Introduction

'King Philip II of Spain sent Francisco Hernández, one of his royal physicians, on a scientific mission to the New World. Hernández was directed to make a comprehensive study of the medicinal plants of New Spain and Perú including their use, how and where they grew, and an estimate of their effectiveness. Hernández arrived in Mexico in 1570 and stayed until 1577. The magnitude of the task was so great that, even though the viceroys were ordered to assist Hernández in his work, he never managed to get to Perú (Somolinos d'Ardois 1960: 144-152). Hernández interrogated native physicians and did his own evaluations according to the Galenical theory current in Europe at the time. The massive original version of his book, describing Aztec medicinal plants, minerals, and animals, with its irreplaceable native illustrations, was destroyed in a fire at the royal palace in 1671. What we now have is an incomplete copy made in 1648 (Somolinos d’Ardois 1960: 282) Hernández was full of praise for the extent of botanical and taxonomical knowledge of the Indians:-

The tail of the opossum (never previously seen in Europe) was used by the Aztecs as an 'oxytocic' to induce birth; from Hernández's 'Historia de los animales de la Nueva España', ch. 5 p. 298.

'Although, as in many other medical systems, including our own, illnesses were treated by imploring the gods and using magical remedies, the Aztecs also had knowledge based on research and experience. The Aztecs had considerable empirical knowledge about plants. The emperor Motecuhzoma I established the first botanical garden in the Fifteenth Century and as the Mexica (the Aztec group that ruled in Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City) conquered new lands, specimens were brought to these and other botanical gardens. Natives of newly conquered areas were also brought to tend plants from their areas. Among other things these gardens were used for medical research; plants were given away to patients with the condition that they report on the results. These activities are reflected in the Aztec's extensive and scientifically accurate botanical and zoological nomenclature (Ortiz de Montellano 1984). The Spanish chroniclers were impressed with Aztec medical knowledge. Torquemada (1975-1983: vol. 3, 325) mentioned that Aztec battle surgeons tended their wounded skillfully and that they healed them faster than the Spanish surgeons. He also described the infinite number of herbs sold in their markets, the skill needed to distinguish between them, and that they cured without using mixtures of herbs (1975-1983: vol. 3, 349). Motolinía wrote:-

Plate 69 from the Badianus Manuscript ('An Aztec Herbal of 1552'), now in the Vatican Library

'An area in which the Aztecs were clearly superior to the Spanish conquerors was in the treatment of battle wounds. European wound treatment at that time consisted of cauterization with boiling oil and reciting prayers, while waiting for infection to develop the “laudable pus” that was seen as a good sign (Forrest 1982). The Aztecs were engaged in warfare practically all the time and had developed a regime consisting of washing the wounds with fresh urine (a sterile solution), applying an herb to stop the bleeding, and using Agave sap with or without salt to prevent infection and promote healing. Judy Davidson and I (1984) showed that Agave sap was, in fact, antibiotic. A group of Argentinian surgeons used granulated sugar (which worked by the same mechanism as Agave sap) in successfully treating and preventing infections (Herszage, Montenegro, and Joseph 1980).

Aztec farmers knew the strengths and properties of each and every local plant

'Although my focus so far has been on remedies for disease, we should remember that health involves much more than curing disease after it occurs. Preventing disease and illness is as or more important than curing disease. Maintaining health involves eating a healthy and varied diet- the Aztecs ate a high fiber, low cholesterol, and very varied diet (practically anything that flew, crawled, or swam); exercise - there were no beasts of burden or wheels (humans had to carry everything), and public health measures - the Aztecs had provisions for clean water and floating ”honey wagons.”

The world today enjoys many key foodstuffs thanks to the efforts of farmers in ancient Mesoamerica