Diuretic Plants Cited in the "Moretum" Poem from the Appendix Vergiliana. Issue 1 (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iorio, Luigi; De Santo, Natale Gaspare; Aliotta, Giovanni
• Is Part Of: Nephrology @ point of care. Volume 2:Issue 1(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: Ancient books -- Diuretic plants -- Nutrition; Nephrology -- Periodicals; 616.61
• DOI: 10.5301/pocj.5000205
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2059-3007

Abstract

The authors first deal with the poor man's diet in ancient times, considering the moretum a short poem of the Appendix Vergiliana (I st century BC) that describes in detail the making of a focaccia by the farmer Simulo. Then, they compare the Moretum with the guidelines reported in ancient texts such as the Bible and Flos Medicinae or Regimen Sanitatis Salerni (13 th century), a manual of practical medicine that describes all the rules that help us live a healthy life, with the human body as a harmonic part of all Creation. Finally, modern aspects are discussed. Core tip: Nutritional balance has been associated with some ancient diuretic plants of the Mediterranean Region used for making the focaccia known as moretum .