Herbals timeline

Botanical Garden Museum, University of Zürich : Fragaria vesca ‘Conradi Gesneri Historia plantarum’ .
Painted probably 1555-1565, not published until 1750
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons, Roland zh Acc. 18 Aug 2016
Introduction – Herbals timeline
The standard reference on herbals is Herbals by Agnes Arber, first printed in 1912 but with subsequent second and third editions. The third edition has an introduction by William Stearn who also supplemented the already extensive bibliography. Appendix I lists the major first edition Herbals that were published between 1470 and 1670, the following being a brief summary and adaptation of that list. It is not comprehensive but intended to give an impression of the herbal literature available in Europe at this time, the principal authors and the places where they worked and published.
Herbals timeline – History
The use of herbal remedies and plants for medicinal purposes has been a practice that dates back to ancient times. Herbals, also known as herbal medicine, botanical medicine, or phytomedicine, is the study and use of plants for their therapeutic properties. The history of herbals can be traced back to early civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, and Ayurvedic practitioners in India.
In ancient Egypt, herbal medicine was used extensively for both medicinal and religious purposes. The Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest preserved medical documents dating back to around 1500 BCE, contains information on over 800 plant-based remedies. These remedies were used to treat a variety of ailments such as fever, cough, and digestive issues. The Egyptians also used herbs for embalming and preserving bodies for the afterlife.
The Greeks were also known for their use of herbal medicine, with figures such as Hippocrates, known as the “Father of Medicine,” advocating for the use of herbs in healing. Hippocrates believed in the concept of “vis medicatrix naturae” or the healing power of nature. He used herbs such as garlic, fennel, and olives in his treatments and stressed the importance of diet and lifestyle in maintaining health.
In China, herbal medicine has been practiced for over 2000 years, with the ancient text Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon) often considered the foundational text of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM uses a combination of herbs, acupuncture, and other techniques to restore balance and harmony in the body. Chinese herbal medicine uses over 5000 plant species and is based on the concept of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements.
In India, Ayurveda, which translates to “knowledge of life,” is one of the oldest systems of medicine in the world. Ayurveda uses a holistic approach to health and wellness, focusing on balancing the body, mind, and spirit. The Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita are two ancient texts that contain information on herbal remedies, surgical techniques, and dietary advice. Ayurvedic practitioners use herbs such as turmeric, ashwagandha, and neem to treat various ailments.
During the Middle Ages in Europe, herbal medicine continued to be practiced, with many monasteries serving as centers for herbal knowledge and cultivation. The Benedictine monks were particularly known for their gardens filled with medicinal herbs. The Swiss physician Paracelsus, considered the “Father of Pharmacology,” introduced the concept of using specific doses of plant-based remedies to treat diseases.
The Renaissance period saw a resurgence of interest in herbal medicine, with the publication of numerous herbals and botanical texts. One of the most famous herbals from this time is the “Herbarium” by Apuleius Barbarus, which contained illustrations and descriptions of over 150 plants. The German botanist Leonhart Fuchs also published a herbal in 1543, which included detailed woodcuts of plants and their medicinal uses.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the study of plants and herbal medicine continued to evolve, with figures such as Nicholas Culpeper and John Gerard publishing herbals that were widely used by both medical practitioners and the general public. Culpeper’s “Complete Herbal” published in 1653, included information on over 400 plants and their medicinal properties. Gerard’s “Herball” published in 1597, was one of the first herbals to include illustrations of plants.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, herbal medicine faced challenges with the rise of modern medicine and pharmaceutical drugs. However, there has been a resurgence of interest in herbal medicine in recent years, with many people turning to natural remedies as an alternative to conventional treatments. The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the world’s population still relies on herbal medicine for their primary healthcare needs.
Today, herbal medicine is used for a wide range of conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, inflammation, and digestive disorders. Many herbs such as turmeric, ginger, and echinacea have been scientifically studied and shown to have beneficial effects on health. Herbal supplements and teas are widely available in health food stores and online, and there is a growing body of research supporting the use of herbal medicine in integrative healthcare practices.
In conclusion, the history of herbals is a rich and diverse tapestry that spans cultures and generations. From ancient civilizations to modern times, the use of plants for medicinal purposes has been a fundamental part of human society. The knowledge and wisdom passed down through the ages have contributed to the development of herbal medicine as we know it today. As interest in natural remedies continues to grow, it is important to recognize and appreciate the historical roots of herbal medicine and the valuable contributions it has made to healthcare throughout the centuries.(AI – GPT-4o)

De Materia Medica of Pedanius Dioscorides (c. 40-90 CE)
Byzantium 15th century – Musee de Cluny
Herbals were derivative workd harking back to ealier plant lists compiled by Hippocrates, Theophrastus, and Pliny the Elder.
