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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

Garcia de Orta, drugs, India, new medicines

College

Humanities

Department

Spanish and Portuguese

Abstract

In 1562, the Portuguese physician Garcia da Orta published a book called Colloquies on the simples and drugs and medicinal things of India. Having lived in Goa many years and observed the medicinal uses of various plants and healing strategies of the Indians and Arabs, as well as having heard of healing strategies in more distant lands such as China and Java, Orta felt a special need to share his knowledge with the Western world. Written as an interview of the physician conducted by an imaginary character, Orta’s work sets forth the names, occurrences, and uses of many of the plants used as medicine in that area of the world.

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