Brigo Francesco, Trinka Eugen, Brigo Bruno, Bragazzi Nicola Luigi, Ragnedda Giammario, Nardone Raffaele, Martini Mariano
Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy; Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Merano, Italy.
Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Salzburg, Austria; Public Health, Health Services Research and HTA, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall i.T., Austria.
Epilepsy Behav. 2018 Mar;80:135-143. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.10.002. Epub 2018 Feb 2.
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179AD) is one of the most relevant figures of the Middle Ages. She wrote two medical books, Physica (Natural history) and Causae et curae (Causes and remedies). Our aim was to provide a comprehensive account of Hildegard of Bingen's conception of epilepsy, of the remedies proposed to treat it, and of the medical and physiological theories behind their use. We searched Hildegard of Bingen's entire body of writings to identify any possible reference to epilepsy or epileptic seizures. We reported the identified passages referring to epilepsy and discussed their content in light of medieval medical and physiological theories. Most references to epilepsy were found in Physica and Causae et curae. The suggested remedies against epilepsy range from herbal preparations to animal remedies and jewel therapy. Hildegard's conception of epilepsy gives the impression of an original revisitation of the traditional theory of humors, and carries strong moral connotations. Hildegard of Bingen's conception of epilepsy appears strongly rooted in medieval thinking and less in physiological theories. However, it differs in many respects to the traditional medieval beliefs and is a further proof of her unique personality. As living testimony of the past, Hildegard's writings enable us to shed a fascinating light on the beliefs concerning epilepsy in the middle ages.
宾根的希尔德加德（公元1098 - 1179年）是中世纪最重要的人物之一。她撰写了两本医学书籍，《物理》（自然史）和《病因与疗法》。我们的目的是全面阐述宾根的希尔德加德对癫痫的认识、治疗癫痫所提出的疗法以及这些疗法背后的医学和生理学理论。我们查阅了宾根的希尔德加德的全部著作，以确定其中任何可能提及癫痫或癫痫发作的内容。我们报告了所确定的提及癫痫的段落，并根据中世纪医学和生理学理论对其内容进行了讨论。大多数关于癫痫的参考文献见于《物理》和《病因与疗法》。针对癫痫建议的疗法从草药制剂到动物疗法以及宝石疗法不等。希尔德加德对癫痫的认识给人一种对传统体液理论的原创性重新审视的印象，并带有强烈的道德内涵。宾根的希尔德加德对癫痫的认识似乎深深植根于中世纪的思维方式，而较少基于生理学理论。然而，它在许多方面与传统的中世纪信仰不同，是她独特个性的又一证明。作为过去的鲜活见证，希尔德加德的著作使我们能够对中世纪关于癫痫的信仰有一个迷人的了解。
