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HILDEGARD OF BINGEN AND ABBESS EUPHEMIA: CHAMPIONS OF MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IN THE MIDDLE AGES Words: LOUISE WYATT Images: Wellcome collection/CREative commons LOUISE WYATT IS CURRENTLY A PRACTISING DISTRICT NURSE SISTER IN BRISTOL, COMBINING BOTH HER PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND HER WRITING. INTERESTED IN HISTORY FROM AN EARLY AGE, LOUISE HAS, TO DATE, WRITTEN THREE LOCAL HISTORY BOOKS AND A HISTORY OF NURSING IS HER FIRST FORAY INTO MORE GENERAL HISTORY.
One of the most outstanding figures of the later Middle Ages has to be that of Hildegard of Bingen; visionary, scientist, philosopher, theologian, composer and physician. Born in 1098 in Bremersheim, Rhineland (Western Germany), the tenth child to a noble family, Hildegard was destined for the religious life. A sickly child of eight years old, her parents offered her as an oblate to the Benedictine monastery of Disibodenberg where she was under the care of Jutta, a religious and reclusive noblewoman who took charge of the education of other noble-born girls. Jutta eventually became prioress of Disibodenberg and on her death, Hildegard was offered the position. Hildegard had spent thirty years at Disibodenberg; however, she refused the offer of prioress and founded her own monastery in St Rupertsberg in 1150 with twenty nuns. Sadly, the remains of the monastery were destroyed in 1857 to make way for a new railway track. In her book Heroines of the Medieval World, Sharon Bennett-Connolly notes it was whilst at St Rupertsberg that Hildegard wrote her two medicinal treatises – Causea et Curea and Physica. It is also interesting to note from Heroines of the Medieval World, that Hildegard – although taught to read and write – was not proficient in Latin and had secretaries to correct her in later life. Hildegard became a religious, moral and political advisor to at least half of Europe during the later Middle Ages, a high acclaim at that time for a woman. Her medieval hymn chant compositions can still be bought today but amazingly, her scientific knowledge was used as reference until the sixteenth century and still provides a basis for naturopathic healing today. Both Causea et Curea and Physica were the only writings of Hildegard de Bingen that were not linked or prompted by her visionary work. Both tomes are written from her original monastic experiences of hands-on care in both the herbal gardens and the infirmary and then by observations of the same, whilst also being Abbess. Coupled with theoretical knowledge from the monastic libraries (and noting Hildeberg’s supreme literary genius with other works such as Scivias and her music compositions), Causea et Curea is focused on exploration of the human body, disease, unbalance and its connection to the natural world. Hildegard wrote and taught about the ‘green’ health of the natural world influencing the physical health. This is still recognised today, 850 plus years after Hildegard wrote about it. Physica deals with the scientific and medicinal properties of plants, stones, fish and animals. An early faith healer, spiritual advisor, herbal practitioner … all these variables stand at the basis of what we know today. It is the early foundations of Holistic Health, something relevant and still with us in today’s nurse training at all levels. Hildegard wrote and taught about the ‘green’ health of the natural world influencing the physical health. This is still recognised today, 850 plus years after Hildegard wrote about it. In fact, the term ‘green care’ is still being used in studies:
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HILDEGARD OF BINGEN AND<br />
ABBESS EUPHEMIA:<br />
CHAMPIONS OF MENTAL<br />
AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IN<br />
THE MIDDLE AGES<br />
Words: LOUISE WYATT<br />
Images: Wellcome collection/CREative commons<br />
LOUISE WYATT IS CURRENTLY A PRACTISING<br />
DISTRICT NURSE SISTER IN BRISTOL, COMBINING<br />
BOTH HER PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND HER<br />
WRITING. INTERESTED IN HISTORY FROM AN EARLY<br />
AGE, LOUISE HAS, TO DATE, WRITTEN THREE LOCAL<br />
HISTORY BOOKS AND A HISTORY OF NURSING IS<br />
HER FIRST FORAY INTO MORE GENERAL HISTORY.
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