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.
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…
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…
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)…
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…
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 –…
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…
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…
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…