{{Short description|Obsolete medication}} In pre-modern medicine, '''diascordium''' (medical Lat. ''diascordium'', for ''diascordiōn'', from Gr. {{Lang|el|διὰ σκορδίων}}, [a preparation] of scordium, {{Lang|el|σκόρδιον}}, "a strong-smelling plant mentioned by Dioscorides", possibly ''Teucrium scordium''<ref name="OED">{{OED|diascord}}</ref>), or '''diascord''', is a kind of electuary, or opiate, first described by Jerome Frascata, and denominated from the dried leaves of scordium, which is an ingredient therein.<ref name="OED"/> The other ingredients are red roses, bole armoniac, storax, cinnamon, cassia lignea (coarse bark of ''Cinnamomum cassia''), dittany, tormentil roots, bistort, gentian, galbanum, amber, terra sigillata, opium, long pepper, ginger, mel rosatum, and malmsey. It was used against malignant fevers, the plague, worms, colic, to promote sleep, and resist putrefaction.<ref>{{1728}}</ref> In 1746, diascordium was offered in two forms: with or without opium.<ref name="ODowd">O'Dowd, Michael J. (2001). "Diascordium". ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=nRG_SbX6h8AC The History of Medications for Women]''. Informa Health Care. {{ISBN|1-85070-002-8}}. p 212.</ref>
In 1654, Nicholas Culpeper wrote in his ''London Dispensatorie'' about the mixture: "It is a well composed Electuary, a something appropriate to the nature of women, for it Provokes the Terms, hastens their Labor, helps their usual sickness at the time of their Lying-in, I know nothing better."<ref name="ODowd"/>
Over the years, the composition of diascordium was modified, until it gradually changed into what became known as ''pulvis catechu compositus'' ("compound powder of catechu").<ref name="ODowd"/>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{Opioidergics}}
Category:History of pharmacy
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