An Aztec Herbal: The Classic Codex of 1552 [Unabridged] [Paperback]

William Gates (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 31, 2000

Originally written in the Aztec language, this 16th-century codex was the first herbal and medical text compiled in the New World. It contains ancient remedies for myriad ailments — boils, hair loss, cataracts, insomnia hiccoughs, and gout, to name a few. Analytical Index to Plants. New Introduction. Over 180 black-and-white and 38 color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Latin

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Unabridged edition (May 31, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486411303
• ISBN-13: 978-0486411309
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #449,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > History > Ancient > Aztec

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TREASURY OF ANCIENT KNOWLEDGE, October 30, 2010

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M. Moini-Yekta (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: An Aztec Herbal: The Classic Codex of 1552 (Paperback)

This little book has an amazing history. Supposedly, It's one of the only copies that was left behind that documented the medicinal uses of Aztec healers. It was not known to have still existed until it was given back as a gift to Mexico by the Vatican only in our life time. The Aztecs knowledge of herbal remedies are fascinating to read about. Most of the ailments we experience today are mentioned but the extensive set of plants and even animal remains are worth learning about since many of the particular ingredients are also commonly used in Southeast Asia today by a number of healers.

For instance the use of the dogs gallbladder, and other species alike in curing skin infections or fractures. Also the use of urine which today is frowned upon but considered an important valuable remedy by many first nations. The codex is valuable in the way it combines many different unrelated ingredients, similar to how we now isolate a particular active chemical from a particular plant. At first glance you might wonder how in the world did they think of combining these plants with a burnt hawks wing for example?

But after further examination you will appreciate the reasons behind the complex mix of ingredients and realize the far reaching value of these medicines used by people who survived for thousands of years healing themselves by using only the very ingredients that existed around them. Since most people today can barely understand the ingredients used in their shampoos, at least the Aztecs used ingredients that we could actually visually imagine.