INSTITUTE FOR THE PRESERVATION OFMEDICAL TRADITIONS INC

I had the pleasure of taking a short course with the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions in the spring of 2023 where gave me the opportunity to work with ancient and historically significant books through the University of Oklahoma.

The course covered a broad range of topics surrounding manuscripts the history of manuscripts, and included a final project (mine was over the De revolutionibus orbium coelestium by Copernicus). While the class and lectures were engaging, I really enjoyed the interactive and hands-on opportunities that Alain and Manuela provided the class. Getting to learn about history is interesting, getting to
HOLD history is unforgettable.

I'm very thankful for the time Alain and Manuela spent in Oklahoma and would encourage anyone interested in ancient texts, botany, medicine, or history to attend one of their lectures.

This institute fills a critical knowledge gap at the interface of pharmacognosy, drugs, anthropology, and medical and human history. It is led by two exceptional scholars in the field of traditional medicine, Drs. Appetiti and Touwaide, who have been highly valuable contributors to our Pharmacognosy Institute. Many of the roots of modern pharmacy and history are in the knowledge of traditional healing systems, which is encoded in ancient literature which, to a large extent, we still need to unravel and appreciate. As health threads emerge faster than cures, modern drug discovery is a race against time. Mining the ancient wisdom of traditional healers involves looking back into human history carefully, but ultimately is a means of getting ahead in this race. This institute has a unique collection of resources to support this approach, including highly knowledgeable scientists that are valuable peers in the greater natural products research landscape.
Guido F. Pauli, Director and Professor, Pharmacognosy Institute, Retzky College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)

Sono una dottoranda dell'Università di Padova, e ho conosciuto il professor Touwaide e la professoressa Appettiti in seguito a una conferenza presso il CSMBR di Pisa. Avevo scritto un breve articolo per il Blog "Forma Fluens" e il prof. Touwaide mi ha contattata per discutere ulteriormente del mio lavoro. Ciò dimostra l'interesse del professore per la ricerca portata avanti dai giovani, la disponibilità all'ascolto e alla discussione, tanto con critiche quanto con incoraggiamenti.

Si è instaurato da allora un rapporto di collaborazione costante che mi ha permesso di crescere come studiosa, di affinare il mio metodo e le mie domande. Il lavoro di seria diffusione scientifica promossa dai professori è di grande valore per specialisti e non, e fornisce un modello d'ispirazione ai giovani ricercatori. Per la poro pazienza e disponibilità nel rispondere alla mie costanti curiosità sono loro immensamente grata.

The scientific community owes a great debt of gratitude to the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions. For several years, thanks to the work of world-class expert Alain Touwaide (assisted by Dr. Emanuela Appetiti), it has been the epicenter of research on ancient and medieval medicine and pharmacology, with a focus on the Mediterranean region, yet extending to Chinese and Indian traditions. Through its collaborations and international connections, the Institute plays a pivotal role in bridging scholars from diverse traditions. Furthermore, its efforts in archiving publications, monitoring ongoing research, and supporting the release of previously unpublished studies ensure the continuity of research in this highly specialized field. During their visiting professorship at the School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS) in Paris (which enabled Alain and Emanuela to reside in France in 2022), I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand not only the scientific excellence of the Institute's research, but also the remarkable enthusiasm and dedication of Alain and Emanuela in supporting doctoral students, engaging with colleagues, and promoting knowledge of ancient and medieval medicine and pharmacology far beyond the academic sphere. In short, the Institute is an institution of excellence that deserves to be defended and supported by scholars, citizens, and institutions alike. It is a privilege for me to collaborate with Alain and Emanuela, from both a scientific and institutional perspective

Where to begin!? I began my affiliation with the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions in the summer of 2012 when I was a junior at the University of Richmond. I had read about the work of the Institute in a Washington Post article and wanted to intern with Alain at the Smithsonian, so I wrote him a letter indicating my interest, and he invited me to come to see him. Not long after, I met up with him and Emanuela at a lecture he was giving at George Washington University on new drug discovery using ancient medical manuscript data and modern pharmaco-chemistry. That meeting was the beginning of a wonderful relationship, as I volunteered with IPMT for the next four years until their move from the Smithsonian to the Huntington. (In fact, it is fair to say that IPMT gave me my first full-time job as an intern, commuting to the Museum of Natural History every day that summer.) Alain and Emanuela continue to be dear friends, and I have learned so much from them.

