Pilulae Pestilentes
Pills for Pestilence

Tradition:

Western

Source / Author:

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Aloe	Aloe spp.	1 oz.
Rhubarb	Rheum palmatum	2 drams
Sa ff ron	Crocus sativus
Myrrh	Commiphora molmol	1 dram ea.
Zedoary	Curcuma zedoaria
Gentian	Gentiana lutea
Agaric	Fomitopsis officinalis	1 scruple ea.
Venice Treacle	Theriac Venetia	4 drams

Preparation:

Powder, and make a Pill mass with the Theriac

Function:

Opens Obstructions, moves Blood, clears Heat and Damp, purges excess

Use:

1. Resists Infection during Epidemics including the Plague
2. Benefits the Brain and improves Memory
3. cleanses the Stomach and Bowels
4. clears the Sight and Hearing

Dose:

Preservative and to open the body: 6–10 grains; to cure in Infectious diseases give 1 dram, then cover in bed to sweat

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

Comment:

“They are held by some as a great Secret, being very good against all kinds of Malignity, they strengthen the Head, Brain, Memory, Stomach, and indeed the whole Body, ease pains in the Bowels; quicken the Sight, Hearing, and other Senses, resist Crudities and Putrefaction, powerfully open Obstructions, and provokes Sweat”. (Salmon)

This is a fore-runner formula to the modern ‘Swedish Bitters’. This was taken from Salmon, but where the original was from is uncertain. The modern Swedish Bitters is credited with being penned by Paracelsus, but numerous versions on this theme were given by various authors, this really being a more compound version of Common Pills (aka Pills of Ruffus) which far preceded Paracelsus.