Trochisci Alkekengi
Troches of Winter Cherry

Tradition:

Western, Unani

Source / Author:

Mesue

Herb Name	Latin	Amount
Winter Cherries	Physalis alkekengi	3 drams
Gum Arabic	Acacia arabica
Tragacanth	Astragalus tragacanth
Frankincense	Boswellia sacra
Pine nuts	Nux Pinea
Bitter Almonds	Prunus amygdalus amara
White Starch	Amylum
Licorice juice	Succus Glycyrrhiza
Armenian Earth	Terra Armenius
Poppy seed	Papaver somniferum
Dragon’s Blood	Daemonorops draco	6 drams ea.
Melon seed	Citrullus vulgaris
Gourd seed	Cucurbita spp.
Pumpkin seed	Cucurbita pepo
Cucumber seed	Cucumis sativus	3 1⁄2 drams ea.
Parsley seed	Petroselinum crispum
White Henbane seed	Hyoscyamus niger
White Amber	Succinum alba
Earth of Lemnos	Terra Lemnia
Opium	Opium	2 drams ea.

Preparation:

Powder, and with Winter Cherry juice, form Troches

Function:

Clears Heat, relieves Irritation, promotes Urine, resolves Stones, promotes Healing, relieves Pain

Use:

1. Burning Urine
2. Strangury
3. Dysuria
4. Gravel, Stones
5. Abscesses, Ulcers or Tumors of the Urinary tract;
6. Prostatitis, Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

Dose:

1–1 1⁄2 drams in Plantain water (for Heat of the Urine), or Syrup of Violets (in Urinary Abscess, Ulcers, or Tumors)

Cautions:

None noted

Modifications:

1. This can be used without the Opium, Opium only being important in cases with strong pain. A double dose of Poppy seed could also be used.
2. The contemporary Unani version omits Tragacanth, Frankincense, Licorice juice, seeds of Parsley and Henbane, Amber, Lemnian Earth and Opium, making it more feasible to be made today.