Dioscorides probably sourced the information for De Materia Medica (used as the major source of medicinal plant inforation for over 1500 years) from an ancient Greek herbal of Diocles of Carystius (c. 373- c. 295 BCE) which is now lost.
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons – PHGCOM – Accessed 21 Sept 2017
Herbals timeline
?1472 – Bartholomaeus Anglicus – Liber de Prprietatibus Rerum – ?Cologne
1475 – Konrad der Megenberg – Augsburg
1477 – Aemilius Macer – Brussells
1478 – Dioscorides – Medemblick. De Materia Medica of Dioscorides First edition in Latin
?1481 – Apuleis Platonicus – Rome
1483 – Theophrastus – De Causis Plantarum – First Latin edition
1484 – The Latin Herbarius – Peter Schöffer. Mainz
1485 – The German Herbarius
1491 – Jacobus Meydenbach – Ortus Sanitatis – Moguntia
1500 – Hieronymus Braunschweig
1516 – Johannes Ruellius
1525 – Herball. Rycharde Banckes. London
pre 1526 – Grand Herbier – Paris
1530 – Otto Brunfelsius – Herbarum Vivae Icones
1533 – Eucharius Rhodion – Kreutterbüch. Frankfurt
1536 – Amatus Lusitanus – Index Dioscoridis …
1536 – Johannes Ruellius – De Natura Stirpium … Paris
1537 – Antonia Brassavola – Examen omnium simplicium . . .
1538 – William Turner – Libellus de re herbaria . . . London
1539 – Hieronymus Tragus (Jerome Bock) – New Kreüter Bůch . . . Strassburg
1541 – Conradus Gesnerus (Konrad Gesner) – Historia Plantarum . . . Paris
1542 – Leonhardus Fuchsius (Leonhart Fuchs) – De Historia Stirpium . . .
1542 – Conradus Gesnerus (Konrad Gesner) – Catalogus Platarum Latinè, Graecè, Germanicè et Gallicè . . .
1544 – Petrus Matthiolus (Pierandrea Mattioli) – Di Pedacio Dioscoride . . . in lingua volgare Italiana
1548 – William Turner – The names of Herbes in Greke, Latin, Englishe, Duche and Frenche wyth the Commune Names that Herbaries and Apotecaries use London
1551 – William Turner – A New Herball London
1553 – Amatus Lusitanus (J.R. de Castell-Branco) – In Dioscoridis . . . Venice
1553 – Petrus Bellonius (Pierre Belon) – De Arboribus Coniferis . . .
1554 – Rembertus Dodonaeus (Rembert Dodoens) – Cruydeboeck
1559 – Bartholomaeus Maranta – Methodi Cognoscendorum Simplicium . . . Venice
1561 – Luigi Anguillara – Semplici dell’ Excellente . . .
1561 – Valerius Cordus – In Hoc Volumine Continentur . . .
1563 – Garcia ab Horto (de Orta, de Horta) – Coloquios dos Simples, e Drogas . . .
1564 – Antonius Mizaldus (Antoine Mizauld) – Alexikepus, seu Auxiliaris Hortus . . .
1566 – Rembertus Dodonaeus (Rembert Dodoens) – Frumentorum, Leguminum, Palustrium . . .
1568 – Rembertus Dodonaeus (Rembert Dodoens) – Florum et Coronarium . . . Antwerp
1569 – Nicolas Monardes Dos Libros . . . Seville
1570 – Paracelsus (Bombast von Hohenheim) – Ettliche Tractatus . . . Strrassburg
1570 – Mathias Lobelius (de l’Obel or de Lobel) – & Petrus Pena (Pierre Pena) – Stirpium Adversaria . . . London
1571– Petrus Andreas Matthiolus (Pierandrea Mattioli) – Compendium de Plantis Omnibus . . . Venice
1571 Nicolaus Winckler – Chronica Herbarum . . .
1574 – Rembertus Dodonaeus – Purgantium Aliarumque . . . Antwerp
1575 – Bartholomaeus Carrichter – Kreutterbuch . . . Strassburg
1576 – Carolus Clusius (Charles de l’Écluse) – Rariorum Aliquot . . . Antwerp
1578 – Christoval Acosta Tractado de las Drogas . . .
1578 – Leonhardus Thurneisserus (Leonhardt Thurneisser zum Thurn) Historia Sive Descriptio Plantaryum . . .
1580 – Rembertus Dodonaeus Historia vitis Vinique . . .
1581 – Mathias Lobelius (Mathias de Lobel or del’Obel) – Plantarum Seu Stirpium Icones . . . Anterp
1582-3 – Leonhard Rauwolff Aigentliche Beschreibug der Raiss . . . (fourth part with woodcuts)
1583 – Andreas Caesalpinus (Andrea Caesalpino) De Plantis Libri . . . Florence
1583 – Carolous Clusius (Charles de l’Ecluse) – Car Clusii Atrebatis Rariorum Aliquot Stirpium . . . Antwerp
1583 – Rembertus Dodoens – Stirpium Historiae Pemptades . . .