The work that IPMT does is vital; indeed, cutting-edge. In a world that is increasingly pushing toward multidisciplinary study, IPMT is about as multidisciplinary as you can get. Where else can you find research blending classical studies, botany, archaeology, the history of medicine, library science, anthropology, medieval studies, the history of science, and myriad other disciplines, drawing on a library of over 20,000 items in more than a dozen languages? (I should know, I cataloged a lot of them!) And it is all with the focus of increasing our understanding of ancient science for the purpose of making new scientific and medical discoveries and to better understand our world. I know of no other institution doing this kind of research, nor do I know of any that bridges the “two cultures” (as described in C. P. Snow’s famous lecture) as well as the Institute does. Given the current state of the humanities in higher education, I think the Institute’s focus provides a way forward and a vision for the future.

I should also add that in addition to striving to make all of this knowledge available to researchers from many fields, IPMT has also trained up and inspired many students and researchers over the years and imparted valuable research skills to them. In my own case, I learned library and cataloging skills that stood me in good stead in creating and managing archaeological databases in my graduate and post-graduate work and managing periodicals at Concordia Seminary library. I was also able to increase my proficiency in Greek and Latin, and was able to use what I learned at the Institute to write my undergraduate thesis, my master’s thesis, and several articles (I even now reference it in my sermon-writing sometimes!). For me, my time with IPMT has been the gift that keeps on giving, and I know this is true for other students, researchers, and volunteers who have worked there. It heartens me to know that students benefited greatly from the Institute while it was located at the Huntington, and I know that this part of the Institute’s mission will continue in its new home.

All of this is to say that the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions is a research-institute par-excellence that has done much to not only shape our knowledge of the history of medicine and create trajectories for new research, but also to shape generations of researchers and students who, even if they have not continued specifically in this field, nonetheless have a deep appreciation for it and understand the great value of the Institute and its work. The Institute, Alain, and Emanuela are national—no, international—treasures.

Rev. Nils P. Niemeier, M.Div, M.A.

I am delighted to share my positive experience with the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions. As a PhD student, I have had the privilege of receiving exceptional support and guidance from Prof. Touwaide. His advice was not only insightful but also instrumental in shaping my doctoral dissertation. Our discussions about Dioscorides, the Carmen de viribus herbarum, and more generally ancient medicine and botany have had a significant impact on my research. I am deeply grateful for his expertise and the supportive environment he provides, which is significantly contributing to my academic and professional development.
I had the pleasure of meeting Prof. Touwaide and his wife Prof. Appetiti at a lecture at the University of Tor Vergata (Rome) in 2022. Their passion and commitment to preserving medical traditions are truly inspiring. What sets them apart is their dedication and competence to promote interdisciplinary research and a cross-cultural approach. Moreover, their kindness and availability make them stand out as truly remarkable individuals. I stay updated on the Institute’s activities through its Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and I am consistently impressed by its achievements. The Institute’s work is both crucial and commendable, therefore it deserves to be supported and continued.

In a time when we stand on the brink of the 6th mass extinction and people world-wide are searching for more integrative options for healthcare, we need more people and organizations committed to telling the authentic stories of natural history, medical traditions and use of biodiversity. For these reasons, the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions has its mandate. I applaud the very valuable efforts of the Institute in their search and dissemination of such important educational and historical material. I hope they Keep up the good work, and I hope others join them.

