Hildegard von Bingen's Physica: The Complete English Translation of Her Classic Work on Health and Healing (Hardcover)

~ Priscilla Throop (Translator)
Key Phrases: someone ails, powder with bread, metallic jar, Holy Spirit (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Saint, mystic, healer, visionary, fighter, Hildegard von Bingen stands as one of the great figures in the history of women in medicine. She was renowned for her healing work and her original theories of medicine. -- Elisbeth Brooke, in Women Healers

Review

"A work filled with astonishments and delights for present-day readers."
(Lee Pennock Huntington, Montpelier Times Argus )

"Saint, mystic, healer, visionary, fighter, Hildegard von Bingen stands as one of the great figures in the history of women in medicine. She was renowned for her healing work and her original theories of medicine."
(Elisbeth Brooke, in Women Healers )

"Gives a good sense of 12th century herbalism based on humors, common superstition, and sprinkled with a dose of Bingen's mystical insights."
(American Herb Association, Vol 16:2 )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Healing Arts Press (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892816619
• ISBN-13: 978-0892816613
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #92,128 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but challenging, August 3, 2007

By	Eclectic Reader (Sunnyvale, CA) - See all my reviews

I have tried to use this book once or twice. One of the things that still make me giggle is using lion's ears to combat deafness. Then I remembered all these animal body-parts that are still being harvested for their medical qualities that are bringing the animals into extinction -- like is the case with the rhinoceros and the shark. So I stop giggling and stick to the plant sections.

The recipes that Hildegard uses are sometimes hard to do because I simply have no idea what some of the plants she uses are. She also uses wine a lot, which is new to me. I come from a tea tradition, so boiling things in wine is a true novelty. Maybe this is why I have not used it much since it can be very different from what I know. On the other hand, it has provided me wonderful new experiences in the herbal work! I have not used the mineral section yet, and only stuck to the plant section.

At the very least, it is a fascinating treatise on medieval medicine. I do recommend it!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a contribution to the study of medieval medicine, February 27, 2006

By	Michael T. Walton ",president,walton marine" (salt lake city ,ut.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ms.Throop provides a learned introduction to Hildegard and a fluent translation of an important medical text.Scholars and interested laymen will benefit from her efforts.
Michael T.Walton,Ph.D.

40 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Useful solely as a historical reference, April 6, 2001

By	Elizabeth G. Melillo "gloriana" - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

From what I had read concerning this book and other works of Hildegarde's, I had assumed that it would be useful for one interested in herbal medicine. Though I fondly smiled at remedies involving unicorn horn, and at cautions about avoiding the meat of the gryphon, I was very disappointed that there were no useful ideas, for all that I respect the skill of the medieval herbalists. Entries are merely Hildegard's description of a plant or animal and its humours.