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Of the China root: a case study of the early modern circulation of materia medica
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 03:04 authored by Anna WinterbottomThe early modern rise of syphilis provoked similar anxieties to those that more recently accompanied the global spread of HIV/AIDS. It also stimulated global demand for remedies. I discuss one of the most popular, known as ‘China root’ and usually identified with various species of Smilax. The drug and instructions for its use were spread westward from China by traders of all nationalities from 1535 onwards. Demand became global before being largely replaced in Europe by supplies of various American Smilax species, known collectively as ‘Sarsaparilla’. I examine the economic, political and cultural dynamics of this process and draw from them some conclusions about the early modern drugs trade and its effects on medical thought.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Social History of MedicineISSN
0951-631XPublisher
Oxford University PressIssue
1Volume
28Page range
22-44Department affiliated with
- History Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2016-09-26Usage metrics
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