Researchers examine stains in medieval medical manuscripts to uncover ancient remedies
A unique research project is currently underway at Palacký University in Olomouc. Chemists are studying residues—possibly the remnants of ancient medicines—on medieval medical manuscripts and printed books. The project carried out in collaboration with medical experts, aims to shed new light on historical medical practices.
Until now, most research into medieval prescriptions has focused solely on philological and historical analysis—studying text. What makes this project unique is its direct focus on the chemical nature of the physical traces found in historical books. Chemist Lukáš Kučera, who is part of the team, explains:
"At the beginning, we apply non-destructive methods like portable X-ray fluorescence and portable Raman microscopy. So at first, we don't take any samples. We only use non-invasive techniques to identify promising spots. Then, we collect those selected samples and bring them to the lab. There, we move on to destructive analysis."
The size of each sample is extremely tiny—about the size of a grain of mold—so the researchers only get one chance to perform the analysis:
"We dissolve the sample in a special liquid and then use separation techniques to look for chemical markers or signals. That way, we can determine whether the stain contains fatty substances, plant material, pigments, or something else," adds Mr. Kučera.
One of the challenges is that scientists don't always know whether the stain comes from a medical substance or from contamination left by someone using the book centuries ago.
"That's why, after the chemical analysis, it is essential to discuss the results with historians and linguists. For example, if we find certain fatty materials, they might be able to say, 'Yes, those are mentioned right here in the manuscript.' So close collaboration between the humanities and natural sciences is really important in this project."
Apart from having only a very tiny sample to study, another major challenge is the age of the material. Organic compounds degrade over centuries due to oxidation and other factors, meaning the original nature of these substances may be altered, explains Mr. Kučera:
"We need to find appropriate standards to compare them with because analytical chemistry is all about comparing samples with known substances. We even have an aging machine in our lab that lets us simulate time-related degradation to better understand how the materials might have changed."
According to Mr. Kučera, the findings could enrich our understanding not only of how medicines were prepared but also of how illnesses were treated in the past. And, with a renewed interest in nature-based treatments, the research could also help inspire future directions in medicine, he says:
"Maybe we'll even find a very interesting old remedy that can be re-evaluated and possibly used in modern medicine. This has already happened in several studies, especially in Asia."
