wine.
Bur it is most frequently injected into the belly by the fundament in a decoction of Glysters [enemas]; which are prescribed for the cure of the most grievous cholical dolours :whereunto, this much conduces”, (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)