De materia medica
De materia medica
De materia medica (pronunciation: deh ma-te-ri-a me-di-ca) is a pharmacopoeia written by ancient Greek physician Dioscorides in the 1st century AD. It is a five-volume encyclopedia about herbal medicine and related medicinal substances, a precursor to all modern pharmacopeias, and is one of the most influential herbal books in history.
Etymology
The term "De materia medica" is Latin, which translates to "On Medical Material". It is derived from the Greek "Περὶ ὕλης ἰατρικῆς" (Peri hules iatrikēs), which also means "On Medical Material".
Content
The book provides detailed information on 600 plants, 35 animal products, and 90 minerals, detailing their medicinal properties and methods of preparation. It includes the plant's name, habitat, method of cultivation, time of collection, preparation, dosage, and therapeutic uses.
Influence
The influence of De materia medica was vast, serving as the primary text for herbal medicine in the West for over 1500 years. It was translated into many languages, including Arabic and Latin, and was used in the Middle Ages by many Islamic and European physicians.
Related Terms
- Pharmacopoeia: A book containing directions for the identification of compound medicines, and published by the authority of a government or a medical or pharmaceutical society.
- Herbal Medicine: The study or use of medicinal properties of plants.
- Dioscorides: A Greek physician, pharmacologist, botanist, and author of De Materia Medica.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on De materia medica
- Wikipedia's article - De materia medica
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