The Divine Origin of the Craft of the Herbalist

In The Divine Origin of the Craft of the Herbalist, Sir E. A. Wallis Budge transforms the history of medicine into an exploration of myth, magic, and ancient science. Drawing on texts from Egypt, Mesopotamia, and beyond, Budge argues that the gods themselves—Osiris, Thoth, Ningishzida, and others—were regarded as the first physicians, transmitting to humanity the sacred art of healing through herbs, oils, and incantations. Written with scholarly precision, the book brings together archaeology, anthropology, and occult tradition to trace how mystical herb lore developed into early medical practice and contributed to the foundations of later pharmacology. The study situates herbalism within temple libraries, ritual practice, and early scientific thought, presenting it as a discipline rooted in both religious belief and empirical observation.