Fabrizio Bigotti (JMU Wurzburg, University of Exeter, CSMBR- Pisa)

The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions, led by Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti, is a beacon in the fields of ethnobotany and the history of medicine. The Institute’s efforts ensure that the rich legacy of ancient medical knowledge continues to inform and inspire contemporary research.

We highly value the Institute's partnership with the Centre for the Study of Medicine and the Body in the Renaissance (CSMBR) in Pisa. This collaboration enriches both institutions and fosters a robust interdisciplinary exchange that benefits the wider academic community.

It is essential for the academic world that the Institute’s scientific endeavors continue. Their ongoing activities not only preserve historical medical knowledge but also pave the way for future scholarship and discoveries, benefiting scholars and researchers for years to come.

I had the pleasure of enrolling in Dr. Touwaide's Legacy of Ancient Medical Traditions course at UCLA in the spring of 2020. Despite the circumstances, Dr. Touwaide provided a great educational experience and cultivated passion and enthusiasm in his students by allowing them to explore their personal interests within the course content. Our lectures and discussions about the works and contributions of figures such as Galen and Dioscorides continue to serve as a point of reflection throughout my own journey toward becoming a physician in the medical field.

The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions has been influential in fostering my success as a master's student of Integrative Health Sciences, at the American College of Healthcare Sciences. Emanuela Appetiti has immense medical historical knowledge and offers this as a free service to all people who show interest! Emanuela's passion for preserving medical traditions is evident in her willingness to share and educate, but most importantly, she cares and has a strong desire to teach others!

I highly recommend this non-profit for continued learning, advancement of historical knowledge, and for their fervent mission to help others in the search for ancient medical history. Emanuela's empathetic nature and kindness has given me a closer connection and opportunity for learning that I would have never discovered on my own!

I am delighted to meet Mr Touwaide and Ms Appetiti again at the 2nd Conference of the International Academy of the History of Science. As far as I remember, the first time we met each other was during the conference tour of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the History of Medicine in Huntington Gardens, UCLA, in 2018. At that time, I was impressed by his knowledgeable tour guide in the garden and their rich-collected library, sorted by Mr. Touwaide and Ms. Appetiti. Their works deeply inspired and encouraged me to study for a PhD program overseas in Europe or America. Nowadays, I am a PhD candidate in the medicine of history at the University of Manchester, U.K., and sponsored by the Taiwan government and the foundation in the U.S.

我很高興能跟Mr Touwaide與Ms. Appetiti於2nd Conference of the International Academy of the History of Science再次見面。還記得我跟他們第一次相遇是2018年美國醫學史年會（UCLA舉辦）的Huntington 植物園參訪。我對他當時的導覽印象深刻，尤其是到他跟他太太一起整理的書庫。還記得那次研討會之後，我決定要出國進修，其中，Mr Touwaide的導覽與圖書館扮演很重要的角色。如今，我是英國曼徹斯特大學的醫學史博士候選人，並且受到台灣政府與美國的基金會之獎助。

Dott. Giovanni Canora – Salerno - Italy
Founding Member Unesco Chair Salerno. Researcher of Traditional Mediterranean Medicine, Centro Studi Schola Medica Salernitana, Cava de' Tirreni, Salerno. Specialist in Dietology and Applied Dietetics, Phytotherapy, Expert in research and development, technology transfer, fund raising and relations with the industrial world. Didactic coordinator of Conservatorio Etnobotanica, Castelluccio Superiore; Editorial Director Pangea Magazine; scientific project manager Simplicia; scientific member of the Mount Athos project, University of Tuscia, Viterbo.
Our collaboration with Prof. Alain Touwaide and Dr. Emanuela Appetiti, of the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions, began several years ago, a fruitful and prestigious work to recover the roots of Traditional Salerno and Mediterranean Medicine.
Salerno Medical School in about 8 centuries has combined 4 thoughts of medicine, an important legacy, today, together with the UNESCO Chair Salerno Plantae Medicinales Mediterraneae, University of Salerno, the Giardino della Minerva and the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions, the modern historical-philological and scientific research, of the whole group of academics and freelancers, we hope will give new vigor to traditional "ancestral scientific" knowledge to find new ideas for research and application to improve longevity in health. The prestigious and rich library of the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions is an inexhaustible source and the wise research of Prof. Alain Touwaide and Dr. Emanuela Appetiti will contribute to give prestige and centrality to Salerno and Mediterranean Medicine.

