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Local Medicines
Common British plants, minerals and animals were also used in making medicines. Some of these were found wild, by herb-collectors. Others were grown by market-gardeners and farmers. For example, Saffron Walden, was famous for its saffron, as its name suggests.
Some doctors and medical writers argued that people should use local medicines because they were better suited to their ‘constitution’, and less subject to adulteration than imported medicines.
New Medicines
The discovery of America led to the introduction of new remedies which were not described in classical medical books. These discoveries shook people’s faith in the authority of the Greek and Roman writers.
New medicines were commercial opportunities for early-modern merchants and doctors. The promise of profits from drugs helped motivate and fund exploration.
Some of the new substances introduced to European medicine in this period are still used today, such as quinine. Others, such as chocolate and tobacco, have shifted from medicine to food or luxury.
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