Introduction - Uppsala Monitoring Centre

for spastic or soft tissue pains, as a poultice for joints, leaves in an
eye salve, the juice for earache and the root for toothache (Mann,
1984).
47 AD Scribonius Largus, (c1–50 AD) court physician to the Roman
emperor Claudius, who came to Britain in AD 43, wrote ‘De
Compositiones Medicamentorum’ [Concerning the composition of
medicaments] describing 306 ingredients. The word ‘anodyne’
meaning able to relieve pain, is first found here. He recommended
an inhalation of burned henbane seeds to drive out the ‘toothworms’,
which caused decay. He was said by Lewin to be familiar
with opium induced mental confusion, vertigo and headache (Lewin,
1883). In his account of opium he says ‘The drug causes heaviness
of the head, coldness and lividity of the limbs, and cold sweats. In
addition, it causes difficulty of breathing, dullness of the mind and
loss of consciousness.’ (Prioreschi, 1996).
77 AD Pliny the Elder, Gaius Plinius Secundus (23–79 AD) in ‘Historia
naturalis’ [Natural history].
Poppy: ‘This juice is possessed not only of certain soporific
qualities, but, if taken in too large quantities, is productive of sleep
unto death even: the name given to it is ‘opium.’
Black Hellebore: according to Pliny, was used as a purgative in
mania by Melampus, a soothsayer and physician, 1,400 years before
Christ. He gave the uses of black hellebore as:’ paralysis, insanity,
dropsy (provided there is no fever), chronic gout, joint disease, and it
has the effect of carrying off the bilious secretions and morbid
humours by stool. If given in any considerable quantity in
combination with a sweet substance it is highly dangerous.’
White Hellebore: it was used for: ‘epilepsy, white elephantiasis,
leprosy, tetanus, vertigo, melancholy, insanity, delirium, palsy, gout,
dropsy, incipient tympanitis, stomach affections, cynic spasms,
sciatica, quartan fevers, which defy other treatments, chronic
coughs, flatulency, and other griping in the bowels.
It is universally recommended not to give hellebore to aged people
or children, to persons of a soft and effeminate habit of body or mind,
or a delicate or tender constitution. ... also it is not recommended in
cases where the viscera are ulcerated or tumified, and more
particularly when the patient is afflicted with spitting of blood, or with
maladies of the side of the fauces.’ He also gives advice on when to
use hellebore. ‘In order to secure a beneficial result, due precautions
must be taken not to administer hellebore in cloudy weather, for if