I'm Teresa Mencherini, Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacy of University of Salerno (Italy). I had the privilege of experiencing the wealth of knowledge and expertise of the Institute for the Preservation of Medicinal Tradition through my interactions with Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti in Italy. The institute, under their visionary leadership, stands as a remarkable testament to the importance of preserving our medicinal heritage. During the month of May, Alain Touwaide visited the University of Salerno as a visiting researcher, and it was my pleasure to attend his numerous lectures on the history of medicine. His passion for the subject was evident in every word, and it was truly enlightening to delve into the depths of medicinal practices from ancient times to the present.
My encounter with Emanuela Appetiti, a co-founder of the Institute for the Preservation of Medicinal Tradition , was equally enlightening. Her dedication to the preservation of medicinal tradition and her collaborative efforts with Alain Touwaide have helped establish the institute as a beacon of knowledge in the field of medicinal history.
The Institute for the Preservation of Medicinal Tradition's mission to bridge the gap between past and present medicine is not only of academic significance but also serves as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage embedded in traditional healing practices. As we advance in modern medicine, it becomes increasingly vital to honor and learn from the wisdom of our ancestors.
My interactions with Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti, and my exposure to the Institute for the Preservation of Medicinal Tradition, were both enlightening and inspiring. I highly recommend delving into the work of Alain, Emanuela, and the entire Institute for the Preservation of Medicinal Tradition team to anyone interested in the history of medicine and the valuable efforts they undertake to preserve this important aspect of our collective heritage.

Carissimi Emanuela ed Alain, ho scoperto, grazie a voi, questo sito e voglio contribuire, anche io, a far conoscere, meglio, due studiosi come voi, ma attraverso gli occhi di un vecchio avvocato in pensione con la passione dei libri antichi e della “sua” Scuola medica salernitana!
Vi ho conosciuti diversi anni fa, se non sbaglio 11, nel corso di una manifestazione organizzata dall’ordine dei medici della provincia di Salerno e, da allora, ci siamo incontrati diverse volte e siete entrati nella mia vita con grande naturalezza, tanto da rendervi familiari nonostante la distanza chilometrica che ci separa: io vivo a Salerno, voi a Washington.
Ma, ad annullare questa distanza ecco che la nostra città (culla della medicina medievale) vi ha “adottati”: infatti Alain ha ricevuto un incarico prestigioso: è il membro di riferimento internazionale della Cattedra Unesco sulle piante medicinali del mediterraneo che la facoltà di farmacia ha istituito, un paio di anni fa, presso la nostra Università.
Che dire?: il fascino dell’eloquio italo/belga di Alain e la cadenza (appena accennata) di un simpatico romanesco, in quello di Emanuela, li rendono unici quando parlano dei loro studi e della loro attività e, non vi nascondo, che ogni volta che incontro qualche personaggio della cultura, italiana e non, mi vanto di conoscere Alain ed Emanuela e … le mie “quotazioni” subito salgono!
A chi legge questi pensieri, come concludere? Confesso di essere “innamorato” di Alain e di Emanuela e del loro splendido impegno culturale teso alla conservazione delle tradizioni e della più genuina memoria del passato che, nel mio mondo di collezionista delle varie edizioni del “regimen sanitatis salernitanum” (ne ho raccolte circa 130 delle circa 150 repertoriate dal 1500 al 1830) cerco di preservare e tramandare a modo mio!
Stupendo il vostro lavoro che ci avete donato un paio di mesi fa su “Salerno oltre i 4 medici.”
Una pietra miliare nella ricerca storica e scientifica!
Perché voi avete una caratteristica: indagate sull’ inindagato: sempre cose nuove!
Con riconoscenza e sincera ammirazione!
Bernardo Altieri - Salerno - Italia

