The use of animals in medicine of Latin tradition: Study of the Tresor de Beutat, a medieval treatise devoted to female cosmetics
By Isabel Betlloch-Mas, Eusebi Chiner, Jordi Chiner-Betlloch, Francesc X. Llorca-Ibi, Llúcia Martín-Pascual
The Journal of Ethnobiology and Traditional Medicine, Vol. 121: (2014)
Abstract
Zootherapy has belonged to the dermatological treatment in various cultures through the ages. The Tresor de Beutat is a medieval treatise devoted to female cosmetics and health, written from eastern Spain in the 14th century. Many of these treatments were from animal origin. We transcribed the Tresor de Beutat to determine which animals and which parts of animals were used, as well as how they were used and what the therapeutic indications were. A total of 223 elements (animals, plants and minerals) were identified. Of these, 47 (21%) were of animal origin belonging to 30 animals, 15 mammals, 7 birds, 4 sea animals, 2 reptiles and amphibians and 2 insects. The treatments were used mainly for facial, body and hair cosmetics, hygiene, general health, and for cutaneous, otorhinolaryngological, ocular, dental and gynaecological disorders, as well as for pain relief. To conclude, the Tresor de Beutat provides information about the knowledge of topical treatments, being remarkable the use of products of animal origin with a scientific (rather than magical) base including elaborated formulations for cosmetic and therapeutic purposes, designed to achieve the ideal of beauty and health in medieval women. Some of those elements are still evident in the 21st century.
Introduction: Animal-derived products have represented an important part of the dermatological therapeutic arsenal in different cultures through the ages. This is known as zootherapy (Alves, 2005) and even in the current world it still plays an essential role in health care. Although plants and plant-derived materials are the ingredients used in most medical systems, animals and their by-products are used as remedies in many traditional healing practices. Zootherapy constitutes an important alternative to other known therapies, even in modern societies. However, despite its prevalence and use throughout the world, this practice has often been ignored by ethnobiologists, at least as compared with research on medicinal plants.Wild and domesticated animals and their derived products (hoofs, skin, bones, feathers, teeth…) are important ingredients in the preparation of preventive, protective and therapeutic medicines in many cultures in China, Latin America, Africa and India. Zootherapeutic practices can also be found in Europe and they have been used in various areas in Spain.
The Tresor de Beutat is a medieval treatise written in the 14th century. It contains a set of medical and cosmetic recipes aimed exclusively at women. It is attributed to Manuel Dias Calatayud, written in Catalan, and catalogued as Manuscript 68 of the Library of the University of Barcelona (UB), Spain (Díes de Calatayud, Middle Ages).
The Tresor de Beutat includes descriptions of over 200 formules used at the time as remedies, cosmetic advice and different types of treatment for women inhabitants on the Mediterranean coast of eastern Spain in the 14th century. Many of these treatments comprise products of animal origin.
The aim of this study was to determine which animals and which parts of animals were used, how they were applied, and what the therapeutic indications were. We also examined the similarities and differences between these products and those still used for dermatological therapy in the 21st century.
The Journal of Ethnobiology and Traditional Medicine
By Isabel Betlloch-Mas, Eusebi Chiner, Jordi Chiner-Betlloch, Francesc X. Llorca-Ibi, Llúcia Martín-Pascual
The Journal of Ethnobiology and Traditional Medicine, Vol. 121: (2014)
Abstract
Zootherapy has belonged to the dermatological treatment in various cultures through the ages. The Tresor de Beutat is a medieval treatise devoted to female cosmetics and health, written from eastern Spain in the 14th century. Many of these treatments were from animal origin. We transcribed the Tresor de Beutat to determine which animals and which parts of animals were used, as well as how they were used and what the therapeutic indications were. A total of 223 elements (animals, plants and minerals) were identified. Of these, 47 (21%) were of animal origin belonging to 30 animals, 15 mammals, 7 birds, 4 sea animals, 2 reptiles and amphibians and 2 insects. The treatments were used mainly for facial, body and hair cosmetics, hygiene, general health, and for cutaneous, otorhinolaryngological, ocular, dental and gynaecological disorders, as well as for pain relief. To conclude, the Tresor de Beutat provides information about the knowledge of topical treatments, being remarkable the use of products of animal origin with a scientific (rather than magical) base including elaborated formulations for cosmetic and therapeutic purposes, designed to achieve the ideal of beauty and health in medieval women. Some of those elements are still evident in the 21st century.
Introduction: Animal-derived products have represented an important part of the dermatological therapeutic arsenal in different cultures through the ages. This is known as zootherapy (Alves, 2005) and even in the current world it still plays an essential role in health care. Although plants and plant-derived materials are the ingredients used in most medical systems, animals and their by-products are used as remedies in many traditional healing practices. Zootherapy constitutes an important alternative to other known therapies, even in modern societies. However, despite its prevalence and use throughout the world, this practice has often been ignored by ethnobiologists, at least as compared with research on medicinal plants.Wild and domesticated animals and their derived products (hoofs, skin, bones, feathers, teeth…) are important ingredients in the preparation of preventive, protective and therapeutic medicines in many cultures in China, Latin America, Africa and India. Zootherapeutic practices can also be found in Europe and they have been used in various areas in Spain.
The Tresor de Beutat is a medieval treatise written in the 14th century. It contains a set of medical and cosmetic recipes aimed exclusively at women. It is attributed to Manuel Dias Calatayud, written in Catalan, and catalogued as Manuscript 68 of the Library of the University of Barcelona (UB), Spain (Díes de Calatayud, Middle Ages).
The aim of this study was to determine which animals and which parts of animals were used, how they were applied, and what the therapeutic indications were. We also examined the similarities and differences between these products and those still used for dermatological therapy in the 21st century.
The Journal of Ethnobiology and Traditional Medicine
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