The Uses of Plants in Medicine in Ancient Greece and Rome

Plants have always played a prominent role in the field of medicine since the first recorded examples. From Dioscorides, a Greek physician and botanist who wrote extensively on the subject, to Hippocrates, "the father of modern medicine", medical practitioners of the ancient world recognised the importance of herbal remedies and embraced them.

This talk investigates the history of plants in medicine during the time of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, giving numerous examples of the plants used, adverse effects and the folk-lore invented to discourage the layperson from discovering this knowledge and collecting the herbs themselves.

Speaker: Dr Gavin Hardy (University of Edinburgh)

Physicians' Gallery · Ep.33 - The Uses of Plants in Medicine in Ancient Greece and Rome