Pilulae de Rhabarbaro
Pills of Rhubarb

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Yellow Myrobalan	Terminalia chebula (yellow)	3 1⁄2 oz.
Hiera Picra of Galen	Hiera Picra Galeni	10 drams
Licorice juice	Succus Glycyrrhiza
Wormwood juice dehydrated	Succum absinthum
Mastic	Pistacia lentiscus	1 oz. ea.
Troches of Rose	Trochisci Rosum	3 1⁄2 drams
Rhubarb	Rheum palmatum	3 drams
Fennel seed	Foeniculum vulgare
Celery seed	Apium graveolens	1⁄2 dram ea.

Preparation:

Powder the herbs and mixed with the thickened juices (and a little honey), and form a pill mass.

Function:

Purges Bile, opens Obstructions

Use:

1. Purges Bile of the Stomach and Liver
2. Liver pain
3. Liver or Spleen Obstruction
4. Corruption of the Liver from Bile
5. Beginning of Edema
6. Cachexia

Dose:

1 scruple–1 dram

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. Combine with Pills of Agrimony for Liver disease.

Comment:

“There is as much difference in the receipt of these Pills, as in any other that are met with in Dispensatories”. (Charras, French Pharmacopoeia)
This was classed as a ‘Warming Hepatic’; warming medicine for the Liver.