1584 – Geofroy Linocier – L’Histoire des Plantes . . . Paris
1585 – Castor Durante – Herbario Nuovo . . .
1586 – Andreas Petrus Matthiolus (Pierandrea Mattioli) – De Plantis Epitome Utillissima . . . Frankfurt
1586 – Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues – Le Chef des Champs . . .
1586-7 – Jacobus Dalechampius (Jacques d’Aléchamps or Daléchamps) – Historia Generalis Plantarum . . .
1588 – Joachim Camerarius – Hortus Medicus et Philosophicus . . . Frankfurt
1588 – Johannes Baptista Porta (Giambattista Porta) – Phytognomica . . . Naples
1588, 1591 – Jacobus Theodorus Tabernaemontanus (Jacob Dietrich) – Neuw Kreuterbuch . . . Frankfurt
1592 – Prosper Alpinus (Prospero Alpino) – De Plantis Aegypti . . .
1592 – Fabius Columna (Fabio Colonna) – . . . Sive Plantarum Aliquot Historia . . .
1592 – Adam Zaluziansky von Zaluzian – Methodi Herbariae . . . Prague
1596 – Casparus Bauhinus (Gaspard Bauhin) – . . . Seu Enumeratio Plantarum . . . Basle
1597 – John Gerarde – The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes . . . London
1601 – Casparus Bauhin – Animadversiones In Historiam Generalem Plantarum . . . Frankfurt
1601 – Carolus Clusius – Caroli Clusii Atrebatis . . . Rariorum Plantarum Antwerp
1606 – Fabius Columna (Fabio Colonna) Minus Cognitarum Stirpium . . . Rome
1606 – Adrianus Spegelius (A. Spieghel) – Isagoges in Rem Herbariam Libri . . .
1611 – Paulus Renealmus (Paul Renealme) – Specimen Historiae Plantarum . . . Paris
1612 – Johannes Theodorus de Bry – Florilegium Novum. Frankfurt
1613 – Basilius Beslerus (Basil Besler) – Hortus Eystettensis . . . Eichstadt
1614 – Passaeus Crsipianus – Hortus Floridus . . . Utrecht
1615 – Francisco Hernandez – Quattro Libros . . .
1616 – Johannes Olorinus (Johann Sommer)- Centuria Herbarum Mirabilium . . . Magdeberg
1619 – Johannes Bauhinus (Jean Bauhin) & J.H. Cherlerus (J.H. Cherler) .. Historiae Plantarum Generalis . . .
1620 – Casparus Bauhinus (Gaspard Bauhin) – . . . Theatri Botanici . . . Frankfurt
1622 – Anon (Daniel Rabel) – Theatrum Florae Paris
1623 – Casparus Bauhinus (Gaspard Bauhin) – . . . Theatri Botanici . . . Frankfurt
1625 – Johann Popp (Johanne Poppe) – Kreuter Buch . . . Leipzig
1628 – Guy de la Brosse – De la Nature . . .
1629 – Thomas Johnson – Iter Plantarum Investigationis . . . London
1629 – John Parkinson – Paradisi in Sole Paradisus Terrestris . . . A Garden of all sorts of pleasant flowers which our English ayre will permit to be noursed up . . . This is the first English book devoted to garden flowers and signalled the general transition from subsistence to ornamental gardens among a segment of society
1631 – Antonio Donati – Trattato des Semplici . . . Venice
1634 – Thomas Johnson – Mercurius Botanicus . . . London
1640 – John Parkinson – Theatrum Botanicum: the Theater of Plants London
1649 – Nicholas Culpeper – A Physicall Directory or A Translation of the London Dispensatory Made by the College of Physicians in London . . . London
1650 – William How – Phytologia Britannica . . . London
1656 – William Cole – The Art of Simpling London
1657 – William Cole – Adam in Eden or Nature’s Paradise . . . London
1658 – Casparus Bauhinus (Gaspard Bauhin) – . . . Theatri Botanici . . . Basle
1659 – Robert Lovell – . . . Enchiridion Botanicum, or A Compleat Herball . . . Oxford
1662 – Johannes Johnstonus (John Johnstone) – Dendrographias . . . Frankfurt
1664 – Robert Turner – The British Physician: or The Nature and Vertues of English Plants London
1666 – Dominicus Chabraeus (D. Chabrey) – Stirpium Icones . . . Geneva
1667-1668 – Ulysses Aldrovandus (Ulisse Aldrovandi) – Dendrologie Naturalis . . . (possibly misattributed)
1670 – Petrus Nylandt – De Nederlandtse Herbarius . . . Amsterdam