Planta Med 2016; 82(S 01): S1-S381
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1596907
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Reconstructing early modern pharmacy through "Elixir amarum Hiaernei" and its Theriac ancestor

NO Ahnfelt
1   Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Division of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden and Department of History and Science of Ideas, Uppsala University, Box 629, SE-751 26 Uppsala, Sweden
,
H Fors
1   Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Division of Pharmacognosy, Uppsala University, Box 574, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden and Department of History and Science of Ideas, Uppsala University, Box 629, SE-751 26 Uppsala, Sweden
2   Hagströmer Library, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 December 2016 (online)

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    Elixir amarum Hiaernei was designed by Urban Hjärne in the late 17th century as a universal medicine for treating a number of illnesses. Urban Hjärne was instrumental in late 17th and early 18th century Swedish medicine, pharmacy and analytical chemistry among other things. This project aims at making a global reevaluation of the history of pharmacy using medical substances as a starting point. We want to follow certain specific exotic substances used in this medicine as e.g. rhubarb, saffron and myrrh from the places they were produced, through global trade networks into European pharmacies where medicines were composed and constructed. Theriac was one important constituent and inspiration in the "Elixir amarum Hiaernei" formulation with an extremely long history [1, 2, 3].

    This work will focus on the evolution of "Theriac" compositions from the 2nd century A.D. up until late 18th century. Secondly, we will discuss how and why Hjärne selected a few of the "Theriac" ingredients and incorporated them into "Elixir amarum Hiaernei". Finally we will follow the fate of "Elixir amarum Hiaernei" as an early modern Theriac from late 17th century up until its present usage in Swedish bitters.

    Acknowledgements: Riksbankens Jubilee Fund is greatly acknowledged for funding this three year study.

    Keywords: Early modern pharmacy, Theriac, Swedish bitters.

    References:

    [1] Watson G. Theriac and Mithridatium, A Study in Therapeutics, London 1966

    [2] Lev E, Amar Z. Practical Materia Medica of the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean According to the Cairo Genizah, Leiden 2008

    [3] Leigh R. On Theriac to Piso. Attributed to Galen, Leiden 2016


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    No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).