Medieval Recipes Written by Al-Zahrāwī for Health and Skin Care

Abstract

Abulcasis Al-Zahrāwī (c.936-c.1013) is one of the most important physicians of Al-Andalus, besides an eminent surgeon, the first one of Medieval Islam. The 19th treatise of his main work, titled Kitāb al-Taṣrīf (Book of medical arrangement), deals with cosmetics and drugs for embellishment of body; and, among other things, it contains interesting recipes for health and skin care of a great value to both the field of pharmacology and dermatology. This paper is an approach to this treatise, and includes the translation to English from some of its fragments, according to the 5774th Arabic manuscript of the National Library at Paris.