The special pharmaceutical tablet “tenzu” in ottoman medicine
Introduction
In Ottoman Turkish tenzu (tensuh) means“very rare beautiful thing” or “a box containing a variety of fragrances.”[1]Tenzu was also said to be the name of a place in Hıtay (Eastern Turkistan / Xinjiang) where a medicinal clay- the main ingredient of the tablet tenzu- was imported from. Tenzu was a kind of theriac said to be effective against various ailments. Different tenzu prescriptions are noted in the texts and on the non-text pages at the end or beginning of several medical manuscripts of the 17th and 18th centuries. These tenzu prescriptions were described by various physicians, e.g. the head physicians Salih bin Nasrullah and Nuh Efendi as well as Hayatizade Mustafa Feyzi and Shaban Shifai who were palace physicians of the period.[2]
The special pharmaceutical tablet/pastille named “tenzu kursu” was formed in various shapes, i.e.oval, round, or rectangular. A measured amount of the drug preparation was compressed and shaped in a special brass mold named “tenzu kalıbı” in Turkish. Eventually a small disk or cylinder made of compressed solid medicine, that is a tablet was obtained.
Inscribed and Ornamented Tablet Molds
Three samples of brass molds used in forming medicinal tablets that are kept in the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbulare considered in this study.[3] These molds were designed so as to impress those who were to take the tablets. Prayers and ornamentations are engraved on the metal molds intended for casting tenzu tablets. Patients who took the tablets read words on it that indicated the healing power of Allah. The inscriptions Bismillah (In the name of God) or Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful) are found in every mold. This means, “Whatever we do is done through the essence of the One who has created us.It is not us that does the work, we are dependent upon the Creator for the very essence of life itself.”[4] The expression, Mashallahu ala amel (What Allah wanted has happened, something good has happened) written on one of the molds reflect the undisputed belief in God. The expressions Deva al kulub(Drugfor the heart) and Shifa al marghoob (The desired, yearned healing) inscribed on molds reinforce spirituality.
The following Beautiful Names of Allah (Asma al-Husna)[5], believed to have healing power on disease, are also inscribed on tablet molds:
- Al Shafi(The Healer, where Allah is the source and cause of all healing.)
- Ya Shafi (O healer, Thou art The Healer)
- Al Kafi (The One who thoroughly meets requirements)
- Ya Kafi (O self-sufficient One, where Allah suffices His servants in all their needs.)
- Ya Mu`afi (O the One who removes troubles and gives health)
- Ya Hafiz (O, the preserver, the protector, the guardian)
Quranic verses of healing are inscribed on some of the molds:
- feehi shifaun lin-naas(Wherein is healing for mankind; Surah an-Nahl, verse 69)
- wa shifaun limaa fee as-sudoori (Mankind there has come to youa healing for (the diseases) in your hearts; Surah Yunus, verse 57)
- syifa_’uw wa rahmatul lil mu’minin(a) (A healing and a mercy for the believers;Surah Al Isra, verse 82)
The name of the palace physician Mustafa Feyzi Hayati,who prescribed tenzu compositions, is inscribed on one of the molds kept at the Topkapi Palace.
On this mold, Bismillah Al Shafi and Bismillah Al Kafi are written in a rectangular case ornamented with classical Turkish motifs. In a circle
Ya İkram (O The Lord of Generosity),Ya Rahim (O The Merciful), Ya Latif (O The Gentle) and Ya Allah are inscribed. Around the circle,Iyyaaka na’abudu wa iyyaaka nasta’een (You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help,Surah Al Fatiha),Ya Allah, Al-Qadir (The Able) and Ya Rahman (The Beneficent) is written.
The size of the cases in tenzu molds are different. Round cases’ diameters varies between 1.9 cm and 2.4 cm. Rectangle shaped cases’ dimensions varies as 4.5 cm. width- 1.7 cm length and4.1 cm width – 2.2 cm length. Oval cases’ sizes are 2.8 cm width – 1.9 cm length and2.7 cm width – 1.1 cm length. These tablets were too large for swallowing. They were absorbed in the mouth or immersed in liquid, then taken as syrup.


Newly Founded Tablet Molds of the Haluk Perk Collection
Two new molds have been acquired recently by Haluk Perk, a known Turkish collector of medical objects. When closedthe large mold is 1 cm in diameter, 13.7 cm in length, 9.2 cm in width. When open its diameter is 0.2 cm. There are twelve tablet cases in this mold.The other mold with a single case has also been recently included in the collection.

