For nearly two thousand years, people in Europe and the Middle East relied on the medicine theriac, a black sticky substance made from dozens of ingredients, including black pepper, bread, opium, honey, cinnamon and cardamom, to treat various ailments. viper flesh, various oils, plants, etc. It was used against plague, poisoning and many other ailments. This ancient drug became especially popular in the 17th century, but with the development of modern medicine it was no longer used. Now a group of Polish researchers have recreated theriac according to an ancient pharmaceutical recipe, and found that the drug was indeed effective.
Scientists created the drug according to an ancient recipe
Who and when invented the ancient drug theriac
Theriac was used in Poland and many other European countries for various diseases, but it was originally created as a remedy for poisons. But it was not used as an antidote, but rather as a vaccine against toxins. It is no longer possible to say who invented the drug, but ancient sources such as Galen and Pliny indicate that theriac already existed from the second century BC, and its popularity spread primarily among the elite.
One of the most famous seekers of a cure for all diseases was Mithridates VI Eupator, an Anatolian emperor who reigned from 120 to 63 BC. Written sources say that he was obsessed with poisons and drugs. It is quite possible that his search for a way to avoid poisoning led to the creation of theriac.
The Anatolian Emperor Mithridates VI Eupator may have been the initiator of the creation of the drug theriac. Photo source: 4kerch.ru
Over time, the drug began to be used daily by many monarchs who were afraid of poisoning, from Nero to Elizabeth I. It must be said that the drug originally contained viper venom as an ingredient, but Nero’s doctor replaced it with snake flesh. Theriac's royal origins have made it attractive to ordinary people as well. Therefore, over time, the drug became popular among all segments of the population.
How scientists recreated an ancient medicine
Pharmaceutical scientists and historians in their research decided not to limit themselves to knowledge about the ancient drug from medical textbooks, and recreated theriak according to a 400-year-old recipe in order to analyze it in detail. They found a recipe from 1630 by Paul Guldenius, a city pharmacist who lived in what is now Toruń, Poland.
Paul Guldenius was one of the few pharmacists who was licensed to produce and sell theriac. He prepared the drug in public, as the researchers wrote, “with pomp and ceremony.” This ensured complete transparency regarding the ingredients of the drug, and was also a way to advertise it.
Paul Guldenius prepared the drug in front of other people. Image source: headtopics.com
The recipe lists the names and quantities of 61 ingredients, but is written in Latin. Therefore, scientists first had to work on deciphering the Latin names and compounds. At the same time, they compared the recipe with modern books, as well as diaries and texts that mentioned the recipe for the ancient drug.
Fortunately, Paul Guldenius wrote the recipe very accurately, including the exact weight of all ingredients. Scientists spent four years searching for everything needed to prepare the drug. Some herbs and spices that are included in the composition are simply not grown and are not available in EU countries.
Why the ancient drug was effective
When it comes to ancient medicine, absolutely ridiculous and senseless treatment methods are presented that are simply shocking to modern people. As we have already told you, dirt, lizard blood, mold, etc. were used to prepare the preparations. However, theriac is not one of these products. According to researchers, it contains many ingredients that are known for their therapeutic properties.
Theriac actually caused resistance to some poisons. Photo source: wikimedia.org
But the most important were two ingredients – opium and viper flesh. Opium has an analgesic effect, and the flesh of the viper instilled immunity to snake bites. The effect is based on a principle known in modern medicine as mithridatism. By regularly consuming small doses of toxins, over time a person becomes immune to certain types of poisons. In addition, theriac had a placebo effect to some extent. Researchers report this in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
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Scientists are now studying different versions of theriac as its formulation has changed over time. Perhaps this will provide more information about its effectiveness against certain diseases.