Recipe Manuscript

To Make Daracelsus Plaister

Name: To Make Daracelsus Plaister
Prep time: PTPT40M
Cook time: PTPT30M
Yield: 10
Cuisine: European
Ingredients: 170 g beeswax; 130 ml oil of bay (substitute: olive oil infused with bay leaves); 127 g litharge of gold (red lead; toxic, use zinc oxide or omit for safety); 28 g gum ammoniac; 28 g bdellium (or myrrh as a close substitute if unavailable); 28 g galbanum resin; 28 g opopanax (sweet myrrh; or additional myrrh); 7 g lapis caliminaris (natural zinc carbonate, can substitute with zinc oxide); 7 g aristolochia root (long and round, can substitute with a mix of gentian and ginger root for safety); 7 g myrrh resin; 7 g frankincense resin; 28 g Venice turpentine (or pine resin); 50 ml white wine; 50 ml vinegar

1695

From the treasured pages of Cookery and medicinal recipes of the Granville family from Worcestershire and Cadiz

Written by Granville family

Renaissance (1400 - 1700)European Advanced Other

Original Recipe • 1695

Original Manuscript(circa Renaissance, 1400 - 1700)

As inscribed by the original author's hand, transcribed with care by Lost Kitchen Scrolls

To Make Daracelsus Plaister

"Take 6 ounces of fallea bee wax, 4 ounces and halfe of lithridge of gold, one ounce of Amoniacum, and one ounce of Bdellium, Galbanum - Opopanax, and oyle of Baies of each of these 2 drams; two drams of lapis calliminaris, two drams of Aristolochia; both long and round, two drams of mirrhe, and two drams of frankincense, and one ounce of Venice Turpentine, the powders to bee beaten Seuerally first powder the lithridge of gold, and Searce it very fine then boile itt with the wax and oyle till itt will not sticke to your finger being cold, then before it be cold put it to the gummes, but first dissolue & leam to gether in white uprine & vin(e)gre, and straine them into itt, lastly ad to itt the powder, the oyle of Baies and the Turpentine soe make itt into Rolls, &c = = ="

Note on the Original Text

The recipe employs the technical style typical of early modern English household manuscripts: lists of ingredients in ounces and drams, imperative instructions often without full sentences, and somewhat ambiguous sequencing. Spelling reflects period conventions ('bee wax', 'gummes', 'powders to bee beaten Seuerally'). Terms like 'searce' mean to sift. Quantities and methods are imprecise, relying on the cook or apothecary's familiarity with the materials and techniques. Some substances, like 'litharge of gold', are no longer used due to toxicity and should be substituted or omitted for safety.

Modern Kitchen Interpretation

Recipe's Origin

Cookery and medicinal recipes of the Granville family from Worcestershire and Cadiz - Click to view recipe in book

Title

Cookery and medicinal recipes of the Granville family from Worcestershire and Cadiz (1695)

You can also click the book image above to peruse the original tome

Writer

Granville family

Era

1695

Publisher

Unknown

Background

A delightful journey through the culinary traditions of the Granville family, this historical recipe collection serves up a taste of English kitchens from the 17th and early 18th centuries. Brimming with time-honored techniques and flavors, it invites modern readers to savor the spirited inventiveness of early modern home cooks.

Kindly made available by

Folger Shakespeare Library

Historical Background of the Recipe

Learn about old traditions

This recipe comes from the Granville family manuscript collection, dating roughly from 1640 to 1750 in England, a time when medicinal household receipts were handed down through families and carefully copied. Daracelsus Plaister is a medicinal plaster—a sticky ointment-like preparation meant to be spread on cloth and applied to the body for healing bruises, pains, or wounds. This recipe reflects the period's blending of medicinal, culinary, and alchemical traditions, where both apothecaries and well-off households would make their own remedies.

Culinary Tools when the Recipe was Crafted

Tools and techniques from kitchens of old

In the 17th and 18th centuries, this plaster would be made using a set of apothecary tools: a brass or copper cauldron or pan to melt and mix the ingredients, a mortar and pestle to grind the dry powders and resins, a sieve for sifting powders, and a spatula or wooden spoon for stirring. Liquids would be strained using muslin or fine cloth. The finished mixture would be shaped by hand, often rolled on a marble or wooden board.

Modern Kitchen Adaptation

Ingredients and techniques for today's cooks

ounces, cups, Fahrenheit

Prep Time

40 mins

Cook Time

30 mins

Servings

We've done our best to adapt this historical recipe for modern kitchens, but some details may still need refinement. We warmly welcome feedback from fellow cooks and culinary historians — your insights support the entire community!

Ingredients

6 oz beeswax
4.4 fl oz oil of bay (substitute: olive oil infused with bay leaves)
4.5 oz litharge of gold (red lead; toxic, use zinc oxide or omit for safety)
1 oz gum ammoniac
1 oz bdellium (or myrrh as a close substitute if unavailable)
1 oz galbanum resin
1 oz opopanax (sweet myrrh; or additional myrrh)
1/4 oz lapis caliminaris (natural zinc carbonate, can substitute with zinc oxide)
1/4 oz aristolochia root (long and round, can substitute with a mix of gentian and ginger root for safety)
1/4 oz myrrh resin
1/4 oz frankincense resin
1 oz Venice turpentine (or pine resin)
1.7 fl oz white wine
1.7 fl oz vinegar

Instructions

To make Daracelsus Plaister in modern terms, begin by finely powdering red lead (litharge of gold) and sifting it carefully.
Measure out 6 oz of beeswax and melt it gently with 4.4 fl oz of oil of bay over low heat.
While stirring, gradually add in the sifted litharge of gold.
Boil the mixture until a drop cooled on your finger does not stick.
Prepare a blend of the gums: 1 oz each of gum ammoniac, bdellium, galbanum, and opopanax, dissolving them together in a mix of white wine and vinegar (about 1.7 fl oz each), then strain.
Add this strained gum solution to the warm wax mixture before it cools.
Add 1/4 oz each of lapis caliminaris (or a substitute like zinc oxide), long and round aristolochia root (or substitute with a mix of gentian and ginger), powdered myrrh, and powdered frankincense.
Stir in 1 oz of Venice turpentine.
Mix everything thoroughly.
Shape into rolls or use as required for a medicinal plaster.

Estimated Calories

95 per serving

Cooking Estimates

You will spend some time melting and mixing the ingredients gently. Preparing the resins and roots might take a little longer because of powdering and dissolving. The total time includes prepping, measuring, and carefully cooking as described. Most of the caloric content comes from the beeswax and oil. This recipe makes approximately 10 standard medicinal plasters.

As noted above, we have made our best effort to translate and adapt this historical recipe for modern kitchens, taking into account ingredients nowadays, cooking techniques, measurements, and so on. However, historical recipes often contain assumptions that require interpretation.

We'd love for anyone to help improve these adaptations. Community contributions are highly welcome. If you have suggestions, corrections, or cooking tips based on your experience with this recipe, please share them below.