Tacuinum sanitatis

The Tacuinum (sometimes Taccuinum) SanitatisForbes, Andrew ; Henley, Daniel; Henley, David (2013). 'Tacuinum Sanitatis' in: Health and Well Being: A Medieval Guide. Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books. ASIN:B00DQ5BKFA is a medieval handbook mainly on health. It is based on the Taqwim al‑sihha  ("Maintenance of Health"), an eleventh-century Arab work an health by Ibn Butlan of Baghdad.E. Wickersheimer, "Les Tacuini Sanitatis et leur traduction allemande par Michel Herr", Bibliothèque d'Humanisme et Renaissance 12 1950:85-97. The text exists in several variant Latin versions. 

It describes in detail the beneficial and harmful properties of foods and plants. It explains the six essential elements for well-being:

sufficient food and drink in moderation,
fresh air,
alternations of activity and rest,
alternations of sleep and wakefulness,
secretions and excretions of humours, and finally
the effects of states of mind.

Tacuinum Sanitatis says that illnesses result from imbalance of these elements.

Notes

Other websites
 Tacuinum Sanitatis site on the M. Moleiro Editor website
 The Tacuinum Sanitatis in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Introductory text (Spanish) and some illustrations

Category:Health