On the Issue of the Explanatory Dictionary of Medicinal Remedies of Mineral Origin According to Georgian Medical Books and Qarabadins

Abstract

The article was prepared within the project of Korneli Kekelidze Georgian National Centre of Manuscripts – "Medical and Veterinary Manuscripts in the Depositories of Georgia and Abroad" with the financial support of LEPL – Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (Grant agreement HE 17-54).

According to Georgian fundamental medical works ("Incompa-rable Qarabadin” by Canaanite, "the Book of Medical Use" by ex-Khoja, Zaza of Panaskerti, Tsitsishvili's "Medical Book – Qarabadin", as well as David Bagrationi's "Yadigar Daud") animal and especially plant raw materials are widely used as medicinal remedies, and it was found that substances of mineral origin were also actively used for treatment purposes.

For the illustration: in the medical books Gili Armani, Guillerman (mud, clay, Bolus Armenica / Bolus Armenus – fine-grained iron clay with yellow or brownish-red colour, with strong astringent properties) and/or Gili Makhtumi (white clay, Bolus Alba – natural silicium composite enterosorbent, consisting of minerals from the kaolinitis (Al₄[Si₄O₁₀](OH)₈ group) is indicated as one of the components of complex medicinal remedies in cases such as bleeding, gastrointestinal disease, diarrhea, poisoning, skin disease, etc. For example, a method to stop bleeding from the nose is described as follows: “The doctor Burham said: he had previously used and experienced this method many times. Bring waters of snow, bazaruji, and cucumber and mix the waters with gili Armani and a bit of camphor. They have to put it in both nostrils (Yadigar Daud, 1985: 260,37). Chapter 28 of Yadigar Daud “Tells the causes, symptoms and remedies for phlegm, thirst and stomach pain”. A routine of giving and restricting water and food to the patient, as well as the intake of medications like gili Armani, is indicated, thus underlining absorbing and coating features of clay: “You should not give water to drink, no food or bread, and if got thirsty, you should mash white sandal with rose water and make him drink, ... or in the same way mash gili Armani, or gili makhtumi” Yadigar Daud, 365: 18). For the treatment of skin diseases (the chapter of the acariasis; acariasis – infestation, acariasis) it is indicated "... put the mixture of gili Armani and vinegar bandage around and cover it with … cream" (The Medical Book, 1978: 622,18).

Based on the descriptions of medicines in the old Georgian Qarba-dins, up to 40 substances of mineral origin were identified, indicating their medicinal function. The report discusses diamond/ adamant, Gili Armani, Gili Makhtumi, sulfur, and "sulfur water". Special attention is paid to the variant reading of lakhostaki. On the one hand, lakhostaki is considered as verdigris, an acetate of copper (II), and on the other hand, as an eyebrow dye, a black dye used in cosmetics.

In the report, attention is focused on the explanatory dictionary of medicinal remedies of mineral origin, which was prepared as a result of the research.