2,000 Year-Old Shipwreck Discovered, Contains Natural Medicines
by Elizabeth Renter,
Once upon a time, people used plants for healing and it wasn’t referred to as “alternative”. Back then, “traditional” medicine referred to that which had been around the longest, which was healing based on the use of plants and nature. Now, things have changed and we occasionally need a reminder that nature has been providing medicine for millennia and can still be trusted to provide it today. One of those reminders came just a couple years ago when archaeologists discovered a wooden box full of medicine in a 2,000 year-old sunken ship off the coast of Tuscany.
The ship was believed to have sank around 130 B.C., well over 2,000 years ago. It was transporting wine, glassware, lams, and ceramics. It isn’t clear where the ship originated or what its final destination was, but we do know there was likely a healer on board.
Inside a wooden box, preserved deep under the sea, was a collection of pills. Using DNA sequencing, scientists were able to determine what was inside these pills, and it wasn’t some lab-created, branded pharmaceuticals.
The pills contained all natural plants and materials including crushed celery, onions, carrots, cabbage, alfalfa, chestnuts, radish, yarrow, parsley, nasturtium, hibiscus, and clay. Also within the box was a mortar and pestle, likely used to crush the plants and herbs for the medicinal preparations.
“It’s a spectacular find. They were very well sealed. The plants and vegetables were probably crushed with a mortar and pestle – we could still see the fibres in the tablets. They also contained clay, which even today is used to treat gastrointestinal problems,” said Dr Alain Touwaide, from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Washington DC.
The finding marks the oldest known remains of ancient medicines. Dr. Alain Touwaide from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Washington D.C. says that the remedies are those documented in Ancient Greek texts, which were later modeled by Ancient Romans—both of whom can trace their medical practices to Africa, the ‘true birthplace of medicine’.
More than likely, the researchers say, the medicine was used to treat general malaise and those digestive complaints common with sailors on the high seas. To this day, many of the components found within these ancient pills are still used to treat modern ailments—including clay for upset stomachs, celery for rheumatism, and onion for infections.
There are people who would argue that the life expectancy of a person in these ancient times was dramatically less than a person today, and that their herbal medicines weren’t doing anyone any favors. But, this is a narrow-view, failing to look at the shortcomings of sanitation and the spread of disease back then. Now, for instance, we don’t live with open sewage and we all know to cook our foods to a proper temperature.
There are commendable advances that have taken place over the past few thousand years, to be sure. Better housing, more sound infrastructure, and cleaner living in general are just a few. But, there’s a chance we could learn something from our predecessors—namely, that some things should not be forsaken or left behind in the name of advancement; that some things, including natural healing, truly are timeless.
Additional Sources:
Eurekalert.org
Read more: Natural Society
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Jan 16, 2013 @ 03:12:33
all right now we know the government been lying to me all this time
Jan 16, 2013 @ 04:29:52
Most of the stuff in modern medicine comes from herbs too. Or are a rough chemical equivalent of the properties of those herbs. The problem is if we had to meet the medicinal demand of modern societies with herbs alone… they would have to cost less to produce. Making some toxic crap in a lab by the barrel full is far cheaper than growing things….
Mar 12, 2013 @ 03:44:44
don't forget you get to patent that garbage in a barrel and sell that toxic shit for 4000% profit.
Jan 16, 2013 @ 04:44:50
There is a myth about folks living much longer nowadays. first of all, most data was taken in cities. Also, averages were used and infant mortality was higher, greatly lowering averages. (ex. 90 year old and one year old-avg45. 50 and 60 year old-avg55).
Jan 16, 2013 @ 09:46:00
"The ship was believed to have sunk", not sank;incorrect English.
Jan 31, 2013 @ 03:14:45
Agreed
Jan 16, 2013 @ 14:27:30
Really interesting!
Jan 17, 2013 @ 03:43:07
glad I started juicing then.
Jan 17, 2013 @ 08:08:27
Follow this great juicing page; Live Love Laugh & Juice
Jan 17, 2013 @ 04:05:22
those dried up 2,000 year old medicines are probably still better than the un-natural shit they produce today en mass, our ancestors where REAL healers, not massive corporations making trillions of dollars. Go back to nature and screw modern drugs. Peace.
