Pilulae Lucis Majores,
or Pilulae Opticae
Pills to Clarify

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Rose	Rosa gallica	.
Violet	Viola odorata
Wormwood	Artemisia absinthium
Colocynth	Citrullus colocynthis
Turbith	Operculina turpethum
Cubeb	Piper cubeba
Calamus	Acorus calamus
Nutmeg	Myristica fragrans	2 drams ea.
Dodder of Thyme	Cuscuta europea
Indian Spikenard	Nardostachys jatamansi
Balsam fruit (or Cardamon)	Commiphora opobalsamum
Balsam wood (or Aloeswood)	Commiphora opobalsamum
Seseli seed (or Hartwort)	Siler montanum
Rue	Ruta graveolens
Annis	Pimpinella anisum
Fennel seed	Foeniculum vulgare
Celery seed	Apium graveolens
Squinanth	Juncus odoratus
Asarabacca	Asarum europeum
Mastic	Pistacia lentiscus
Clove	Eugenia caryophyllus
Cinnamon	Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Cassia wood	Cinnamomum cassia
Saffron	Crocus sativus
Mace	Myristica fragrans
Chebulia Myrobalan	Terminalia chebula
Emblic Myrobalan	Emblica officinalis
Belleric Myrobalan	Terminalia bellerica
Yellow Myrobalan	Terminalia chebula (Yellow)
Black Myrobalan	Terminalia chebula (Black)
Rhubarb	Rheum officinale	4 drams ea.
Agaric	Fomitopsis officinale
Senna	Cassia angustfolia	5 drams ea
Eyebright	Euphrasia officinalis	7 drams
Aloes	Aloe spp.	equal to the rest

Preparation:

Powder and form pills with clarified Fennel juice.

Function:

Purges Phlegm and Melancholy from the Head, clears the Senses, Clarifies the Eyesight

Use:

1. Poor or Failing Eyesight
2. Floaters
3. Blindness
4. Nightblindness
5. Eye pain
6. Excess humors affecting the Head and Senses
7. To purge in Melancholy diseases of the Head
8. Some apparently used in to hasten Labor.

Dose:

1–2 drams (up to 3 drams).
Often a daily dose was given for a week or more. In long-term treatment, it was common to give a dose once or twice per month.

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

This can be made without Colocynth.

Comment:

‘It purges mixed Humors from the Head, and clears it of such excrements as hinder the Sight’. (Culpeper)

These were commonly used and highly regarded for poor or failing eyesight. They clear the humors which obstruct the fine circulation of the eyes and were regarded as sharpening the sight. They are most suited to Phlegm and Melancholy humors.