Astrology was a very important to Paracelsus medicine and he was a practicing astrologer. He believed that astrological talismans could cure disease and devoted time to making talismans specifically for each sign of the zodiac. He linked the astrology with his tradition belief of angels and demons by creating an Alphabet of the Magi for engraving angelic names on talismans.
He made many important contributions to alchemy, chemistry and medicine. He pioneered the use of chemicals and minerals in medicine and incorporated Opium and Mercury into the use of medicine. He believed that the practice of medicine should be based on observation, experience and experimentation, for example, he was the first to record that inhaled dust, rather than spirits, was the cause of lung disease in minors. He identified certain diseases and being caused by toxic elements, which later led to the discovery of bacteria and viruses.
Paracelsus view was different to those at the time. "Many have said of Alchemy, that it is for the making of gold and silver. For me such is not the aim, but to consider only what virtue and power may lie in medicines."(Edwards, p47). At the time seven was a very important number, there were seven planets, seven metals and seven main organs in the human body (See table).
Planets | Metal | Organ |
Sun | Gold | Heart |
Moon | Silver | Brain |
Jupiter | Tin | Liver |
Venus | Copper | Kidneys |
Saturn | Lead | Spleen |
Mars | Iron | Gall Bladder |
Mercury | Quicksilver | Lungs |
It was believe that poison came from the stars, but Paracelsus believed that poisons were not necessarily negative. Because everything in the universe was interrelated, medical cures could be found in herbs, minerals and the alchemical combinations of both. Paracelsus examined the natural remedies used as medicine and was able to depict the most effective ingredient in these for healing. He found which ingredient related to which illness through the alchemical process of solution, evaporation, precipitation and distillation. From this he was able to use metals instead of herbs to treat illnesses, for example, mercury was used to treat syphilis. He also used opium dissolved in alcohol as a painkiller.
Unlike many people practicing medicine at the time, Paracelsus believed that everyone was entitled to medical care, regardless of background or wealth. As such he treated everyone, and charged them according to what they could pay; if they couldn’t pay he would often treat them anyway. This made him unpopular with the authorities but gave him greater standing with those who would not normally be able to afford medical treatment.
His disagreements with the authorities continued further when at the age of thirty three he was teaching at Basel University in Switzerland. During his lectures he slated Galenic Medicine without seeking approval from the faculty. Having called the theory useless, making it clear he did not trust doctors diagnosis through this medical treatment, the faculty was outraged and forbid him from continuing his work in Basel but Paracelsus felt academic approval was not required nor ever requested and so testified and was able to continue lecturing in the city of Basel for a short period of time. He gave his lectures in German as opposed to Latin as he felt students would better understand the lecture when conducted in this language. He highlighted the importance of pupils understanding why doctors prescribed what they did. He lectured on a radical medical treatment including pathology, prescribing and preparing medicine, examining the pulse and urine, and treating illnesses and injuries.
In relation to ideas that the time Paracelsus was open mew ideas and theories, for example, he replaced the planetary theory of the humors with a chemical one. Unlike others at the time, he did not believe that insanity was caused by demons but taught his students that the mind can create illnesses in itself. He believed any disease was curable except the will of God. Because of these ideas, he was convicted of heresy and ridiculed for asserting that illness of not evil. Paracelsus helped ideas to progress from the bases of alchemy. Previous views such as those of Hippocrates’s four humors were challenged by Paracelsus, paving the way for new ideas and modern medicine
Overall Paracelsus had a largely beneficial impact on progressing medical knowledge and encouraging people to move away from traditional views. Although some of this theories are today seen as inaccurate by many scientists current knowledge may not be as advanced as it is without people such as him giving new ideas and methods.
References
http://www.alchemylab.com/paracelsus.htm accessed 16/2/11
(Edwards, p. 47) (also in: Holmyard, Eric John. Alchemy. p. 170) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracelsus- accessed 16/2/11
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Paracelsus - accessed 16/2/11
http://pagerankstudio.com/Blog/2011/01/what-did-paracelsus-contribute-to-alchemy/ - accessed 16/2/11
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/p/paracelsus.html - accessed 16/2/11
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