Ancient Egyptian Herbal Medicine




  • Acacia (acacia nilotica)- vermifuge, eases diharea and internal bleeding, also used to treat skin diseases.
  • Aloe vera - worms, relieves headaches, soothes chest pains, burns, ulcers and for skin disease and allergies.
  • Basil (ocimum basilicum)- excellent for heart.
  • Balsam Apple (malus sylvestris)or Apple of Jerusalem - laxative, skin allergies, soothes headaches, gums and teeth, for asthma, liver stimulant, weak digestion.
  • Bayberry(Myrica cerifera) - stops diarrhea, soothes ulcers, shrinks hemorrhoids, repels flies.
  • Belladonna - pain reliever;camphor tree - reduces fevers, soothes gums, soothes epilepsy.
  • Caraway (Carum carvi; Umbelliferae)- soothes flatulence, digestive, breath freshener.
  • Cardamom( Eletarria cardamomum; Zingiberacae)- Used as a spice in foods,digestive, soothes flatulence.
  • Colchicum (Citrullus colocynthus) - also known as "Meadow Saffron", soothes rheumatism, reduces swelling.
  • Common Juniper tree (Juniperis phonecia; Juniperus drupacea)- digestive, soothes chest pains, soothes stomach cramps.
  • Cubeb pepper (Piper cubeba; Piperaceae)- urinary tract infections, larynx and throat infections, gum ulcers and infections, soothes headaches.
  • Dill (Anethum graveolens)- soothes flatulence, relieves dyspepsia, laxative and diuretic properties.
  • Fenugreek(Trigonella foenum-graecum) - respiratory disorders, cleanses the stomach, calms the liver, soothes pancreas, reduces swelling.
  • Frankincense(Boswellia carterii) - throat and larynx infections, stops bleeding, cuts phlegm, asthma, stops vomiting.
  • Garlic (Allium sativa) - gives vitality, soothes flatulence and aids digestion, mild laxative, shrinks hemorrhoids, rids body of "spirits" (note, during the building of the Pyramids, the workers were given garlic daily to give them the vitality and strength to carry on and perform well).
  • Hemp (Cannibis sativa) - sedative, narcotic, anesthetic, used in treating afflictions of the eyes, to cool the uterus, used for inflamation, mixed with carob as an enema. The majority of herbalists and Egyptologists have concluded that there is no evidence to support that cannibis was in fact smoked by the Ancient Egyptians. Fumigation was known to be used among the Assyrians in funerary practices to dispel grief and lift sorrow. However, even flotation archaeology has not found evidence of a similar use in Egypt.
  • Henna (Lawsomia inermis) - astringent, stops diarrhea, close open wounds (and used as a dye).
  • Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra - mild laxative, expels phlegm, soothes liver, pancreas and chest and respiratory problems.
  • Mustard (Sinapis alba) - induces vomiting, relieves chest pains.
  • Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) - stops diarrhea, relives headaches, soothes gums, toothaches and backaches.
  • Onion (Allium cepa) - diuretic, induces perspiration, prevents colds, soothes sciatica, relieves pains and other cardiovascular problems.
  • Parsley (Apium petroselinum) - diuretic.
  • Mint (Mentha piperita) - soothes flatulence, aids digestion, stops vomiting, breath freshener.
  • Sandalwood (Santallum albus) - aids digestion, stops diarrhea, soothes headaches and gout (used, of course, in incense).
  • Sesame (Sesamum indicum)- soothes asthma.
  • Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)- laxative.
  • Thyme (Thymus/Thimbra) - pain reliever.
  • Tumeric (Curcumae longa) - closes open wounds (also was used to dye skin and cloth).
  • Poppy (papaver somniferum) - relieves insomnia, relieves headaches, anesthetic, soothes respiratory problems, deadens pain.

    And of course, honey was widely used, a natural antibiotic and used to dress wounds and as a base for healing unguants, as was castor oil, coriander,beer and other foods.


    Resources

    de Vartavan, Christian, & Amoros, Victoria Asensi, " Codex des restes vegetaus de 'Egypte ancienne", 1997 Triade Exploration Press
    Ebeid, Nabil I. , "Egyptian Medicine in the Days of the Pharaohs Hepper, F. Nigel, "Pharaoh's Flowers: Botnaical Treasurs of Tutankhamen"
    Manniche, Lise, "An Ancient Egyptian Herbal", 1989, University of Texas Press
    Nunn, John F., "Acient Egyptian Medicine, 1996, University of Oklahoma Press

    Here is a medical kit from a temple relief at Kom Ombos.



    1) knives; (2) drill; (3) saw; (4) forceps or pincers;
    (5) censer; (6) hooks; (7) bags tied with string; (8, 10)
    beaked vessel; (11) vase with burning incense; (12) Horus
    eyes; (13) scales; (14) pot with flowers of Upper and Lower
    Egypt; (15) pot on pedestal; (16) graduated cubit or papyrus
    scroll without side knot (or a case holding reed scalpels);
    (17) shears; (18) spoons. The instruments to the left of the
    spoons are not identified but they look to the author to be
    sounds. And what are the devices next to the hooks? Some
    say that these implements are too large to be surgical
    instruments but the Egyptians did not carve reliefs to
    scale. Furthermore, this collection is located in an area
    with other reliefs showing medical motifs including the
    queen giving birth.