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Iatrochemistry (or chemical medicine) is a branch of both chemistry and medicine. The word "Iatro" was the Greek word "doctor" 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 since the rise of modern medical practices. However, iatrochemistry was popular between 1525 and 1660, especially in Flanders. Its most notable leader was Paracelsus, an important Swiss alchemist of the 16th century. Iatrochemists believed that physical health was dependent on a specific balance of bodily fluids.

History
The medicine preparation had become a part of alchemy by the early modern period. Around 1350, John of Rupescissa advocated the extraction of the "essence" of both plant and mineral. He often used two relatively new substance during his time period: an alcohol distilled from wine and the strong mineral acids. Later, the author, pseudo-Lull, picked up and helped in expanding John of Rupescissa's theory.

The most impact vocal proponent in iatrochemistry was Theopharastus von Honhenheim, as known as Paracelsus (1493-1541). He put his effort into the transmutation and emphasized iatrochemistry in his works. Paracelsus believed that diseases were caused by poisons, but the poisons were not entirely negative. He suggested that poisons, or diseases, can also be cured by poisons. Thus, poisons could have beneficial medical effect. Paracelsus's claim led to many chemically prepared medicines in this time period contained toxic components: arsenic, antimony, mercury, lead, and other heavy metals. However, his views did not get accepted by many scholars until his incoherent writings were organized into more systematic form by his followers. Gradually, many physicians accepted Paracelsian remedies although some might disagree with Paracelsus's philosophy. Later, the physicians introduced chemical medicine in form of iatrochemistry, a system of medical explanation and practice.

In the early seventeenth century, Joan Baptista van Helmont came to scene. He studied human's body and its function, and his knowledge on chymistry as a way of understanding and curing the body. He claimed that iatrochemists stressed the chemical reaction of effervescence, fermentation, and putrefaction as the basis of all physiology. van Helmont used chemical methods to study bodily products such as urine and blood. His discoveries combined with Paracelsus's built the fundamental of the chemical preparation of medicines and the use of chemical method in order to diagnosis the diseases.

Challenge Galenic Physiology
Iatrochemistry was a new practice in 17th century. Traditional medicines was based on upon the 5th and 4th century B.C. Most contributions were contributed to Glen and Avicenna. The iatrochemists rejected the traditional medical theory; they supported the chymical preparation of materials of remedies to increase the effectiveness of the materials or to find the stronger medicine.

On the other hand, Galenic traditionalists argues that chemically prepared medicines were poisonous, and the iatrochemists were inadequately trained. The former was true, and, in some cases, both were correct. Since Parecelsus claimed that poisons could benefit medical effect, the number of use toxic ingredients in chemical medicines had increased. Galenic traditionalists later adapted medical method and some remedies to use in their own fields.