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Galilæana. Studies in Renaissance and Early Modern Science

Focus

Vol. 22 No. 2 (2025)

Experimenting with new ingredients for health: Asian plants in women’s recipe books in early modern Britain

DOI
https://doi.org/10.57617/gal-79
Submitted
1 April 2025
Published
2025-10-31

Abstract

This paper explores the role of early modern British women in incorporating Asian plants into healthcare practices. As plant circulation across Eurasia increased, knowledge of medicinal ingredients evolved, especially those from Asia. While physicians and botanists copied and translated recipes into printed books, household recipe manuscripts – often compiled by women – suggest different ways of using foreign ingredients. Rather than directly transcribing printed sources, women adjusted ingredients and methods, demonstrating practical engagement with these plants. This study traces the use of galanga, camphor, and cardamom to reveal their roles in domestic medicine. By examining women’s manuscripts alongside botanical and medical texts, the paper highlights how these plants were adapted and integrated into daily practice. It argues that early modern women actively participated in knowledge-making by experimenting with and refining medical recipes. Their contributions shaped household medicine and influenced broader understandings of Asian plants in early modern Britain.

References

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