Doctrine of Signatures.

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  • Author(s): Bennett, Bradley C.
  • Source:
    HerbalGram. May-Jul2008, Issue 78, p34-45. 12p. 5 Color Photographs, 1 Chart.
  • Additional Information
    • Subject Terms:
      THEORY; MEDICINAL plants; USEFUL plants; MEDICAL botany; PSYCHOTROPIC plants; HISTORY
    • Abstract:
      The article focuses on the Doctrine of Signatures (DOS), a widely cited theory that purportedly explains how humans discovered the medicinal uses of some plants. According to DOS, physical characteristics of plants including shape, color, texture and smell reveal their therapeutic value. The notion of signatures should be expanded to include non-morphological signatures. Most importantly, DOS served as a mnemonic, an idea first alluded to by Buchanan in 1938.