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Word of Mouth: Charlemagne’s Capitulare de Villis

Capitulare de VillisWord of Mouth: Charlemagne’s Capitulare de Villis

By Xavier Riaud

Dental History Magazine, Vol 6 No 2 (2012)

Abstract: During the early middle ages, barbarian chieftains controlled Europe by brute force and ‘Word of Mouth’, that is, without written law codes or documents. However after the accession of Charlemagne, King of the Franks, in 768, (crowned as Emperor in 800) the written word became important once more in governing the land. Xavier Riaud examines The Capitulare de Villis, one of Charlemagne’s documents which has a surprising dental content.

Introduction: In one of his official documents, The Capitulare de Villis, the great French Emperor Charlemagne (747-814) lists and recommends the medicinal plants which had been used by Theophrastus the Greek philosopher and botanist, author of the History of Plants (a series of ten books which made him the greatest botanist since Antiquity).

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According to Theophrastus, almond oils and products were appropriate carriers for various oral concoctions. Anise and cinnamon were good for the equivalent of oral aromatherapy. Cinnamon was thought to be particularly helpful for oral infections and dental abscesses. He also used gum arabic from acacia as the base for medications. Hyoscyamus was prized as an analgesic for dental pain and the flour of flaxseeds for its anti-inflammatory action when applied in poultices. Theophrastus also recommended the use of alexanders for gingival lesions caused by scurvy, horehound (Marrubium) to cure fever, poppies for dental pain, black pepper for dental cavities, liquorice for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities, red roses whose astringent petals were used for mouthwash, poppies for their soothing effects, emollient mallow for mouthwash and hypericum for its sedative action.

Click here to read this article from Dental History Magazine

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