The diameter of the flower shaped cases is 1.9 cm.Inscriptions around the center of one of the flower shaped patterns areBismillahirrahmanirrahim, Ya Kafi, Ya Shafi, Izzet, Bismillah, The writing Izzet (The Mighty) refers to God’s infinite greatness,meaning to be far superior and prevailing.Inscriptions around the center of the other flower shaped pattern are Ferd, Hayy, Kayyûm and feehi shifaun lin-naas(wherein is healing for mankind, Surah an-Nahl, verse 69).
Al-Qayyūmmeans, “the self-subsisting, the self-existing, the one upon whom all others depend.” Al-Hayy means, “the one who is undying, everlasting; the one who is eternally whole and sound; the one life from whom all life arises; the one who calls all life into being.” Al-Hayy and Al-Qayyūm are often used together.[9] Al-Hayy signifies “ever-lasting life”, and Al-Qayyūm “self-existing life”. There is a possibility that patients who read these inscriptions on tablets would reinforce their belief that they would be well.
The Star of David is worked in a circle shape.The diameter of the circular case is 2.4 cm. This six sided figure symbolizes that God rules over the universe and protects us from all directions, i.e. north, south, east, west, up and down, with the middle of the hexagram providing the spiritual dimension. Ya Kafi is written in the center of one of the Star of David cases processed in a circle. Ya Shafi is written in the other Star of David in a circle andIzzet is written at the corner.
There are four rectangular shaped cases in the mold, sized 4.5 cm width – 1.7 cm. length, 4.1 cm width – 2.2 cm length, 2.8 cm width – 1.9 cm length, 2.7 cm width -1.1 cm length. In the rectangle on the right side, “Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, Bismillah Al Shafi(In the name of Allah, The Healer), Sihhat bad (Have a good health) and Afiyet bad (Have a good appetite) are inscribed.Inscriptions on the other rectangular case areBismillah Al Kafi, BismillahAl Muafi, whileAmel and Izzet are written on the sides.
In the drop-shaped cases, one 2.7 x 1.1 cm, the other 2.8 cm x 1.9 cm in size, there are a tree and a flower motif. Could this be the tree of life motifs that exist in the Turkish tradition?
Tenzu Prescriptions and Tenzu Tableting
The formula of Salih Efendi, who describes the arrival of tenzu to the Ottomans, is hidden. However, tenzu prescriptions which are found on pages other than the main texts are known by the name of the physician who prepared the pharmaceutical compound. A. Suheyl Unver and Hayri Sozen published several tenzu prescriptions in their book “Turk Farmakoloji Tarihi I.”, in 1960.[10] Still other tenzu prescriptions found in Turkish medical manuscripts have not been published. The number of items in the tablet formulas given by the name of the drug makers are as follows; Kahvecizade86 drugs,Damatzade Efendi38 drugs (for Sultans),Nuh Efendi36 drugs,Hayatizade36,28, 26,and13drugs, Esseyid İbrahim Efendi34 drugs,Arif Efendi33 drugs,Suleyman Efendi30 drugs, Halis Efendi27 drugs,Vasıf Efendi25 drugs (kurs-u mahfi / a secret tablet), La-edri (those who composed the prescriptions are unknown) 25 and 17 drugs,Nidai10 drugs (Actually it’s not a tenzu prescription, he named his pill tenzu so that it would become popular).Noticing that so many items are contained in each of the compositions, these drugs were probably considered as theriac. Tenzu prescriptions are found in several medical manuscripts kept in the Topkapi Palace Library, Suleymaniye Library and Istanbul University Rare Books Library.[11]
Clay is a main ingredient in the composition of the tenzu tablets. Tıyn-ı Tenzu is an unknown red colored clay. However, Terra Sigillata (Tıyn-ı mahtum / muhurlu toprak) and Armenian Clay(Kil ermeni) are found in the prescriptions.
There are various gem in compositions of tenzu tablets, such as emerald (zumrud),garnet (la’l),gold foil (altın varak),pearl(inci),red ruby (yakud-ı ahmer),red coral (mercan-ı ahmer),white coral (mercen-i ebyaz),amber (kehribar) andcrystallized quartz (necef).
There are also animal products in the compositions, i.e. ambergris (anber), bezoar (badzehr),kermes(kırmız), musk(misk),raw silk (harir-i ham /ham ipek),ivory (fildisi) and burnt deer antler (yanmısgeyik boynuzu).