Brilliant scholars, inspiring mentors, indefatigable organizers, Drs. Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti are passionate community-builders who have created pioneering synergies between researchers and institutions worldwide. The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions reflects their exemplary dedication to a unique scientific and cultural patrimony that conjugates antiquity and modernity across a variety of disciplines. The knowledge and materials they have skillfully assembled through decades-long endeavors are a precious resource that they generously share with the public. A truly remarkable initiative at the intersection of the sciences and the humanities.

Ho conosciuto personalmente Alain ed Emanuela poco più di un anno fa, ma mi erano già noti grazie ai loro studi. Fin da subito ho compreso l'importanza dell'Istituto di ricerca che hanno fondato e della preziosissima biblioteca - cartacea e digitale - che hanno raccolto negli anni, e che vorrei tanto trovasse una collocazione veneziana. Ho coinvolto Alain in un convegno sulla circolazione della 'materia medica' e delle conoscenze relative nella prima età moderna e il suo contributo è stato imprescindibile, perché ha ricostruito magnificamente gli antecedenti antichi, dando prova della continuità storica che spesso gli ambiti disciplinari sottovalutano. Non solo. Il suo sguardo è anche molto attento al presente e alle ricadute che gli studi storici possono avere nello studio attuale della materia medica, con mezzi e strumenti diversi. Chiudo solo dicendo che Alain è generosissimo di suggerimenti e di stimoli, e che spero presto di poter contraccambiare la sua generosità (e quella di Emanuela).

L'Istituto è molto importante per il settore, uno dei migliori al mondo per quanto riguarda la ricerca sulle tradizioni mediche. Ho conosciuto Alain e Emanuela e sono molto impegnati nel preservare la storia della medicina; la loro dedizione, l'impegno e la condivisione delle conoscenze, rappresentano un contributo inestimabile per la questo settore. Ho seguito alcuni seminari di Alain ed ho trovato sempre tutto molto interessante e approfondito; sono molto grata per questo.

Straordinario Istituto che si occupa della medicina antica, con una particolare attenzione alla terapeutica legata all'uso delle piante officinali.

I had the opportunity and pleasure to learn from Alain Touwaide in his Legacy of Ancient Medicine course taught at UCLA. His and Emanuela's lifelong commitment to preserving medical history and their dedication to sharing their knowledge and resources is an invaluable contribution and cornerstone to the prevalence of medical history and tradition. As a prospective medical student, Professor Touwaide's course bridged together my love for biology and medicine with my passion for classical civilizations, epitomizing the deep, intertwining connections between humanities and science. The lessons I learned from Professor Touwaide in his class continue to influence my journey in medicine today. I am so grateful for the Institute, Professor Touwaide, and Emanuela who go above and beyond to bring to life to the study of ancient and present medical traditions.

I had the pleasure to meet Alain and Emanuela a few years ago and to visit The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions, one of the leading institutions in the world in the field of the history of medicine and botany. A non-profit Organisation which promotes the research and study of ancient and modern medical traditions thanks to the commitment, dedication, knowledge and passion of its founders, its directors Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti. The library that they have created is an invaluable source for researchers, scientists and scholars located all over the world.

