Page 18 - Pharmacy History 31 Mar 2007

(Cont. from page 15)
Mandrake
use in pain treatment.19 The Egyptians used the balm as a counter-irritant
for local pain, and an antiseptic and astringent for wounds.18
Paul recommended Timothy to drink ... a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities, 20 due to water contamination problems.21
Salt was associated with healing where the prophet Elisha pronounced God’s healing on Jericho’s bad water, sprinkling it with salt.22,23
Medicines in the
works of Flavius
Josephus
The Jewish historian Josephus, living at the time of Jesus, described some medicinal plants found in Jewish life.2 The Jewish people understood health holistically. Good health was ensured by obeying God and his health laws. Sickness was a result of sin, and the remedy was prayer – seeking God’s help rather than the doctor’s. Several instances of using medications appear in the Bible and also in Josephus’ work. Israel was a rich, fertile
land producing numerous spices, oils, balms and plants which were
Tabernacle incense
used medicinally by their Egyptian neighbours, if less so by the Jews. Due to their theological beliefs, the practice and record of medicine and pharmacy was minimal, although Egyptian pharmaceutical remedies made from native plants may have been used.
Bibliography
1. The New King James Version. The Holy Bible. Thomas Nelson, Inc. Nashville, 1982.
2. Gower, R. The new manners and customs of Bible times. Moody Press. Chicago, 1987. p.170-3.
3. Exodus 15:26.
4. Leviticus chapters 11-19. 5. Deuteronomy 28:60-61. 6. 2 Kings 20:1-11.
7. 2 Kings 20:5.
8. 2 Chronicles 16:12.
9. James 5:14-16.
10. Proverbs 17:22.
17. 18.
19. 20. 21.
22. 23.
24.
Biblical and Rabbinic world. E.J.Brill. Leiden, The Netherlands. 1993;6-9.
Genesis 37:25.
Jacob, I. & Jacob, W. (editors) The
healing past: pharmaceuticals in the Biblical and Rabbinic world. E.J.Brill. Leiden, The Netherlands. 1993;3-5.
Jeremiah 51:8.
1 Timothy 5:23.
Gower, R. The new manners and
customs of Bible times. Moody Press. Chicago, 1987;55
2 Kings 2:19-22.
Jacob, I. & Jacob, W. (editors) The
healing past: pharmaceuticals in the Biblical and Rabbinic world. E.J.Brill. Leiden, The Netherlands. 1993;96.
Jacob, I. & Jacob, W. (editors) The healing past: pharmaceuticals in the Biblical and Rabbinic world. E.J.Brill. Leiden, The Netherlands. 1993;95- 104.
Balm of Gilead
11. 12.
13. 14. 15. 16.
Ezekiel 47:12.
Jacob, I. & Jacob, W. (editors) The
healing past: pharmaceuticals in the Biblical and Rabbinic world. E.J.Brill. Leiden, The Netherlands. 1993;2-3.
Isaiah 1:6.
Matthew 27:34.
Song of Songs 7:14.
Jacob, I. & Jacob, W. (editors) The
healing past: pharmaceuticals in the
Images from:
Torah – http://www.kstatecollegian.com/ images/111202/torah.jpg
Jewish prayer – http://www.unt.edu/fllc/ languages/hebrew.htm
Mandrake – http://ou066065.otago.ac.nz/ edmedia/HxPharmacy/library/Detail. asp?IDX=mandrake.jpg
Balm of Gilead – http://www.dnr.state. wi.us/org/land/forestry/treeid/TreePgs/ populusbals.htm
Tabernacle incense – http://www. bibleplaces.com/thumb/Tabernacle... Flavius Josephus – http://religion.rutgers. edu/iho/josephus.html
Editor’s note:
This article is a student assignment from the University of Otago School of Pharmacy in Dunedin New Zealand, and is printed with the kind permission of the author and her supervisor Dr Rosemary Beresford.
Plant
Medicinal use
Unripe dates
Astringent; used against haemorrhoids
Honey of bees or pressed dates
An essential nutrient; revives bulimic patients
Cypress
Treats worms
Myrobalanus
Purgative; treats stomach pain
Myrrh
Antiseptic, aromatic
Terebinth oil
Gout and rheumatism; resin used against worms
Canella (from the priestly ointment)
May be used for nerves, comfort and as an aphrodisiac
Calamus roots (from the priestly ointment)
Stomachic, tonic, aphrodisiac
Brassica eruca (in the high priest’s mitre)
Digestive, diuretic, aphrodisiac
Sideritis hirsuta (in the high priest’s mitre)
Used against fever, hysteria, painful menstruation
Peganum Harmala
Used against worms; diaphoretic, anaesthetic
Amomum
Spice, stomachic, aromatic
Bitumen
Ingredient of many medicines
Fenugreek seeds
Aphrodisiac, carminative, used against lice
Olive oil
Treats wounds
Flavius Josephus
18 ■ Pharmacy History Australia
volume 3 ■ no 31 ■ MARCH 2007