Materia Medica of Metals, Minerals, Stones, Gems and Salts
Illustration from the Chapter of Mineral and Metal Medicines,
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Minerals have long been used in medicine in all traditions. There are around 4900 described minerals, about 200 are classed as 'common' and 20 of them, 'very common'.
Major categories of minerals are: elements, sulfides, oxides, halides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, and silicates. Categorization in the Traditional Materia Medica was typically: Minerals, Metals, Salts, Gems and Earths.
In the Traditional Materia Medica some animal by-products (shells, pearls etc.) were classed with minerals while some medicines thought of as animal by-products were actually fossils (Toadstone, Lynx stone etc.)..
A list of Primary sources for the Mineral Materia Medica can be found here.
Metals and Metallic Minerals
Stones and Minerals
Salts
Earths
Stones and Shells from the Sea
Fossils
Gems & Semi-precious Stones
Stones of Animal Origin
Note that not all of the following are of animal origin, but were traditionally believed to have been of animal origin.
Note that not all of the following are of animal origin, but were traditionally believed to have been of animal origin.