Medicine on the Mend

Theophrastus Philippus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim (c. 1493-1542 C.E.), later known as Paracelsus, is considered by many to be the Father of iatrochemistry. ¹ Iatrochemistry, from the Greek “doctor’s chemistry,” involves the use of chemicals in the treatment of disease, as opposed to herbal remedies employed in the practice of medicine for so many millennia. Paracelsus ² considered himself the epitome of modern medical practitioners and with his arrogant manner managed to alienate most of the physicians of his day. The name, Paracelsus, meaning “surpassing Celsus,” ³ was indicative of his perceived superiority as a physician. Paracelsus demeaned Hippocratic medicine as pure speculation and not worthy of the label “science.” Today, Paracelsus’ works are considered, at best, medically marginal. He wrote on hermetic astronomy and medicine ⁴ and was taught medicine primarily by his physician-father, attending medical school only briefly. Subsequently, he became a wandering healer. ⁵ His medicine was heavily influenced by mystical and magical elements. He was convinced that there were invisible powers intermediate between God and man, providing humans with God’s divine healing power. Though a Catholic throughout his life, he was “Protestant” in his outlook, eschewing Church authority, as well as the authority of the Ancients, such as Aristotle and Galen. He proclaimed that empirically based medicine was essential; nonetheless, he persisted in revising speculative theories about science and specifically medicine.