TY - JOUR

T1 - A modern appraisal of ancient Etruscan herbal practices

AU - Harrison, Adrian Paul

AU - Bartels, E.M.

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - Individualts in antiquity would have been exposed to both cheese and red wine and perhaps as many as 10-40% of the population would have suffered at some time in their life from a migraine headache. Furthermore, individuals in qntiquity would also have been exposed to their fair share of childhood stress and therefore would have been predisposed to arthritis in later life. However, it is perhaps more likely that rheumatoid arthritis occurred in ancient populations as a result ofjoint damage occurring from repetitive tasks such as milling grain, preparing hides etc. Finally, many of the symptoms treatable by the "Etruscan Herbal" would have been seen among those working with copper smelting and in view of the famous bronze work of the Etruscans, perhaps this herbal was directed more towards improving their health, rather than towards more ritual and magical practices. However, it is noteworthy that the "Etruscan Herbal" contains such plants as valerian and henbane, which with regard to their hypnotic and delirium-easing effects, respectively, may have been used in a more ritual and magical way by ancient herbalists and societies throughout the ancient Mediterranean. Without a doubt though, the application of the combined knowledge of the "Etruscan herbal" and its possible physiological effects, raises the issue of the importance of ancient treatments in today's society, particularly since we are still plagued by many of the same ailments as the ancient Etruscans.

AB - Individualts in antiquity would have been exposed to both cheese and red wine and perhaps as many as 10-40% of the population would have suffered at some time in their life from a migraine headache. Furthermore, individuals in qntiquity would also have been exposed to their fair share of childhood stress and therefore would have been predisposed to arthritis in later life. However, it is perhaps more likely that rheumatoid arthritis occurred in ancient populations as a result ofjoint damage occurring from repetitive tasks such as milling grain, preparing hides etc. Finally, many of the symptoms treatable by the "Etruscan Herbal" would have been seen among those working with copper smelting and in view of the famous bronze work of the Etruscans, perhaps this herbal was directed more towards improving their health, rather than towards more ritual and magical practices. However, it is noteworthy that the "Etruscan Herbal" contains such plants as valerian and henbane, which with regard to their hypnotic and delirium-easing effects, respectively, may have been used in a more ritual and magical way by ancient herbalists and societies throughout the ancient Mediterranean. Without a doubt though, the application of the combined knowledge of the "Etruscan herbal" and its possible physiological effects, raises the issue of the importance of ancient treatments in today's society, particularly since we are still plagued by many of the same ailments as the ancient Etruscans.

M3 - Journal article

VL - 1

SP - 21

EP - 24

JO - American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology

JF - American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology

SN - 1557-4962

IS - 1

ER -