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Topic: Herbalism and healing in camp

Godlefe
Member
Member # 10

posted 05-09-2000 04:20 PM

Hello everyone,
I portray a single woman in the camp outside the walls of Coventry. I make my living as a healer for the company and I would like to exchange some info with anyone else who has an interest in 15th c. herbalism and or recipes for healing. I have some douzies.
Good health. Virginia

Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

hauptfrau
New Member
Member # 0

posted 05-09-2000 04:43 PM

Take it from me, this woman makes a mean poultice....

Gwen

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jsmart
Member
Member # 15

posted 05-09-2000 09:43 PM

but, don't get overheated from the weather with her in camp or you'll get frostbite later!

john

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chef de chambre
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 4

posted 05-09-2000 10:19 PM

Hi Godlefe,

I'm not very knowledgable on the subject myself, but I have a great source for you, dealing directly with the subject itself.

I would recommend to you "Medicine and Society in Later Medieval England", by Caroline Rawcliffe. It has two specific chapters of interest - Women and Medicine:Conflicting attitudes, and Women and Medicine:The Midwife and the Nurse. Also included a chapter on treatment, and the apothecary - plus the usual drivel about doctors and surgeons.

Lots of spif picturs, including "the wound man", and charts on the humours and astrological considerations in meedicine. A very relevant book for your portrayal. ISBN 0-86299-598-1 Sutton Press, 1995

Hope this is helpful!

------------------
Bob R.

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Dave Key
Member
Member # 17

posted 05-10-2000 04:55 AM

I'm not sure about the role of women in a military camp in England however there are definitely documents recording the presence of surgeons in the armies of Edward IV.
If this is of interest/use give me a shout and I'll try and dig it out.

I think it these may include some lists of equipment ... also I have a few refs to herbs and other medical equipment being imported etc. If you are interested in that sort of info tell me the herb etc. and I'll see if I can find it.

Cheers
Dave

Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Godlefe
Member
Member # 10

posted 05-10-2000 06:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jsmart:
but, don't get overheated from the weather with her in camp or you'll get frostbite later!
john

Hey!! You know what they say an ounce of ice is worth the hump on you back Huh??

Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Godlefe
Member
Member # 10

posted 05-10-2000 06:38 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by chef de chambre:
[B]Hi Godlefe,

I'm not very knowledgable on the subject myself, but I have a great source for you, dealing directly with the subject itself.

I would recommend to you "Medicine and Society in Later Medieval England", by Caroline Rawcliffe.

Thanks Bob, I do actually already have it and I agree it is a wonderful resource. It was a wonderful Christmas present last year. This is also a great place to learn more. All best V.

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Godlefe
Member
Member # 10

posted 05-10-2000 06:41 PM

Thanks Dave, in my portrayl I really do not do SURGERY as such, being only a poor healer,
however if you have anything on herbs etc or any related articles of healing in camp circumstances, I would be most grateful. Thanks, Dig away if you will. V.

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hauptfrau
New Member
Member # 0

posted 05-10-2000 09:10 PM

She may not do surgery YET, but she's dying to! And ask her about the slabs of salted meat she brought to the last event, just waiting to slap them on any open wound. She was crestfallen that we couldn't afford to buy her *leeches*, but frankly I'm glad- I would have been afraid to sleep if I thought Godlefe and leeches were in the camp...

Only joking Virginia, you know we love you and your poultices.

Did Jeff and I give you that book? It sounded familiar.

Gwen

Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Godlefe
Member
Member # 10

posted 05-11-2000 04:02 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by hauptfrau:
[B]She may not do surgery YET, but she's dying to! And ask her about the slabs of salted meat she brought to the last event, just waiting to slap them on any open wound. She was crestfallen that we couldn't afford to buy her *leeches*, but frankly I'm glad- I would have been afraid to sleep if I thought Godlefe and leeches were in the camp...

Only joking Virginia, you know we love you and your poultices.
YES AND I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE ONLY HEALER IN THE CAMP UPSET OR I MIGHT ADD A LITTLE HENBANE TO THE WEAK BEER, HEH, HEH, HEH!!
Did Jeff and I give you that book? It sounded familiar.
NO I BELIEVE IT WAS THE BOOK THAT MIKE AND DEB GAVE ME AT THE GIFT EXCHANGE GWEN. ALL THE BOOKS I RECEIVED THOUGH ARE ALL USED A GOOD DEAL.
SEE YOU LATER, V.

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franklin vincenzi
Member
Member # 268

posted 01-14-2002 05:58 PM

Hi Virginia.

If you want stuff that really works, see if you can get ahold of any pharmacognosy text. Lots of ethnobotany stuff out there too.

For traditional "leeches, snake oil, and bloodletting" kind of stuff.. maybe take a look at _Culpeper's Complete Herbal_ and also look at _A Witch's Book of Home Remedies_ by Morrison. Please don't actually use these "remedies" on anyone.

Since we're on the topic of medieval medicine.. Can someone point me to any references on medieval veterinary medicine?

Franklin

Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

Marianne
Member
Member # 223

posted 01-26-2002 04:19 PM

quote:

Since we're on the topic of medieval medicine.. Can someone point me to any references on medieval veterinary medicine?

It's not much and I can't tell you for sure, but I think Le Menagier de Paris has some remedies for horse colics and such.
I'm not sure that part is included in the online editions, though.

All the best,

Marianne

Registered: Sep 2001 | IP: Logged

Katherine Smith
New Member
Member # 1957

posted 06-30-2007 03:11 PM

Hello All,
I need some advice, I have yet to really set my heart on a portrayal, though currently I believe I am going to be portraying a cantinier I am interested in beginning to research medieval medicine/herbalism for the possiblity of portraying an herbalist. Does anyone have any suggestions of books/websites/paintings/various other stuffs of a helpful nature that I could look at or read?

ALSO- do we know if the company of the wolfe argent has an herbalist already, because if it does then either disregard this post or plead with them to consider taking an assistant or apprentice(though I *think* I'm too old for that to work- I'm 17).

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"Quid Tum?"

Registered: Jun 2007 | IP: Logged

Fire Stryker
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 2

posted 06-30-2007 03:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by franklin vincenzi:
Hi Virginia.
If you want stuff that really works, see if you can get ahold of any pharmacognosy text. Lots of ethnobotany stuff out there too.
For traditional "leeches, snake oil, and bloodletting" kind of stuff.. maybe take a look at _Culpeper's Complete Herbal_ and also look at _A Witch's Book of Home Remedies_ by Morrison. Please don't actually use these "remedies" on anyone.
Since we're on the topic of medieval medicine.. Can someone point me to any references on medieval veterinary medicine?
Franklin

Wow, this is an old topic. I don't even know if Franklin is still around, but two manuals I know of are: Propytees of Medcin for hors and the other is an Italian work by Jordanus Ruffio. I have to get the proper title. It looks to be a mix of Latin and a Medieval dialect of Pisa.

Katherine, WA does not have an herbalist. Try Medicine & Society in Later Medieval England by Carole Rawcliffe (Alan Sutton Printing, 1995) ISBN: 0-86299-598-1

Jenn

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