LECTURE 8
Romanian medicine in
the feudal and postfeudal time
 The
mythological figure of
Zamolxis
 Healing art traditions of the
Romanian people
Romanian medicine in the feudal and post-feudal time
The mythological figure of Zamolxis
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The period in which Zamolxe lived is uncertain. Herodotus considered
him as a slave of Pythagoras (580-500B.C.) who later won his freedom.
this God was primarily a civilizing Geto-Dacian population
He taught those people to believe in immortality, practice abstinence and
respect justice
He also introduced a series of magical-medicinal practices.
to persuade the Thracians to believe in his teaching about immortality, he
commanded to build an underground house where he stayed closed for 3
years.
The Thracians believed that he was dead, but at the beginning of the
fourth year it has come to light.
Romanian medicine in the feudal and post-feudal time
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It is believed that Zamolxis lived near Pytagora and there are many
similarities between the two doctrine
the most famous example is the theory of immortality or
metempsychosis
Zamolxis’s disciples were ascetic, contemplative and vegetarians and
Pythagoras's led a simple life, being too modest and also vegetarians
Zamolxis’s a followers were known as doctors.
Zamolxis’s medice was doubled by his magical practice
remedies for diseases were accompanied by spells: medicine healed the
body and the spell cured the soul.
many archaeological discoveries confirm the surgical skills of the Dacians
The trepanation practice is proved by the skulls found in CRISTESTI
interventions on the frontal and parietal regions were common
Romanian medicine in the feudal and post-feudal time
Healing art traditions of the Romanian people
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healing art from the Romanian people is a millenary tradition, that can be
considered an ancestor gift
climatic conditions of Dacia, correlated with geographic richness in this
region favored the existence of an incredible diversity of plant species
Ever since the Dacians, a number of plants that grow on Romania's
territory was used as herbs for cure
reputation of some of the plants went so far as they appear today in
popular perception as being endowed with magical healing virtues related
to a plant mythology
many plants are considered sacred, such as basil, some making once the
subject of a specific denomination, Mandrake, whose name combined
the two words Vedic matra and guna.
Romanian medicine in the feudal and post-feudal time
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plants of great biological importance to man through their active
principles are common where once were Dacians settlements.
Not by chance in these areas grow flowers such as Banuteii (Bellis
perenis), used against chronic bronchitis, Saschiul (Vinca minor), Banat
(Geranium) used in folk practice against aches.
In Moldova over the Prut peasants used to administer medicine plants
with magical practices.
according to a popular belief the knowledge of the therapeutic virtues of
plants can be acquired directly from them through the mythical white
snake.
in the first half of the 19th century in Transylvania was known the
wizard Michael Sas who said that a magic snake gave him the knowledge
of speaking to the healing herbs.
Romanian medicine in the feudal and post-feudal time
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miraculous plant collection unfolds like a cosmic timetable followed a
specific ritual.
Some plants such as garlic or wormwood retains its healing virtues
throughout the year
other plants, were collected before Pentecost because they were losing
their beneficial power for a month afterwards.
The drying of plants is made in the bunch that hangs about a beam in
the attic
Here are some plants together with their healing virtues:
rheumatic pains: Coada racului (Potentilla anserinna) and Buruiana
junghiului (Stellaria graminea)
Typhoid: Drob (Cytisus Heufelianus)
breast disease: Turita mare (Agrimonia eupatorium), Lytosperumum
arvense
Romanian medicine in the feudal and post-feudal time
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Hepatitis: Buruiana galbinarii (Potentilla recta), Carrot (Daucus carota)
Stomach ache: Volbura (Convulvulus arvensis), Brustan (Telechia
speciosa)
Hernia: Studenita (Arenaria serpillyfolia), Sanziene (Galium mollugo)
The first pharmacies in the Middle Ages
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in the Middle Ages there were set up the first urban pharmacies
supported by the mayors of Sibiu (1494), Brasov (1512), Bistrita (1516)
and Fagaras.
they were delivering extracts, syrups and herbal essential oils
in the late of the 16th century medicinal plants for treatment were known
as species and were distributed by the pharmacist.
the first hospital in the country to use local medicinal plants were built
near the monastery Coltea in Bucharest between 1695-1708.
The hospital had 24 beds for poor patients who were treated with various
herbal healing.
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during the reign of Grigore III Ghica of Moldavia, is founded Saint
Spiridon hospital of Iasi (1757).
in this hospital the treatment for all diseases combined the use of plant
medicine with prayer for healing suffering.
the needs of plants were provided by Anton Faermann pharmacist, with
his entire family died during the plague of 1770.
another religious place used in healing the sick with the help of curing
plants was Obedeanu Monastery in which the Craiova hospital was
founded in 1777.