A review of "Örtmedicin och växtmagi", published by Det Bästa.
I bought this Swedish book mostly by chance during the
traditional annual book discount sale. It's a heavily revised Swedish version
of similar books published in French and German. The publisher, Det Bästa, is
the Swedish branch of Readers' Digest. The book is surprisingly well produced
and comprehensive, but all in Swedish! The first edition was published in 1981,
the second is dated 1997. This review is based on the latter.
The title means “Herbal medicine and plant magic”. The first section deals with the history of medicinal plants. Some of the featured “fathers of medicine” (or botany) are well known, such as Hippocrates, Galen, Paracelsus and Linnaeus. Others are more unexpected or virtually unknown even to the educated public, including Hildegard of Bingen or Pedanius Dioscorides. Other highlights are Antidotum Mithridaticum and Theriaca Andromachi, two famous (or perhaps infamous) ancient medical concoctions. Next is a highly original section on famous Swedish quacks: Sven i Bragnum, Kisa-mor, Kungsbackagumman and Vingåkersgubben. Homeopathy and Steiner's Anthroposophy are also mentioned.
The main section of this volume contain large color plates and descriptions of 300 medicinal plants, including some who have fallen out of use. The penultimate section deals with plants in mythology, magic and traditional medicine. Witches, alchemy and Druids are featured. Famed medicinal herbs mentioned include yarrow, common lady's mantle, mistletoe and mandrake. And, of course, hemlock, the stuff that killed Socrates. The final section is a long list of hopefully potent house cures, making it possible for the occult practitioner, pardon, reader to do as the physician and hopefully heal herself!
Sometimes it's quite amazing what you can find on a clearance sale…
The title means “Herbal medicine and plant magic”. The first section deals with the history of medicinal plants. Some of the featured “fathers of medicine” (or botany) are well known, such as Hippocrates, Galen, Paracelsus and Linnaeus. Others are more unexpected or virtually unknown even to the educated public, including Hildegard of Bingen or Pedanius Dioscorides. Other highlights are Antidotum Mithridaticum and Theriaca Andromachi, two famous (or perhaps infamous) ancient medical concoctions. Next is a highly original section on famous Swedish quacks: Sven i Bragnum, Kisa-mor, Kungsbackagumman and Vingåkersgubben. Homeopathy and Steiner's Anthroposophy are also mentioned.
The main section of this volume contain large color plates and descriptions of 300 medicinal plants, including some who have fallen out of use. The penultimate section deals with plants in mythology, magic and traditional medicine. Witches, alchemy and Druids are featured. Famed medicinal herbs mentioned include yarrow, common lady's mantle, mistletoe and mandrake. And, of course, hemlock, the stuff that killed Socrates. The final section is a long list of hopefully potent house cures, making it possible for the occult practitioner, pardon, reader to do as the physician and hopefully heal herself!
Sometimes it's quite amazing what you can find on a clearance sale…
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