Paracelsus

Paracelsus (November 11 or December 17, 1493 - September 24, 1541) was a famous alchemist, physician, astrologer, and general occultist. Born Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, he took the name Paracelsus later in life, meaning "superior to Celsus", an early Roman physician. He was also known by the pseudonym Theophrastus Philippus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim.

Biography

Paracelsus was born at Einsiedeln, Switzerland, of a Swabian chemist father and a Swiss mother. He was brought up in Austria, and as a youth he worked in nearby mines as an analyst. He graduated with a baccalaureate in medicine from the University of Vienna in 1510 at the age of 17. There is speculation he gained his doctorate degree from the University of Ferrara.

Related Topics:
Einsiedeln - Switzerland - Swabia - Austria - University of Vienna - 1510 - Doctorate - University of Ferrara

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He later journeyed to Egypt, Arabia, the Holy Land, and Constantinople seeking alchemists from whom to learn. On his return to Europe, his knowledge of these treatments won him fame. He did not go along with the conventional treatment of wounds, which was to pour boiling oil onto them to cauterize them; or if they were on a limb, to let them become gangrenous and then to amputate the limb. Paracelsus believed the then-ridiculous idea that wounds would heal themselves if allowed to drain and prevented from becoming infected.

Related Topics:
Egypt - Arabia - Holy Land - Constantinople - Cauterize

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Paracelsus rejected Gnostic traditions, but kept much of the Hermetic, neoplatonic, and Pythagorean philosophies; however, Hermetical science had so much Aristotelian theory that his rejection of Gnosticism was practically meaningless. In particular, Paracelsus rejected the magic theories of Agrippa and Flamel; Paracelsus did not think of himself as a magician and scorned those who did, though he was a practicing astrologer, as were most, if not all of the university-trained physicians working at this time in Europe. Astrology was a very important part of Paracelsus' medicine. In his Archidoxes of Magic Paracelsus devoted several sections to astrological talismans for curing disease, providing talismans for various maladies as well as talismans for each sign of the Zodiac.

Related Topics:
Gnostic - Hermetic - Neoplatonic - Pythagorean - Aristotelian - Magic - Agrippa - Flamel - Astrologer - Astrology - Zodiac

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Paracelsus pioneered the use of chemicals and minerals in medicine.

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He coined the word "alcohol".

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