GALEN ON THE COMPOSITION OF MEDICINES

BOOK 8

Edition of Chartier XIII. [530.]

Edition of Basel II. (258.)

...the specific condition for which it should be used has not been stated. For we know the goal of composing pain-relievers original: "anōdynōn." From the Greek 'an-' (without) and 'odynē' (pain). is when we wish to induce sleep and numb intense pain. The addition of acacia is intended for ulcers, just as licorice juice original: "glykeias chylos," the sweet juice extracted from the licorice root, commonly used to coat the throat. is used to soothe irritation. Most physicians preferred to mix saffron or opium into these pain-relieving compositions. It seems to them that these substances are able to sufficiently ripen original: "pettein" in Greek, "concoquere" in Latin. This refers to the medical theory of concoction, where the body’s heat "cooks" or matures diseased humors so they can be expelled. all medical conditions.

    Following the previous ones, Andromachus wrote a sixth preparation as follows. A windpipe medicine original: "Arteriakē." A medicine for the "rough artery," the ancient term for the trachea or windpipe. by the same author.

It is clear that this recipe is also composed for conditions of the respiratory organs. It uses ingredients that are digestive original: "peptikōn," promoting the maturation of humors., soothing original: "parēgorikōn", astringent original: "styphontōn", and cleansing original: "rhyptontōn". For frankincense, myrrh, and saffron are among those substances that ripen the conditions. Licorice juice and tragacanth are among those that smooth out roughness. Amomum An aromatic spice from the ginger family, often used in ancient perfumes and medicines....