Notable Texts

Antidotarium Johannis Filii Mesue, 1550. Mesue the Younger died in 1051 and was a contemporary of Avicenna. His Receptarium Antidotari has more than 70 editions printed, with around half the formulas of the First London Dispensatory being from this source. Culpeper said he ‘is called the Physitians Evangelist, for the certainty of his Medicines, and the truth of his Opinions’.

Pharmacopoeia Augustana; First Edition in 1564, one of the earliest printed European Pharmacopoeias, contained many formulas from Mesue and Nicholas.

Nicholas Myrepsus (Myrepsus means ‘ointment-maker’), sometimes called Nicholas Alexandrinus, lived in the 13th century in Constantinople, and was physician to the Emperor. He made a collection of prescriptions, his Antidotary, which was a standard Formulary for centuries, and upon this the early European Dispensatories were based, along with the formulas of Mesue.

Valerius Cordus, 1515-1544; German Physician and Botanist. Studied and Lectured at University of Wittenberg; his Dispensatory was one of the earliest printed European Dispensatories.

William Salmon, Doron Medicum, or a Supplement to the London Dispensatory, 1688; like Culpeper, Salmon translated the London Pharmacopoeia into English. His translation contained far more detailed information on both simples and formulas and referenced various other authors.

The work of Renodeus was translated by Salmon. It translated the French Pharmacopeia with far greater detail. This edition of 1657 was translated from French into English.

Christopher Wirtzung, Praxis Medicinae Universalis, or A General Practise of Physick. Written in German it was first translated into English in 1598. This comprehensive medical text from an obviously experienced Physician has great detail on the treatment of Disease including Differential Diagnosis, Diet, Internal and External Treatment. There are numerous remedies given for each disease including both classical formula available from Apothecaries and simpler remedies made as needed by the physician. This is an awesome text to study the practical Traditional Western Herbal Medicine.

Daniel Sennertus, Practica Medicina in 5 Books, 1654. Detailed description of diseases and treatment; another authoritative work by a practicing Physician.