Remedies to seasickness: suggestions from ancient codices, herbals, and pharmacopeias

This study aims to investigate the remedies used to prevent or heal seasickness on Italian vessels during the 15th-16th centuries. The investigation starts from a previous philological study of the 15th century manuscript ms. Schoenberg 473 held by the University of Pennsylvania. Written in Italian with shades of Neapolitan, the book was dedicated to the Senate of Venice. Chapter XX of the third book contains a focus on the physical malaise that affected sailors during navigation and offers suggestions to give them relief. The research focalises on remedies and preparations considered useful to soothe seasickness and builds a comparison with coeval codices, herbals and pharmacopoeias that illustrate the properties of natural ingredients.