Theriac / Treacle: Medieval Cure-all (Work in Progress)

Bard Judith

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Theriac / Treacle: Medieval Cure-all (Work in Progress)

« on: 05 February 2007, 11:32:11 »

Reference Notes for the Bard to create a new medicine...

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"Venice treacle, also called Andromachi theriaca or treacle of Andromachus, in pharmacy, was a honey- or molasses-based alexipharmic composition especially good against venom. It was first developed in Italy, then exported throughout Europe from Venice.

Theriaca Andromachi Senioris

The following ingredients for theriac were taken from d'Amsterdammer Apotheek 1686 and translated from the old Latin names into the Latin names now used where possible. Not all ingredients are known.

Roots: iris, Balsamorhiza Deltoidea, Potentilla reptans (creeping cinquefoil), Rheum rhabarbarum (garden rhubarb), Zingiber, Angustafolia odorata, Gentiana, Meum Athamanticum (spignel), Valeriana, Corydalis cava (hollowroot), Agaricus, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon), Cinnamomum aromaticum (cassia)

Leaves: Teucrium scordium (water germander), Franxinus excelsior, Clinopodium calamintha (lesser calamint), Marrubium vulgare (white or common horehound), Cymbopogon citratus (West-Indian lemongrass), Teucrium chamaedrys (wall germander), Cupressasae, Laurus nobilis (bay laurel), Polium montanum, Piper nigrum (black pepper), Piper longum (long pepper), Juniperus (juniper), Syzygium aromaticum (clove)

Flowers: Rosa, Crocus sativus, Lavandula stoechas (French lavender), Cenetaurii minoris

Seeds: Brassica napus (rapeseed), Petroselinum (parsley), Nigella sativa, Pimpinella anisum (anise), Elettaria cardamomum, Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), Hypericum perforatum (st. john's wort), seseli, thlaspi, Daucus carota (carrot), Lavandula angustifolia (common or English lavender), Papaver somniverum (opium poppy), glycyrrhiza, Cytinus hypocistis, Acaciae (acacia), Styrax benzoin, Gummi arabicum, Sagapeni (wax of an unknown tree probably some kind of Ferula), Gummi Opopanax chironium, Gummi Ferula foetida, Dead sea bitumen, Commiphora (a tree from which myrrh is derived), incense, Turpentine from Cyprus, Boli armen. Verae (some kind of red clay), Chalciditis (copper containing substance), Castoreum, oil from Myristica fragans (nutmeg), Trochisci Viperarum, Magmatis Hedychroi, Canary Island wine, Narbonne white honey

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Whew! Plenty to work with there....


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"Give me a land of boughs in leaf / a land of trees that stand; / where trees are fallen there is grief; / I love no leafless land." --A.E. Housman

Bard Judith

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Re: Theriac / Treacle: Medieval Cure-all (Work in Progress)

« Reply #1 on: 05 February 2007, 11:34:16 »

Medicinal substances were divided into four categories: plants, animals, minerals, and mixed substances. Materials were only listed if they were mentioned in more than one source. All are listed in tables which include their common and Latin names (where applicable), main medicinal use, and references. A total of 234 plants were identified, including wild and cultivated plants, spices, and some poisonous plants. Examples include onion (Allium cepa), aloe (Aloe vera), borage (Anchusa sp.), chamomile (Matricaria recutita), tarragon (Artemesia dracunculus), chicory (Cichorium intybus), horsetail (Equisetum arvense), opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), henna (Lawsonia inermis), mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), pomegranate (Punica granatum), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), and ginger (Zingiber officinale). Twenty-seven substances of animal origin were identified, involving mainly the animal's whole body, but sometimes the simply ashes or excrement. These included honey from bees (actually, a plant product from flower nectar), coral, lice, hen, human urine, frog, and cuttle fish. The use of minerals reached its zenith in Arab culture and 15 were identified including arsenic, galena, hematite, iron, lead, sulphur, and zinc. Ten other mixed materials were identified and include flower water, Cruciferae oil, balsam of Jerusalem, potash, soap, and treacle (theriac).


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"Give me a land of boughs in leaf / a land of trees that stand; / where trees are fallen there is grief; / I love no leafless land." --A.E. Housman

Bard Judith

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Re: Theriac / Treacle: Medieval Cure-all (Work in Progress)

« Reply #2 on: 05 February 2007, 11:35:03 »

(castor oil, cinnamon, frankincense, ginger, honey, myrrh, pepper, saffron)

2 oz opium
2 oz myrrh
2 oz frankincense
1 1/2 oz spikenard
1 oz saffron
1 oz agaric
1 oz ginger
1 oz crushed cinnamon
1 tablespoon pepper
1 oz gentian
the dried flesh of 1 viper (approx 2 oz)
1 oz Malabathrum
1 cup castor oil
1 cup honey


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"Give me a land of boughs in leaf / a land of trees that stand; / where trees are fallen there is grief; / I love no leafless land." --A.E. Housman

Kelancey the Green

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Re: Theriac / Treacle: Medieval Cure-all (Work in Progress)

« Reply #3 on: 05 February 2007, 13:11:40 »

Judith, I want to have your baby.

How on Earth did you find this recipe??? I've looked at, well, okay, a bunch of websites all stating that theriac contained more than 60 ingredients, some of which are questioned whether they exist at all, and "no one really knows what's in it". Please excuse this chat, and I'll apologize for it right now, but hoh-oh-hoh this is wonderful!

My Mistress, what is Thy bidding?


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Theriac / Treacle: Medieval Cure-all (Work in Progress)