Botanical Materia Medica
Sandra Clair is embarking on a journey of discovery with the transcription and subsequent modern translation of her priceless original Materia Medica from the Renaissance. In her blog she keeps a diary of her travels back in time and her discoveries on the way.
Page of Tabernaemontanus
The 16th century botanical Materia Medica written by Professor Jacobus Theodorus Tabernaemontanus is regarded as the most comprehensive and detailed text on classical European herbal medicine. Published in 1588 in Switzerland it describes in detail over 3000 medicinal plants, including their precise compounding and application. The pictures and botanical descriptions are of outstanding quality and beauty. They delight not only people interested in plant based medicine but lovers of antique books alike.
The author Tabernaemontanus, a pharmacist and medical doctor to the nobility of his area spent over 36 years in the research and writing of this outstanding Materia Medica. He summarised the knowledge of the most significant antique and contemporary European herbal textbooks available at the time, including the works of Hippocrates, Galen and Dioscurides who are often cited as the fathers of modern medicine. The hallmark of the book is its typical Renaissance writing style which is based on a logical and scientific way of describing the virtues of the plant. The over 1500 pages are flawlessly referenced in 10 languages. Modern science is confirming today many of the claimed botanical virtues described 500 years ago. Sandra’s research project is centred around the comparison of the old empirical and modern day knowledge, including up-to-date scientific research.
It is amazing to see how Tabernaemontanus’ detailed observations are more and more confirmed by latest scientific studies and that his recipes are of timeless value.
Sandra Clair received this priceless work through her long lineage of medical herbalists and has built on this knowledge her organic range of health teas and natural body care products (see www.artemis.co.nz).