Ethnopharmacological Note: A note on “hippuris”, “ephedron” or “anabasis” of Pliny the Elder: a long forgotten plant used by ancient Greek runners
Christophe Wiart
Abstract
Evidence suggests that ancient Greek athletes used opium, henbane, darnel, hellebore, mushrooms, nightshade, pennyroyal, and purslane to boost their physical endurance during Olympic Games. The purpose of this note is to bring attention to the fact that Pliny the Elder in his Natural History Book 26, Chapter 83 relates to a plant named “
Equisetum” or in Greek “Hippuris" that was boiled in an earth pot and resulting in a decoction that was taken for 3 days to consume the spleen of runners.
Keywords: hippuris, ephrdron, anabasis
Christophe Wiart
Abstract
Evidence suggests that ancient Greek athletes used opium, henbane, darnel, hellebore, mushrooms, nightshade, pennyroyal, and purslane to boost their physical endurance during Olympic Games. The purpose of this note is to bring attention to the fact that Pliny the Elder in his Natural History Book 26, Chapter 83 relates to a plant named “
Equisetum” or in Greek “Hippuris" that was boiled in an earth pot and resulting in a decoction that was taken for 3 days to consume the spleen of runners.
Keywords: hippuris, ephrdron, anabasis