My very best wishes to this beautiful couple and their amazing mission,
Dr. Roberta Ballestriero
Academy of Fine Arts of Venice

The goal of the IPMT is truly unique, it serves to preserve culture and tradition that typically would be lost to history. Alain and Emanuela, amazing scholars in their own right, have truly created a wonderful and expansive resource for researchers from fields that span a wide swath of disciplines. They have carefully collected and curated a massive collection of books and documents, many of which are rare and irreplaceable. What is more impressive is they freely provide access to these materials and their knowledge to those who are interested. The cultural and academic value of their collection is reason enough to preserve and expand the IPMT. Beyond that through the IPMT they have created a model of what our society as a whole should embody, the preservation and pursuit of knowledge. A pursuit void of bias that is motivated by curiosity and the human desire to better oneself and their future.

I am so grateful for the work of the Institute of Medical Traditions! I am qualified Medical Herbalist (BScHons Herbal Medicine) and a community Educator. I have participated in several events organized by the Institute. I strongly believe that the practice of modern Western Herbal Medicine needs to stay connected with traditional medicine practices from the past. I always research the way plants have been used in the past for my work in my practice and my teaching and cannot be grateful enough to Allain Towaide and the institute for their contribution to the history of medicine and the medical knowledge they 've been preserving with dedication!

I am honoured to personally know the owners of 'Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions'. I have been researching in this area for more than 20 years, and have read many works of Alain and Emanuela. Their library contains the very precious sources for those of us interested in especially ancient, medieval and early modern pharmaco-medicine and botany. I believe that Emanuela and Alain are doing a great job in preserving printed or written material, as well as transfering and sharing this culture to other colleagues when they ask. It is almost impossible to compare this institute to another one in the world. That's why I believe that 'Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions' is unique and it must be supported by all of us.

Dr. Mustafa Yavuz
Assoc.Prof of History of Science

Istanbul Medeniyet University
History of Science Department

I have had an excellent experience with Alain Touwaide: in 2018 I went to his Institute to show him my doctoral thesis (Transmission of pharmaceutical knowledge from Syriac to Arabic). Since then, Dr. Touwaide has had the brilliant idea to: 1) incorporate the transmission of Greek pharmaceutical knowledge into Syriac; 2) improve the Syriac and Arabic translations from the original manuscripts; 3) incorporate a pharmaceutical textual analysis. Likewise, this postdoc has served to work with a high academic level that meets the demands of large publishers, so we hope to publish our research work soon.

I personally know the owners who are trusted and industrious persons.

In the last decades, the importance of knowledge of medical history, preservation of ancient lore, and investigation of the legacy trasmitted to us by texts from all ages in history, has met with an increasing degree of awareness in universities, research centers, and publishing houses all over the world. The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions has fostered this field of research since its inception, enhancing cooperation, sharing knowledge, and disseminating information. Its unique collection of books and archival materials concerning the history of medicine, botany, and neighbouring disciplines, numbers in tens of thousands, and is unrivalled. The idea of a proper cross-cultural approach, in an age in which much talk is heard but little practice is seen about interdisciplinarity, has paved the way for a tireless activity concerning all aspects of medicine in the history of the Mediterranean regions, namely the cradle of Western medicine as we know it today. The undertaking of Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti has met with scholarly interest in all countries, but even more important is their dedication to reach students and lay public alike, thus generating awareness and intellectual curiosity. Long may this venture run!

Lorenzo Perilli
Full Professor of Classics
Head of the Departiment of Literature, Philosophy and Art history
University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy

The library completed by Alain and Emmanuela is invaluable for the preservation and learning of the world's cultural heritage in the field of medicine and pharmacy. The library should be kept as a whole because it is a unique collection.

