The theriac in antiquity

摘要

In Greek mythology, Panacea, the goddess of healing, was said to have a potion that healed every sickness. The search for the cure-all remedy would continue throughout antiquity as physicians and healers tried out various cures in the regular care of their patients, especially in desperate situations. In the ancient world, poisonings were fairly common and the pursuit of a compound that was capable of protecting a person against any kind of toxin led to the popularity of what was thought to be a universal antidote: the theriac.