On Medicine (De Medicina), Vol. 2

Alcyonium; II. 8, 28, 174; probably a species of coral, perhaps leather coral. It was incinerated to produce quick lime and used as an exedent substance that eats away tissue and for skin diseases.

Alipe; plasters without grease, II. 32.

Allium; Allium nigrum, garlic.
As a food, I. 192 ff., 490; a febrifuge fever-reducing agent, I. 276; see also I. 208, 330, 370, 390, 424, 436, 438, 448; used topically as an erodent substance that corrodes tissue, II. 8.

Aloe;
(1) Aquilaria agallocha, lign-aloe aloe wood.
The perfumed wood of this yields an oil and decays into a resin used in making incense and also (as it was rich in tannin) applied as a topical astringent substance that causes contraction of tissue; to suppress haemorrhage, II. 6, to agglutinate wounds, II. 44, and as an ingredient in eye salves, II. 194, 196, 212, and ear lotion, II. 232.
(2) Aloe Socotrina; aloen.
This was (and still is) used as an aperient laxative, I. 62.

Alumen; Aluminium sulphate and silicate; alum. The following varieties were used:
(1) Alumen liquidum; alum brine, a styptic agent to stop bleeding, II. 4.
(2) Alumen scissile (schiston); split or feathery alum, a repressive, II. 4, 44.
(3) Alumen rotundum; round alum; an epispastic blister-inducing agent and erodent, II. 6 and 10.
(4) Pumex; silicate and carbonate of aluminium (and other alkalies), pumice. This had been formed by volcanic action and was used for cleaning wounds or as an epispastic, II. 6, 24, 28.