How in the Middle Ages it was possible to get rich on "medicines" (6 photos)

It is known that a variety of wonderful drugs that treat everything immediately, did not appear now. They are about the same age as humanity. It's about Orvietan, which was just incredible popular in Europe in the 16th and 18th centuries.





It's worth starting with history.

Since the first century, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, India was treated with a certain theriac, which the Greeks came up with and sold it through the Silk Road. It was called a remedy for any kind of poisons and even from the plague. The composition included opium and a crushed snake, the remedy stopped cough and relieve pain.



Mithridates was also similar, which, according to legend, he invented Greek king Mithridates of Pontus, who was terrified of dying from poison. Throughout his life he took toxins in tiny doses and he developed such a tolerance for poisons that at the end of his life Mithridates failed to commit suicide with their help. Ironic.

The recipe has been preserved to this day: wild poppy seeds, St. John's wort, anise, gentian, toxic acacia juice, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, saffron, parsley. In general, somewhere around 36 components, infused with honey. At the first appointment, the patient took a dose the size of nut.

Orvietan



Medieval Europe

During the Middle Ages in Europe, a new a miracle remedy, which was considered a drug from everything in the world. And in this time, unlike the previous ones, it was distributed not only among nobility, but mainly among the peasants and the poor. But gradually orvietan made his way into rich houses. Marquises, earls and kings actively were treated and told each other about the miracles that Orvietan worked. Well, if someone died from an illness, then this is God's providence, nothing you can do it.



Article by Le Polmier

Ovrietan is first mentioned by the 16th century. And impressive the study of the drug was carried out by the French physician Le Polmier in 1893. IN In conclusion, he wrote that this drug was actively distributed to fairs, bright and noticeable sellers-travelers of all sorts of potions - "charlatans".

Orvietan was advertised as a universal antidote, with action similar to an antidote. It is recommended to take it poisoning, bite of poisonous creatures or rabid animals. In those times it was believed that all "infection" comes from toxins in the body, therefore they were treated for gangrene, fever, and cough. The tool was very popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, which is confirmed by historical documents. He was especially respected by the Pope.



The first (according to some sources) it was prepared by the Italian the shepherd who saw how the sheep was saved from snake poison by chewing plant. The shepherd immediately made a tincture of it and saved several hundreds of villagers in Italy. After miraculous healing, he spoke about doctor's prescription.

But the official version says that in 1560 a Roman Martin Gwerke cured home-made orvietan seriously ill cardinal and became very famous after that. All know rushed to buy the drug from him.

When the master died, his assistants continued to treat patients, and then passed on the secret of the composition to their students.



medieval doctors

Eventually the recipe ended up with Desiderio Decombu, medieval merchant, and through his efforts Orvietan acquired a huge popularity in Italy and France. Enlisting the support of the authorities of Rouen and Rena, he actively sold it absolutely everywhere. Fame came to Descombes after being seen by the Queen Mother of Louis XIII demonstrated how the remedy neutralizes the poison. French Parliament was not so loyal, but managed to convince him.

It is sad that Descombes, in the end, could not save himself from the plague and died in 1640.