Review (PDF) An Aztec Herbal: The Classic Codex Of 1552
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.
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Dover Publications; Unabridged edition (May 31, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0486411303
ISBN-13: 978-0486411309
Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.4 x 8.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #518,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #63 in Books > History > Ancient Civilizations > Aztec #416 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Alternative Medicine > Naturopathy #435 in Books > History > Americas > Mexico
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.
This paperback was way over my head. I am not familiar with the language and all the plants names were given in Spanish?It's well illustrated and an interesting read if you want to spend a bit of time studying the text.B.Harley
The buyer should note before purchasing not a lot of the book lists plant names in nahuatl. Some of them have been identified and translated through scholarly study, and are listed in the glossary section. However, not all of the plants have been translated. This is a source of study, as well as an incomplete Botanical documentation.
Not at all what I was expecting seeing as this is supposed to be a reproduction of a book written by people who used hieroglyphs. Very few actual images and because this was documents stolen by the roman church the information inside cannot be fully trusted. The translations are more than likely altered and symbolism interperated by people who sought to convert all minds to think and behave like their own.Still it's a nice book to skim through, just not as image heavy as a reproduction should be' given it was written by a society who used imagery and symbolism to document information.On a side note the romans should have released the original copy as well as the no doubt dozens of literature they have stolen from indigenous people around the world in an effort to erase culture. It`s a shameful gift to give back to a country after so much time. We cannot fathom all the other secrets they destroyed.
I purchased this book more for artistic inspiration then content. The color illustrations they speak of are basically a bunch of tiny pictures printed on the inside front and back cover.Unfortunately I had assumed I would get some of the illustrations that you see when you look up "aztec herbal" in a basic google search. I assumed these to be the 38 color illustrations. I should have researched this a bit more.The content of the herbal is interesting for what it is as a historical document.
It's an interesting edition to anyone's library
An Aztec Herbal: The Classic Codex of 1552 Herbal Antibiotics: 25 Best Herbal Remedies Way To Heal Yourself Faster (Herbal Antibiotics, Herbal Remedies,herbal antibiotics and antivirals) DIY Herbal Gardening - Learn The Benefits Of Planting The Top 5 Medicinal Plants (Herbal Gardening, DIY Herbal Gardening, Medicinal Plants, Herbal Medicines, Herbal Cure) Herbal Remedies: 30 Herbal Recipe Remedies From My Private Collection: Proven Herbal Recipes That Work! (Herbal Recipes Private Collection Book 1) The Complete Illustrated History of the Aztec & Maya: The Definitive Chronicle of the Ancient Peoples of Central America & Mexico - Including the Aztec, Maya, Olmec, Mixtec, Toltec & Zapotec The Lost History Of Aztec & Maya: The History, Legend, Myth And Culture Of The Ancient Native Peoples Of Mexico And Central America: Olmec, Maya, ... Zapotec, Toltec, Mixtec, Totonac, Aztec Herbal Remedies:The Ultimate Guide to Herbal Healing, Magic, Medicine, Antivirals, Antibiotics,: herbs,Alternative Medicine, Magic, Medicine, Antivirals, ... Oils, Depression Cure, Natural Remedies,) Alternative Medicine Made Easy: How to Use Simple Homemade Remedies to Stay Healthy and Disease-Free (Herbal Remedies, Alternative Medicine, How to Use Herbal Remedies,) Herbal Treatment for Peptic Ulcer and Gastritis (Herbal Cure) The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Chinese, Western, and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatm ents Prescription for Herbal Healing, 2nd Edition: An Easy-to-Use A-to-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies Jeanne Rose: Herbal Body Book: The Herbal Way to Natural Beauty & Health for Men & Women Llewellyn's 2017 Herbal Almanac: Herbs for Growing & Gathering, Cooking & Crafts, Health & Beauty, History, Myth & Lore (Llewellyn's Herbal Almanac) Herbal Contraindications and Drug Interactions: Plus Herbal Adjuncts with Medicines, 4th Edition Classic TV: WESTERNS 1 - SIX COMPLETE CLASSIC TELEVISION COWBOY COMIC BOOKS: OVER 200 PAGES OF COWBOYS, INDIANS AND OUTLAWS (CLASSIC TV COMIC BOOKS) Regreso al Eden: The Classic Guide to Herbal Medicine, Natural Foods, and Home Remedies (Spanish Edition) Aztec Warriors (Torque Books: History's Greatest Warriors) (Torque: History's Greatest Warriors (Library)) History: Greatest Ancient Civilization History: (History Rome, Romans, Egypt, SPQR, Aztec, Ancient China, Ancient Greece, Julius Caesar, Jesus, Muhammed, Alexander the Great) Native America: A Concise Guide To Native American History - Native Americans, Indian American, Slavery & Colonization (Crazy Horse, Custer, Slavery, American Archaeology, Genocide, Aztec)
