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Ancient Egyptian Medicine

Documented in the Ebers Papyrus (1550 BCE), Egyptian medicine combined frankincense, myrrh, aloe, and over 700 plant remedies with spiritual ritual.

Egypt & North Africa

History & Philosophy

Origins

Egyptian medicine is documented in some of the oldest surviving medical texts in the world, most notably the Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BCE) and the surgically focused Edwin Smith Papyrus, cataloguing hundreds of plant-based remedies.

Core philosophy

Egyptian healing combined careful empirical observation with religious ritual and magic — priest-physicians treated the physical and spiritual causes of illness together, without the sharp separation a modern reader might expect.

Practiced today

As a formal system Egyptian medicine is historical rather than continuously practiced, but many of its signature remedies — frankincense, myrrh, aloe, garlic, honey — remain in active use across herbal traditions worldwide today.

Herbs, foods & remedies

92 herbs traditionally used within Ancient Egyptian Medicine — most often for Digestive Issues, Skin Health, Respiratory Issues.

See all 92

Showing the first 40 of 92 — use “See all” above for the full, filterable list.

Ancient Egyptian Medicine

History & Philosophy

Origins

Core philosophy

Practiced today

Herbs, foods & remedies

Acacia (Sunt)

Aloe (Sabr)

Aloe Vera (Saqal)

Amber (Anbar)

Anise (Anisun)

Balm of Gilead (Bisham)

Basil (Rihan)

Bitter Almond (Lawz Murr)

Black Seed (Habbat al-Barakah)

Blue Lotus (Seshen)

Camphor (Kafur)

Caper (Kabbar)

Caraway (Karwya)

Cardamom (Hal)

Castor Oil Plant (Kharwa)

Celery (Karafs)

Centaury (Qantariyun)

Chamomile (Babunj)

Chamomile Roman (Babunj Romani)

Chrysanthemum (Okhuwan)

Cinnamon (Qirfa)

Clove (Qaranful)

Colocynth (Hanzal)

Coriander (Kusbara)

Costus Root (Qusth)

Cubeb (Kababa)

Cumin (Kamun)

Date Palm (Nakhl)

Dill (Shibith)

Doum Palm (Nabq)

Egyptian Valerian (Unaab)

Elecampane (Rasin Nahj)

Fennel (Shamar)

Fenugreek (Hulba)

Figs (Teen)

Flaxseed (Kattan)

Frankincense (Sonter)

Garlic (Thum)

Ginger (Zanjabeel)

Grape (Inab)

Artichoke (Wild Cardoon)

Barley

Blue Lotus (Food Use)

Carob

Celery (Ancient Selinon)

Chickpeas

Colocasia (Ancient Taro)

Coriander

Cucumber (Ancient Khiyar)

Cumin

Date Palm

Desert Truffle (Terfez)

Dill

Dom Palm Fruit (Hyphaene)

Egyptian Moringa (Halim)

Emmer Wheat (Farro)

Fennel

Fenugreek

Fig

Garlic

Grape

Honey

Jujube (Christ's Thorn)

Leek

Lentils

Lettuce (Sacred Lettuce)

Lotus Seed

Melon

Moringa Leaves (Shagara Al-Rawaq)

Nile Cabbage (Wild Brassica)

Olive

Onion

Papyrus Root

Persea (Egyptian Avocado)