# Diacatholicon

**Known today as.** A “universal” purgative electuary of the old apothecary, based on senna, rhubarb, cassia, and tamarind with various seeds.

Kind: Compound  
Poisoning: The anthranoid purgatives (https://thethinkingpress.org/materia-medica/poisons/anthranoid)

## What did Canale use it for?

A starting purge, especially for melancholic patients (chs. 2, 4).

## What does modern science say?

A laxative by modern reckoning for its senna, which the EMA accepts for short-term use in occasional constipation, and for its rhubarb, which in large doses is purgative. Culpeper called it a fine cooling purge for any part of the body.

## Pharmacognosy and toxicology

- **sennosides**: from the senna
- **rhein and emodin**: from the rhubarb
- **cassia pulp and tamarind**: 
- **polypody**: 
- **liquorice and sugar**: 

**Mechanism.** The “universal” purge, built on senna, rhubarb, cassia, and tamarind: the bacteria of the large intestine turn senna’s sennosides into rhein anthrone, which stirs the colon, and the stool comes eight to twelve hours after the dose; Culpeper found the whole very gentle. A sound laxative by modern reckoning, whatever its claim on every humour.

**Dose.** Culpeper gave an ounce or half an ounce at a time; long use of senna can upset the body’s water and electrolytes and lower potassium, and high doses taken too long have injured the liver.

**Standing.** In the London Pharmacopoeia of 1653, as Catholicon; its senna is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines.

## Sources

- Wikipedia, “WHO Model List of Essential Medicines,” en.wikipedia.org (read 2 October 2026).
- Culpeper, N. (1653). *Pharmacopoeia Londinensis*, “Diacatholicon.”
- EMA/HMPC (2020). *European Union herbal monograph on Senna alexandrina Mill., folium* (EMA/HMPC/625849/2015).

---

*Diacatholicon.* In *Materia Medica*, edited by B. C. P. Statema. Version 1, revised 2026-10-03. The Thinking Press. https://thethinkingpress.org/materia-medica/diacatholicon

Historical description, not medical advice.