There are a wide variety of herbal drugs in the compositions, i.e. Acorus calamus- Rhizoma calami aromatici (Vec/Egir),Aloe vera (Sabır),Alyssum maritimum (İbrisim/Kuduz otu- İbrisim Muhrik),Alphina galanga (Havlincan),Anchusa officinalis(Lisan-ı sevr cicegi), Artemisia absinthium (Afsentin/Pelin otu),Bambusa arundinaceae (Tebasir Hindi), Bellerica myrobalan (Belile/ Belilec ),Chenopodium album (Kasabu’z-zerire/Kazayagi),Cinnamon(Darcin), Citrus aurantium / Fructus aurantii(Kısr-ı etruc/kısr-ı turunc/turunc kabugu), Crocus sativus (Za’feran), Embellia ribes (Kabuli),Gummi mastix/Pistacia lentiscus (Mastaki/Damla Sakızı),Gummi tragacanthae (Kesire/Kitre Zamkı),Heliotropium arborsecens (Akrep Otu),Nardustachys jatamansi (Sunbul-u Hindi),Potentilla reptans orVitex agnus-castus (Bendafilyun koku), Pterocarpus santalinus (Sandal-ı ahmer), Red rose/Rosa gallica (Verd-i ahmer), Rheum officinale (Ravend),Rumex acetosellaseed (Kuzu kulagı tohumu), Ruta graveolens(Keci Sadefi/Sedef Otu), Terminalia citrina (Sarı Helile),Terminalia chebula (Kara Helile),Tormentilla(Tormentila).[12]
Shaping and storage of these drugs are explained alongside some of the tenzu prescriptions. According to a recipe, all ingredients are beaten very thin on a porphyry(onyx marble), until no substance will be felt. Having blended with kermes it is kneaded thoroughly. Each dose wrapped in gold foil is anointed with an amount of almond oil. It is pressed into the mold,dried in the shade andstored in wood boxes.
There are many descriptions about the method of making tablets in medical texts written in Ottoman Turkish. Drugs in tablet form was an old tradition. In general,the preparation is poured onto a tray. Then, the medicament is pressed with another tray until it is flat.Each piece is cutto be five dirhams. After dried in the shade,orange leaves are put between them. Stored in colored glass containers, they’reused when needed,squashed with water and drunk as a syrup. Also, flat pills made of a drachma weight were retained on the tongue in the mouth to be swallowed when squashed. Although drugs in tablet formwere used throughout Ottoman historyeither as a pastilleor to be converted into syrup, the tenzu tablet molds were designed for the Ottoman sultans and members of the dynasty to make special tabletsdecorated with calligraphyin hope of healing from God.
References
[1] Shemseddin Sami: Kamus-ı Turki. Dersaadet 1317; İlhan Ayverdi: Asirlar Boyu Tarihi Seyri İcinde Misalli Buyuk Turkce Sozluk. Kubbealtı Lugatı, 2005; Sir James W. Redhouse: Turkish and English Lexicon. Constantinople 1890. Redhouse gives another meaning, describing the pastille tenzu also as “a kind of perfumed paste, made in pieces of ornamental shapes, often used as personal ornaments.”
[2]For the history of the Ottoman head physicians see: Ali Haydar Bayat, Osmanlı Devletinde Hekimbaşılık Kurumu ve Hekimbaşılar.AKM publication No. 199, Ankara 1999.
[3] The tenzu molds kept at the Topkapi Palace are numbered 12/66, 12/67, 12/68, 12/69, 12/70.
[4] Suat Yıldırım: “Besmele.” Türk Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi, 1992, v. 5, p. 529-532.
[5] Bekir Topaloglu: “Esma-i Husna”, Türk Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi, 1995, v. 11, p. 404– 418.
[6] Topkapı Palace Museum Head Physician’s Office, No. 12/67.
[7] Topkapı Palace Museum Head Physician’s Office, No. 12/69.
[8] Topkapı Palace Museum Head Physician’s Office, No. 12/70.
[9]Bekir Topaloğlu: “Hay”. Türk Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi, 1997, v. 16, p. 549-550.
[10] Süheyl Ünver, Hayri Sozen: Turk Farmakoloji Tarihi I Tenzu Kursları Terkipleri ve Kullanıldığı Yerler. İstanbul 1960, pp. 26-41.
[11]The prescriptions are foundin various copies of the following books: Salih bin Nasrullah: Gayetu’l Beyan fi Tedbiri Bedeni’l İnsan; Ebu’l Feyz Mustafa Efendi: Tercume-i Gayetu’l Etkan; Nuh Efendi: Tercume-i Akrabadin; Suleyman Efendi: Murekkebat/Akrabadin; Kahvecizade: Ceridetu’l Etibba Haridetu’l Elibba;Nidai:Menafiunnas.
[12] Turhan Baytop, Türkiye’de Bitkilerle Tedavi Geçmişte ve Bugün. Nobel Tıp Kitapevleri, 1999 İstanbul;Arif Bilgin: “Osmanlı Döneminde İlaç Yapımında Kullanılan Tıbbi Bitkiler.” Osmanlılarda Sağlık I, İstanbul 2006, p. 246-263.