Alchemy vs. Iatrochemistry — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Alchemy and Iatrochemistry
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Compare with Definitions
Alchemy
Alchemy (from Arabic: al-kīmiyā; from Ancient Greek: khumeía) is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practiced in China, India, the Muslim world, and Europe. In its Western form, alchemy is first attested in a number of pseudepigraphical texts written in Greco-Roman Egypt during the first few centuries CE.Alchemists attempted to purify, mature, and perfect certain materials.
Iatrochemistry
Iatrochemistry (or chemical medicine) is a branch of both chemistry and medicine (ἰατρός (iatrós) was the Greek word for "physician" or "medicine"). Having its roots in alchemy, iatrochemistry seeks to provide chemical solutions to diseases and medical ailments.This area of science has fallen out of use in Europe since the rise of modern establishment medicine.
Alchemy
The medieval forerunner of chemistry, concerned with the transmutation of matter, in particular with attempts to convert base metals into gold or find a universal elixir
Occult sciences, such as alchemy and astrology
Iatrochemistry
An early branch of chemistry, having roots in alchemy, that tried to provide chemical remedies to diseases; alternatively, the application of chemistry to medical theory.
Alchemy
A medieval chemical philosophy having as its asserted aims the transmutation of base metals into gold, the discovery of the panacea, and the preparation of the elixir of longevity.
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Iatrochemistry
Chemistry applied to, or used in, medicine; - used especially with reference to the doctrines in the school of physicians in Flanders, in the 17th century, who held that health depends upon the proper chemical relations of the fluids of the body, and who endeavored to explain the conditions of health or disease by chemical principles.
Alchemy
A seemingly magical power or process of transmuting
"He wondered by what alchemy it was changed, so that what sickened him one hour, maddened him with hunger the next" (Marjorie K. Rawlings).
Alchemy
(uncountable) The premodern and early modern study of physical changes, particularly in Europe, Arabia, and China and chiefly in pursuit of an elixir of immortality, a universal panacea, and/or a philosopher's stone able to transmute base metals into gold, eventually developing into chemistry.
The purpose of physical alchemy—as opposed to its various spiritual pursuits—was to treat the supposed leprosity of base metals such as lead, refining and purifying them into gold.
Alchemy
(countable) The causing of any sort of mysterious sudden transmutation.
Alchemy
Any elaborate transformation process or algorithm.
Alchemy
An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It led the way to modern chemistry.
Alchemy
A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various utensils; hence, a trumpet.
Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy.
Alchemy
Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious.
Kissing with golden face the meadows green,Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy.
Alchemy
A pseudoscientific forerunner of chemistry in medieval times
Alchemy
The way two individuals relate to each other;
Their chemistry was wrong from the beginning -- they hated each other
A mysterious alchemy brought them together
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