An ancient illustrated manuscript on natural remedies of Anglo-Saxon folk medicine is now available online thanks to the digitization carried out by the British Library.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himUn ancient illustrated manuscript on natural remedies of the Anglo-Saxon folk tradition is now available online thanks to the digitization carried out by the British Library. A valuable work from a historical-cultural point of view but not to be taken too literally ...
Do you want to find out how ancient folk medicine treated the most common ailments using natural remedies? Today you have the opportunity to consult one more tool. It is about an illustrated manuscript that dates back to about 1000 years ago and which is part of the British Library collection. It is the Cotton MS Vitellius C III which until now was only available in paper version but which, after a great deal of digitization, is now also online.
The XNUMXth century book is beautifully illustrated and unveils a series of natural plant-based treatments to cure a little of everything: from chest pain (licorice root is used) to strong body odor (simmer artichokes in wine). By zooming in on the high resolution scan, you can see the characteristic Old English script and detailed drawings of the plants used for their healing properties.
The manuscript is then richly decorated with artistic representations of animals such as scorpions, snakes and even a bear, a wolf, a hare and a badger.
Although natural remedies were quite common in Anglo-Saxon folk medicine, the British Library manuscript is the only surviving Old English illustrated manual. It is unclear who wrote it but dating has confirmed that it is the oldest British manuscript of its kind.
This very particular text was copied in the first quarter of the eleventh century but numerous comments and additions were made in the following years:
“Nobody knows for sure how this manuscript was used or where and by whom it was made. His production has been associated with the Canterbury and Winchester monastic script, due to his style of decoration and writing, but this is by no means certain. The monasteries in those areas functioned as both natural and supernatural healing centers and as libraries and learning centers, ”said project curator Alison Hudson.
Each entry in the manual lists the name of the plant or animal in various languages, describes the various ailments it helps treat, and provides concrete instructions on how to find and prepare it. But we must not think that it is really a reliable guide: on the one hand because it also speaks of natural remedies derived from animal parts (for example ox bile), on the other because it mixes reality and legend a little too much, citing for example dragons, rituals and spells.
It is therefore a precious book above all for its historical and cultural value and not so much for the real functioning of the natural remedies described. As Dr. Hudson warned it is best not to try any of these home remedies.
The full digitized text is available for free on the British Library website but those who cannot understand Old English can purchase a translated version for a fee.
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