Medicine and Herbal Remedies Throughout the Sixteenth Century

The medicinal practices and problems of the Elizabethan Era were very important to the people, although they are very different from those of today. There were many different beliefs and diseases, like the Plague. Medicine was not an exact science and was related to Alchemy (Chemistry). Here, some of the many practices and beliefs of the Elizabethan Era will be discussed.

Medieval medicine was rooted in Ancient Greek practices. In 65 A.D., a Greek writer, Discorides, wrote a book, Material Medica. The book is about medical use of over five-hundred different plants. The book is translated into Hebrew and Arabic. Doctors in the Early Modern Era knew very little, and they used plants as the most important care and/or treatment. Due to unsanitary places and tools, many different diseases spread around Europe. Life was challenging during the Early Modern Era because of many diseases(Alchin). During the 1500s- 1600s, diseases overtook many people because doctors knew little, medicine was unknown, and there were many causes.

In the Elizabethan era, medicine was incredibly simple and led to the death of millions.

In Elizabethan times many deadly diseases had spread such as the plague, smallpox and typhoid, but the causes and cures had yet to be discovered. Due to bad hygiene because of open sewers and rubbish dumped in the river, this caused disease to easily spread as it was a natural habitat for rats, fleas and lice. The plague was carried by the fleas living in the fur of rats. As a result of this one third of the population died. Elizabethan physicians believed that medicine was basic, they had no idea why and how people were getting so sick, treatments were based from superstitions and guesses so they used a mixture of herbs for cures and also believed leeches would ‘suck

FAQs About Medieval Medicine What was the most prominent disease back then? A: In Medieval Europe there is a diseases that stick out among the rest. The one that took a huge toll on Medieval Europe is the Plague also known as the, “Black Death.”

Did you know there was a time where infectious diseases like the common cold could kill you and your family? This was the elizabethan era probably the last time where sickness became the “grimm reaper” before modern medical advancements. With infectious diseases spreading and killing so many people doctors became desperate. Because these doctors knew very little about medicine, they were completely willing to try experimental treatments on their patients (Alchin). Sadly just about anybody with an infectious disease died. All the knowledge these doctors knew were based on: Humours, what brain function each internal organ controls, and how to protect themselves from it.

In this day and age, there are millions of pharmaceuticals out there for all kinds of diseases and conditions, but where did all of this start? The creation of medicines most likely started when people discovered the healing properties plants contained. Today, mankind has the knowledge and technology to extract elements from plants to produce more chemically engineered medicines. The real question is how did medicines develop from mashing up leaves in order to lessen an infuriating rash to just popping a pill to nurse or illness? Medicines evolved by the scientific method: series of research and experiments. During the Elizabethan era, research and experimentation attained a renewed interest.

Medicine and health sciences are the results of attempts to cure diseases and slow death, but in the beginning of medical research a lot of it was the result of curiosity and a desire to understand how the human body works; what makes us human. In Colonial America, the practice of medicine was more of a philosophy than a true science. Medicine in the beginning of the American settlements was compounded because of disease, poor sanitation, lack of medical knowledge and conflict between the church and physicians. But the real growth of medical knowledge and wanting to know more about the human body and how to heal it began around the early 1820s.

During the Medieval era there were many diseases. Because of the lack of hygiene in the medieval times, diseases would spread like a wildfire. Just to name a few common diseases that happened in this time, there was the Black Death, leprosy, measles, and typhoid fever. These were most likely transported because of dirty bedsheets and blankets, unwashed clothing, and rodents. The treatments for these diseases and other things, such as medicine for stomach pains, medicine for wounds, and medicine for headaches, are different from today’s standards.

For centuries, war has consumed millions of souls. It has caused heartache and has torn families apart. Today, properly educated doctors and nurses can treat wounds and injuries with proper care, but this taken for granted assistance wasn’t always readily available. In the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, nearly 30,000 American soldiers died. However, rather than being killed on the battlefield, the majority of soldiers died while being treated in medical tents. More often then not, the work of doctors and surgeons resulted in worsening the state of their patients, frequently causing their death. Medical practitioners did more damage than deed to soldiers during the American Revolution to the War of 1812 because of their little attention to individual patients, housing for patients, poor work ethics and habits, lack of knowledge and because major medical advancements weren’t achieved for another half-century.

Medieval medicine and procedures have transformed drastically over time from the middle ages to modern day. During the medieval era, medicine was multi-faced, relying on the skills of several practitioners. Leonardo da Vinci stated, ?Medicine is the restoration of discordant element; sickness is the discord of the elements infused into the living body.? Educational requirements, procedures, and diseases have evolved since the medieval era to present day, due to major breakthroughs.

In this day and age, there are millions of pharmaceuticals out there for all kinds of diseases and conditions, but where did all of this start? The creation of medicines most likely started when people discovered the healing properties plants contained. Today, civilization has the knowledge and technology to extract elements from plants to produce more chemically engineered medicines. The real question is how did medicines develop from mashing up leaves in order to lessen an infuriating rash to just popping a pill to nurse or illness? Medicines evolved by the scientific method: series of research and experiments. During the Elizabethan era, research and experimentation attained a renewed interest.

In the Middle Ages medicine was very limited. Diseases were common,but physicians did not know what was causing these illnesses and diseases. The Catholic Church thought that diseases and illnesses were punishments from God for sinful behavior. There were no Antibiotics during the Middle Ages. It was hard to cure illnesses,and almost impossible to cure disease without it. People had no knowledge that it was bc they were filthy. Medicines was made out of spices, herbs, and resins, they were used in many different ways, and they treated different illnesses.

Shakespeare is one of the most famous dramatist and poet in England. His literature works have been translated into more than 80 languages. He is the England's pride, and the world's treasure because he not only helped to shape the English we use today, introducing up to 300 words and dozens of well-known phrases but also wrote plays that are known around the world for their universal themes and insight into the human condition. However historians don’t know his date of birth, where he was educated or how he spent seven years of his life and even the playwright of his play is a mystery.

vDuring the Victorian era, medicine was not as advanced as it is today. Medical practices employed techniques that have been used for a very long time. Even when there were new breakthrough in medicine, doctors, such as physicians, surgeons and apothecaries barely used them.