The Story of Hildegard Bingen, Saint Healer and Pioneer of Naturopathy

at 12^e century, Hildegard of Bingen would have received this knowledge by the grace of God. As a teenager, the young girl joined a Benedictine monastery in the Holy Roman Empire. From childhood he had divine visions, and the monastic life was formed for him as a vocation. Because he is wealthy and educated, he quickly rises through the ranks of his order and becomes prior and then abbot at the age of 38.

Cultivation of medicinal plants

After a short time, God commanded her to found two new monasteries for women, one near the small port of Bingen and the second in Eibingen, on the other side of the Rhine. It was there that Hildegard began to cultivate her medicinal plants and prepare tinctures and ointments. Although he claims that his knowledge is sent to him by the Lord, he has studied all the literature at his disposal and sometimes even centuries-old manuscripts; His mastery of the theory of humors inherited from Hippocratic medicine bears witness to this. To be healthy, the body must find its balance between hot, cold, dry and wet. This requires a proper diet and remedies that can correct the excesses.

Spelled and apple

For Hildegard de Bingen, grains form the basis of a balanced diet. He understands that we should take advantage of the spell, the composition of which we now know is good for the muscles due to its richness in trace elements. He also suggests apples, but it turns out that pectin does have an effect on cholesterol. Other means are more ingenious. raspberry is said to be a cool berry that works against fever… More surprisingly, Hildegard even knows exotic plants like galangal from Asia that treat heart and circulatory problems, blood.

Seen throughout her life as a saintly healer, the abbess was also interested in lithotherapy, a practice that attributes healing properties to stones and crystals. So, according to her, the blue minerals already have a calming power… Hildegard’s precepts inspired a whole New Age wave that developed in the 1970s. But in her time, in order not to be accused of witchcraft, the nun defends herself by calling God. His healing recipes, preserved in various books which he wrote according to the will of his Creator, heal the sick unless He decides otherwise…

The prophetess was canonized in 2012 by Benedict XVI, who admired her “ecology of humanity,” placing man at the center of divine creation. He even made him a doctor of the church, a saint whose writings are authoritative. He then joined a very exclusive club, turning 35^e The Christian author was awarded this title for having a thumb as green as inspiration.

Virginia Giraud has a doctorate in history. Find him on the podcast At the heart of the story