Antidotaria are full recipes with a number of ingredients that usually have a name – such as Aqua Matricariae – and include the ingredients, the purpose, the procedure and extra information.
Receptaria are short recipes frequently without a name, with fewer ingredients and fewer steps in the procedure. They can be described as being ‘medicine for…’.
Experimenta are based on first hand experience and observation or hearsay by a physician (or a doctor-without-degree). They could be experiments conducted by the author or learned from colleagues. They are found in commonplace books that physicians wrote for themselves. Such a book would have been divided into headings and blank pages and subsequently filled with notes and recipes.
Receptaria: Tansy & gin
Very much recognised as an emmenagogue….. A strong decoction or infusion of the herb is in common use…
Hysteric Troches
Take of Asa Foetida (Ferula – dried latex/gum) and Galbanum (Ferula gummosa – aromatic gum resin) each 2 drams and half; Myrrh (Commiphora myrrh –…
Miss Efficient
Bitter melon is known as Miss Efficient in Nigeria for its certainty as an abortifacient. In Cameroon the seeds are used as a pessary. In…
Tansy, Feverfew and Mullein. Receptaria: Hildegard von Bingen
Tansy emmenagogue A woman who is in pain from obstructed menses should take TANSY (Tanacetum vulgare) and equal weight FEVERFEW (Tanacetum parthanium), a bit more…
Receptaria:Cuckoo-Pint
A dram of powder of dried root of Cuckoo-Pint (and twice as much sugar in the form of licking electuary) taken in wine or other…
Receptaria : Savin pessary
This remedy, also given to abort a dead fetus and to promote afterbirth and menstruation, contained a number of likely effective abortifacients: Take half a…
The Savin Pills
Take the tops of Savin (Juniperus sabina), half a dram; Saffron (Crocus sativus) and Castor (Ricinus communis), each 15 grains; Take HYSTERIC TROCHES (see separate…
The Diuretic Syrup
Take the Bark of the Roots of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and that of Parsley (Petroselinum crispum/sativum), each 8 ounces; Spring Water 3 quarts. Digest in…
Miss Efficient
Momordica charantia, aka Miss Efficient. A Cameroon abortive pessary: 10 seeds are ground to a past and divided into three small balls using saliva. One…
Aqua Matricariae
White bryony (Bryonia) roots juice 3 quarts; Feverfew (Tanecetum Matricaria /Parthanium) and Rue (Ruta graveolens) 3 pint each; Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) and Thyme (Thymus vulgare)…