Trochisci de Camphora
Qurs Kafoor
Troches of Camphor
Tradition:
Western, Unani
Source / Author:
Nicholas Myrepsus
Herb Name | Latin | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Rosa gallica | ||
Acacia arabica | ||
Astragalus tragacanth | ||
Bambusae silicae | 4 drams ea. | |
Cucumis sativus | ||
Portulaceae oleracea | ||
Glycyrrhiza glabra | 1 ounce ea. | |
Crocus sativus | 2 drams | |
Amylum | 3 drams | |
Camphora | 1⁄2 dram |
A contemporary Unani version:
Herb Name | Latin | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Bambusae silicae | 50 grams | |
Rosa gallica | 25 grams | |
Camphora | ||
Santalum album | ||
Portulaceae oleracea | ||
Chicorium intybus | ||
Lactuosa sativa | ||
Cucurbita pepo | 5 grams ea. |
Preparation:
Powder all well, mix, and form Troches with mucilage of Psyllium seed made in Rose water.
Function:
Clears Heat, cools the Blood, stops Fever, eases Pain, promotes Rest
Use:
1. Fever, especially Burning and High Fevers;
2. Spotted Fevers including Measles;
3. Hectic Fevers with Thirst.
4. Also useful for any condition where strong Heat causes Headache, Irritability or Pain.
5. Also for Cough, Catarrh, Consumption and Hemoptysis coming from strong Heat
Dose:
1 scruple–1 dram
Cautions:
Not used in Cold disorders
Modifications:
There are a number of variations.
1. Some version add Barberry fruit and omit Saffron and Gum Arabic.
2. The Medical Formulary of al Samarqandi had a version very similar to the Unani version above. It said “Pearl may be added to it and then the Troches is named for it” (ie. Troches of Pearl)
Similar Formulas:
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How to Modify a Formula
Substitutes
Weights & Measures
“Of the various sorts of Trochisks of Camphor described by the Ancients, that is only made, which Mesue prescribes, for hot Fevers, the ardour of Bile, and of the Liver, Blood and Ventricle, and thirst inextinguishable; but it consisting of many hot Simples, as Spikenard, Xylo-aloes [Aloeswood], Saffron, and Cardamom, I cannot easily conjecture, how it can effect these things, I exhibit others of the same name, much better, more efficacious for those ends, and more easy to make, out of Myrepsus; in whose description; I find nothing mutable, but the order of the Simples; only instead of Spodium, if there be any such thing besides Pompholix, of the Greacian [Greeks], I would rather exhibit crude Ivory then burnt, for many reasons before-urged. The preparation is neither troublesome nor laborious: the powder or scrapings of Ivory, must be levigated apart, and also the other simples, Saffron, Camphor, Amylum, Roses and Liquorice; the Gums must be brayed in a hot Mortar, Cucumbers seed must be decorticated then minutely cut and levigated; then must they all be received in the mucilage of Fleabane [seeds], and made into a Paste for Trochisks.
They mitigate the heat of the liver and other bowels [organs], temperate the acrimony of Bile, and stay the fluor [flow] of humours delabing upon the Lungs, ” (A Medicinal Dispensatory, Renou, 1657)