Feb 03, 2013 @ 11:33:51
If I had to guess, it was probably vitamins right. You can fish all day off the side of a boat, but a sailor going without vitamins and minerals. Especially vitamin C causes scurvy. And that shits rough. I would guess that we have a much greater grip on medicine today, than they did then. Vaccines, and pharmaceutical drugs work. Most of them anyways. Saying that carrots is a better medicine than penicillin is just silly. While eating carrots may help to strengthen the immune system and beta carotene can help to reduce the risk of cancer. A high school student probably is a much more effective "healer" with a trip to a drug store. Than the most knowing person of the time then. If you get a disease do you rub celery on yourself to heal it, or do you go to the doctor and get fixed up. This article is neat, but in no way should you risk your life on "Natural healing". Good nutrition does play a role in our health. And you are probably less likely to get a round of diseases by steering clear of certain types of foods. And eating other types. By no means is it a good idea to try to treat say cancer with cucumbers.
Mar 12, 2013 @ 15:46:20
There needs to be a balance between traditional (alternative) and conventional (modern) medicine, and the correct natural must be used. Carrots will never be better than penicillin because carrots do not have anti-viral or anti-bacterial properties…but Ginger does. Ginger works better for me than pharmaceudical antibiotics. You wouldn't rub celery on yourself for a rash, but you might use Calendula (a flower in the Marigold family that has astringent properties). For the last 3 years, my doc had me on a few meds for my health problems (asthma, GERD, etc) and for 2 years of that I was getting sick just about every month (and putting me on MORE meds to combat that)! The meds were destroying my immune system. 6 mos ago, I abandoned my pharmaceudicals and switched to herbs and teas. For the last 6 mos, I have not been sick at all, and my health issues are being slowly resolved instead of covered up. During this "trial run", I had a GERD attack and the Urgent Care doc wanted to prescribe me something that I felt was inappropriate for my needs. I looked into herbal options and found a much better alternative that would not mess with other body systems like that pill would have. (Turns out, the catnip works faster than the Donnatal anyway). I took my "herbal trial run" to my (modern) doctor and he agrees that if this is what is working, that we should continue pursuing a more natural path together. I do believe that there will be times when conventional medicine will be needed (which is why I will carry my rescue inhaler with me in the event I can't get to my alternatives), but there needs to be a balance between the natural and chemical, and natural should be tried first and under the watch of a doctor. If we try to heal the problem rather than cover it up with a trip to the drug store, we would all be better off health-wise.
Apr 22, 2013 @ 07:31:22
You're both right… the 'medicine person' on board was probably highly respected for his/her 'miraculous' scurvy cure. But in this litigious and ignorant world, many people only want 5min one shot/pill fixes and drugs are the way to go there… most acute conditions are best managed with modern medicine. Most chronic conditions are much harder… and it seems even with modern medicine, they are best managed once (usually out of sheer frustration) people decide to better educate themselves and make healthier choices in all aspects of our lives. Doctors can't teach you everything there is about making healthy choices in 5~10minute consultations. Rheumatologists have to battle chronic disease with modern medicine…. they have 30min~1hr long consultations and (the good ones) also utilise dieticians/nutritionists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists etc…. ie a more 'hollistic' approach. We all need a more holistic approach.
Mar 12, 2013 @ 03:39:04
Not true about being the oldest, The Iceman, had a medicine bag, over 5000 years old.
Mar 12, 2013 @ 07:25:18
So tired of the evidence biased double blind studies. Seems scientists only work for the highest bidder. The fda health Canada only approve those who can afford millions of dollars of hoop jumping.
Mar 13, 2013 @ 05:19:24
As a diver, I am kinda interested in how deep this find was. THAT will tell me alot about the validity…
Apr 28, 2013 @ 21:02:29
It is possible that these were made to survive a long journey at sea, where fresh food was not an option. Sort of like how today's scientists are working on how we will survive long journeys in space.