Abraham Ofir Shemesh

During the Middle Ages and the Modern Era, Jewish authors published many treatises, which contain invaluable historical information about medical practices and hundreds of medical materials. This study deals with remedies that were produced from natural sources, such as animals, plants and minerals. This pioneer research presents a comprehensive list of approximately 400 medical materials, which were mentioned in different genres of Jewish texts. A full perspective of the historical and pharmacological aspects is obtained by comparing parallel Muslim and Christian sources. Various Jewish and historical aspects are illuminated, including: halakhic problems which arise as a result of the use of natural substances, e.g. organs, tissues and bodily fluid of ritually impure animals, the discovery of the New World and the resulting import of previously unknown medical cures and its influence on the pharmacology of the Ancient World and on the Rabbinic Responsa, the pharmacological transformations which took place in the Modern Era, such as the transition from natural to synthetic medicines, and the influence of this process on the halakha. An additional discussion will be the fundamental question – Is there 'Jewish Medicine' (science of healing) with unique characteristics, or, perhaps the medicine of the Jews was not significantly different from common medicine.