The Use of Herbalism during the Black Plague
A look into holistic healing during a prescientific era
The discovery of holistic medicine used to cure ailments both physically and mentally has taken millennia to develop across countless cultures and eras. Depending on the environment and ecosystem does the discovery differ of potent herbs, spices, fruits, and more to develop elixirs and potions meant to cure anything from condemnation to a stubbed toe. This project will specifically be looking at the remedies formulated by ancient healers and doctors to combat the black death killing off millions of Europeans.
A Briefing of the Plague
The bubonic plague or better known as the black plague was at its height over Europe from 1347-1350 killing an estimated 20 million people in roughly three years was the first killer in a population due to the formation of closely built cities and increasing trade between societies. Originating in China and traveling on trade boats to the ports of Florence, the plague settled in Europe and stuck around for centuries without an official cure. The plague spread to humans by the fleas on the backs of rodents such as the rat and eventually gerbils.
Today the black plague has been recognized as Yersina Pestis a bacterial disease. Working swiftly, the plague spreads through the air and was inhaled or spread through blood is ingested through the lungs or can be transferred by a flea or rodent via bite. Bites were common as newly formed cities increased the lack of hygiene in close quarters.
Symptoms of the black plague came on rapidly. The bacterium instantly after inhalation injected toxins into the defense cells of the immune system. Quickly the bodies lymph-nodes swell up with puss and blood. These buboes were the defining symptom of the plague not known as the lymph-nodes yet. Other symptoms were nausea, diarrhea, fever, weakness, abdominal pain, and bleeding from orifices.
During the end of the middle ages modern medicine and science was yet to be discovered. Many healers, monks, midwives, and local gardeners/foragers were the doctors of the time. Following thousands of years of natural medicinal practices these holistic healers formulated remedies from the plant kingdom and were given to the sick for topical or ingested uses. The use of the garden became central to monastery life and also became central to healers during the bubonic plague to practice herbalism. Apposed to other forms of healing such as consuming ones excrement, blood letting,
A doctor in garments for protection against the plague
Herbalism- the study of botany and the use of medicinal plants
The main sources of knowledge on the body
Galen - a leading physician of the middle ages with many discoveries in human anatomy gave way to many modern practices on the human body as well as held back some advances in medicine.
the four humors of the body:
Diosciorders - a greek philosopher who wrote the Materia Medica, dealing with 600 botanical plants that could be harnessed for medicinal qualities. His writing is one of the major guides for remedies of maladies during the middle ages.
While we learn how important spices and herbs were to the classism and social aspect of hierarchy in the middle ages europe. However, what seems more important is the affordability to be able to have imported medicinal plants in your garden that would potentially save ones life.
Herbs for Health
These uses of prior knowledge became common practice within religious context. As education lied within the wealthy and wealth mainly lied within the church. It was monastic monks who harbored knowledge from prior millennia. In monasteries monks held botanical gardens and were the center for knowledge on health and wellness. These gardens held diverse medicinal plants used for all things related to the bodily well being.
The understanding of the plague in 1450 was only from the scientific standing of that time period, which was very little. The understanding across the mass group of europeans was the natural world can cure ailments. The four humours were of great importance to the balance of the body. Also the individual complexion of a person was also meant to be balanced by ingestion of food
Herbals -
I then will go into the ideas of the bubonic plague and then go into what the monasteries grew and different tinctures and herbs grown in the garden that were thought to combat the illness. I would like to invest a piece of the project into learning more about holistic herbalism in medieval England and the history of how monasteries received this information.
