General Background

 1.         The Fundamentals of Ancient Hebrew MedicineT

The ancient Hebrew medicine was practiced in the Land of Israel at least until the second century B.C., as attested by contemporary historians who described the export of ointments from the Judean Desert region.  Its approach included: 

1. the maceration of plants in oil (installations for such a process were recently discovered in Ein-Bokek, near the Dead Sea);
2. massaging people with oils, as described in the Bible;
3. the use of local herbs ("Though shall purify me with Hyssop and I shall be purified"- Psalms, Chapter 51);
4. emphasis on total change of an existing condition, as exemplified by symbol of snake on bar (current symbol of pharmacies), which Moses received: stick converted to snake and back.  Immediately upon receiving this symbol, he performed an act of healing on himself: converting healthy hand to hand with leprosy, and healing it again.  This total transformation was typically performed with hormones-rich plants.
5. importance of liver and kidneys for detox: "liver" in Hebrew means also "heavy, respectful"; "kidneys" in Hebrew mean also "totality".

A detailed discussion of this ancient medicine shall be published in a separate book.