Aztec Medical Text the Oldest in the Americas
Although we may not associate the Aztecs with medicine, the oldest medical text known in the Americas is a 16th century manuscript written in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, in 1552. It describes plant-based remedies in rich detail, as indicated in the following article written under the auspices of a 30-year old organization named Mexicolore devoted to the preservation and promotion of Mexico’s Aztec heritage.
By Corrinne Burns and Randolph Arroo
How to cure the stiffening of the serpent: herbal medicine, Aztec style.
Herbs,Vol. 30, No. 3
2005
A well-known predilection towards human sacrifice has darkened our retrospective portrait of the Aztecs, because we observe them though a distorting veneer of blood. However, there was a far more human and recognizable side to Aztec daily life. Sixteenth century manuscripts of Mexico represent a vast resource of medicinal potential that is still largely underappreciated in Europe. The Leicester School of Pharmacy and Phyto-Research Ltd in Loughborough are working towards deeper understanding of the uses of Aztec herbs.