Manufacturing apparatus of antique medicine, La verna Sanctuary, 06/09/2019
Alchemists are said to be the ancestors of chemists. Alchemy was not simply an experiment to change minerals into gold, but to discover a technology to transform materials into gold, which is purest not to decay and hardest not to break. This meaning of metaphor is also related to a personal spiritual growth. Because our body is also a complex of matter and mind even though itself is made from matters. Alchemist tried to capture the spirit of four elements such as earth, water, fire and air. Alchemy was also broaden to understanding the mystery of creatures in Nature as how it originates. Therefore it is natural that the ancient monks were fascinated by alchemy. Thoughts from this make me postulate that such evidence might have been left in the La Verna Monastery. It might as well the monasteries of Camaldoli, Florence, Genoa, and Rüdesheim am Rhein did.
Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics at La Verna
One of the key areas of human endeavor that the alchemists were involved in was medicine. The essence of medicine is transformation, and the alchemists transformed deadly poisons or otherwise inert organic substances into valuable medicines capable of bringing about beneficial healing transformations in the organism. Alchemical practices and currents of thought can be found in all the world's great traditional medical systems. In Chinese Medicine, the Taoists were involved in alchemy. In Indian Ayurvedic Medicine, alchemical bhasmas, or mineral ash preparations, are wonder drugs that are still in use today. The alchemical tradition in Greek Medicine is based on Hermetic philosophy, which was founded by the legendary Egyptian philosopher king Hermes Trimegistus, or the "Thrice-Great Hermes". Many alchemists equate him with the Greek god Hermes or Mercury, and take his winged, serpent-entwined staff as their symbol or emblem. ALCHEMY AND MEDICINE
