Hippocrates (460-370 BC),
Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician and father of medicine from the isle of Kos includes references to 237 plant species classified on the basis of their medicinal qualities. According to Hippocrates, saffron is used for wound cleansing, oregano to aid menstruation, pomegranate to aid ailments of the liver and sage to aid uterus infections and gastrointestinal diseases. Cretan dittany was given to aid women in labour and basil was given as an antiemetic.
Theophrastus(372-287 BC)
Theophrastus, the Greek philosopher and scientist set the foundations for modern botany. He provides invaluable information concerning the pharmaceutical and aromatic qualities of a wide range of plants.
Dioscurides (c.512 AD)
Centuries later botany has found its main exponent was a person called Dioscurides. In his book, “De material medica”, Dioscurides identified more than 500 plant species. Of note is the fact that 40 of these are currently used in pharmacology. The bulk of our knowledge of plants and herbs in ancient Greece comes from the works of Theophrastus and Dioscurides.
Galen, 131-109 AD
At a later time Greek recordings of herbs and plants were systematised by Claudius Galinus, a Greek physician and medical writer from Pergamon, Asia Minor. He recorded 304 medicines that were produced from herbs, wild greens, trees and fruits.
Check that you understand what these words mean in this document
Specie: a type.
Ailment: an illness.
In labour: the stage of pregnancy when a female animal is giving birth.
Invaluable: extremely useful.
Exponent: supporter.
Bulk: the greatest part.
