Oxymel Explained

Oxymel is a mixture of honey and vinegar, used as a medicine. According to Scientific American, recently the mixture has been used successfully in a biofilm for topical uses on wounds where bacteria has become resistant to antibiotics, both ingredients having been used historicaly as antiseptics, but the combination was reported as killing as much as 1,000 times more bacteria than vinegar alone and as much as 100,000 times more than honey alone in biofilms.[1]

Its name is often found in Renaissance (and later) pharmacopoeiae in Late Latin form as either a countable or uncountable noun. As a countable noun, it is spelled variously as (singular) oxymellus and oxymellis,[2] andplural oxymeli[3] and oxymelli.[4]

Etymology and recipe

Cato the Elder describes it thus:

A wine made from vinegar and honey, which in Greece was called oxymel, (hence [Latin] "oxymel"). It is made thus. Ten libras[5] of honey with five heminas[6] of vinegar, which will be subsumed. Themison confused oxymel and hydromel. But hydromel wine is made from water and honey, hence the name. Its name recalls the creation of omphacomel, which is made from semi-dry [i.e. sharp] grapes and sweet honey, hence the name, . Hence what is called Latin: omphalicium oleum ["[[omphalic oil]]"], from sour olives which in Greek is called Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: δίγρας(?), and omphacium from grapes, commonly called agreste.

Use

In the 1593 work Enchiridion chirurgicum, oxymel was recommended as part of a treatment for ophthalmia.[7]

Because Latin was (and is) still used widely in medical prescriptions, it was still known by this name in Victorian times:

Prescription: Lead acetate one grain. Dissolve in rose water, one ounce; and add undiluted oxymel, one drachm; tincture of opium, five minims; tincture of digitalis, ten minims. To be taken every four to six hours.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Gawrylewski, Andrea, Scientific American Newsletter, October 11, 2023
  2. Book: Ettmüller, Michael. https://books.google.com/books?id=UIREAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA197. Operum omnium medico-phisicorum. la. 1. 197. De Febribus. 16 November 2015. Thomas Amaulry. 1690.
  3. Book: Epitome Galeni operum, in quatuor partes digesta, pulcherrima methodo. la. Oxymelli.. Claudius Galenus. Laguna, Andrés. John Caffin & Francis Plaignard. 1643. 16 November 2015. 116. Galenus' works condensed, in four digests, the best methods. Claudius Galenus.
  4. Book: Naturalis historiae. Pliny the Younger. la. xxxvii. 271. 16 November 2015. 1853. Pliny the Younger.
  5. One Roman pound libra = 328.9 g See: Ancient Roman units of measurement
  6. One hemina = 273 ml See: Ancient Roman units of measurement
  7. Book: Latin: Cum Ophthalmia oritur a materia frigida: victus ratio praescribeda juxta humoris naturam, revulsiones, tum venae sectione, tum cucurbitulis, alisque modis faciendae: humor praeparandus syrupis capill.vc. acetosi simpl.de. biyantiis de duablo & quinque rad. melle rof. syrupo de hysopo, de staech & '''oxymel'''. sin.pl.& syllitico cum aquis foenic. euphrafie, hyssopi, betonic & alris [...]. Enchiridion chirurgicum. Meiet. la. 64. 1593. Antoine Chaumette. 16 November 2015.