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==Medicine ([[Science]])==
For much of [[period]] medical knowledge was based on hearsay, conjecture, and largely incorrect ancient medical manuals. The reasons for this are many, but one large obstacle to improving medical knowledge were the [[Church]] regulations regarding examination of the body. In particular, the banning of human dissections made it impossible to verify theories about the inner workings of the body. When [[doctors]] were finally allowed to perform dissections, they were limited to working on [[criminals]]. It became obvious that accepted  knowledge regarding the body was wrong, but this was disputed with the argument that the bodies dissected were those of criminals and thus abnormal. 

=== Notable medical figures ===
*[[Hippocrates]]
*[[Galen]]
*[[Avicenna]]
*[[Paracelsus]]
*[[Andreas Vesalius]]
*[[Fabricius]]

==Medicine (Period Pharmaceuticals)==
Some cultures believed that plants have souls. In 4th century BC, Aristotle believed that plants had a psyche.

In medieval Europe, the Doctrine of Signatures stated there was a connection between how a plant looked (God's signature) and how it could be used medicinally, such as the [[Lungwort]] (which looks like a lung) which was/is used to treat respiratory illnesses.

=== Period medicines: ===

'''Decongestants'''
*[[Ephedra]]
*[[Garlic]]
*[[Pennyroyal]]

'''Carminatives/Laxatives'''
*[[Hyssop]]
*[[Mint]]
*[[Sage]]
*[[Angelica]]
*[[Feverfew]]
*[[Marjoram]]
*[[Valerian]]
*[[Hemp]]
*[[Anise]]

'''Diurtetics'''
*[[Mugwort]]
*[[Clivers]]
*[[Hops]]
*[[Meadowsweet]]
*[[Sorrel]]
*[[Borage]]
*[[Hemp]]
*[[Anise]]
*[[Syrian Rue]]

'''Respiratory medicines'''
*[[Linseed]]
*[[Lungwort]]

'''For a sore throat'''
*[[Lemon]]
*[[Sage]]

'''For healing wounds'''
*[[Hyssop]]

'''Healing ulcers'''
*[[Marigold]]

'''Emmenagogues'''
*[[Thistle]]
*[[Syrian rue]]

'''Stimulants'''
*[[Hyssop]]
*[[Ephedra]]
*[[Mint]]
*[[Mugwort]]
*[[Thistle]]
*[[Yarrow]]
*[[Angelica]]
*[[Marjoram]]
*[[Guarana]]
*[[Anise]]

'''Relaxant'''
*[[Chamomile]]
*[[Hemp]]

'''Astringents'''
*[[Yarrow]]
*[[Rosemary]]

'''To soothe your mouth/gums'''
*[[Pellitory]]
*[[Clove]]

'''[[Medieval Narcotics]]'''

'''Interesting texts:'''
Chevallier, A. ''The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants'', DK, London. 1996.

See also [[Herbs]].
[[category:health]]