Ho avuto il grande piacere di lavorare insieme a Emanuela e Alain a Pistoia, al Polo Universitario, di cui sono stato presidente, quando con il loro aiuto sono riuscito a importare da Bristol una preziosa collezione di piante officinali che doveva servire alla ricerca, alla didattica e anche all'arredo urbano. Pistoia, in Italia, è la città del verde, vivendo soprattutto di vivai e di sperimentazioni sul paesaggio e le culture arboree. Avevo sognato di portare l'Institute a Pistoia, anche con la preziosa biblioteca che allora era accolta dalla Smithsonian di Washington, e avevo sperato di riportare in Italia anche Emanuela e Alain, che sarebbero stati project managers e docenti unici per le loro competenze; ma purtroppo la nostra esperienza con le amministrazioni pubbliche e con gli enti finanziatori non è stata fortunata. Alcuni esemplari di quelle piante, i più rari, furono addirittura oggetto di un furto mirato su commissione. Dunque si sapeva quanto valeva quella collezione e quanto attuale fosse l'interesse per le piante e per le piante officinali! Ma la "politica", ahimè ovunque, convive da tempo con l'ignoranza e con la mancanza di una progettualità che premi il valore intrinseco delle cose e il valore della conoscenza. Ora le piante sono tra Salerno e Roma, e sembra che finalmente abbiano avuto un'accoglienza adeguata. Delle piante, poi, si può fare anche una coltivazione, e se ne può fare esemplari che arricchiscano altri parchi e altre città. Ma quelli che restano esemplari unici, e a quanto pare inarrivabili in Italia (e certo, le loro esperienze non sono state le più incoraggianti!) sono Emanuela e Alain. Io continuo a servirmene, per la mia rivista di storia e filosofia della medicina ("Mefisto"), per il referaggio di saggi e libri, presto li contatterò per averli a Firenze a insegnare (lo prometto a nome della neonata Francis Bacon Foundation). Ma la perdita della loro vicinanza, l'impossibilità di costruire con loro progetti, è per me e per la cultura medica italiana un handicap insanabile. Loro sanno però che non mi arrendo, e che Firenze e la Toscana li aspettano.

In my dozen years as president of National University of Natural Medicine the information, robust community and remarkable dedication of the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions proved invaluable in our complex mission to sustain traditional medical models, data and networks in our program planning and in our higher education and clinical missions.

Outstanding scholarship and unique resources. Alain’s lectures always a delight!
Σ.

The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions, a Non-profit Organization founded by Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti, promotes the research and study of ancient and modern medical traditions, especially those of the Mediterranean. It focuses on the research, studies, lectures worldwide, and collections of thousands of books and archives freely accessible by students, scholars, and scientists interested in the field. Invaluable is the contribution of the Institute to the preservation of medical and cultural traditions that include ancient and modern practices for the collection, preservation, elaboration, and use of medicinal and aromatic plants in pharmacy, industry, and cosmetics. I met Alain and Emanuela during their stay in Athens in 2016, and I have been incredibly impressed by their “missionary” life. An extraordinary wealth of knowledge, dignity, modesty, and passion for serving their ideals permit them nothing more than the essentials for life! I feel so happy having met them in my life! I wish all the best for the worldwide recognition of the work done by their Institute, a spiritual and cultural pearl in our times!

Maria K. Papathanassiou,
PhD in Mathematics, PhD in Byzantine Studies,
Professor Emerita in History of Exact Sciences,
Department of Mathematics,
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
mpapatha@math.uoa.gr

The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions serves an essential role in preserving and promoting the histories of medicine from around the globe. It is dedicated to promoting and advancing diverse knowledge and innovating new ways of growing our understanding of medicine and its many traditions.

I have had the pleasure and honor of knowing Alain and Manuela for more than twenty years as a friend and colleague. From personal experience I can attest to their extraordinary ability and enthusiasm for sharing the significance of their research in ancient/medieval pharmacology and botany with wider audiences, and their talent for communicating with students and specialists in other areas of study who share a broader interest in the history of science, cultural interactions, theory of translation, trade and economic exchange, etc. etc. Chapeau!
Paul Kimball (Program in Cultures, Civilizations, and Ideas / Bilkent University)

Have been fortunate enough to know of this Institute since it was housed in the Smithsonian. Wonderful mission, dedicated individuals, and incredible scholarship. Thank you for sharing your work and passion!

This institute is a rare find and a true gem. I am so grateful to have learned about Alain and Emanuela's work, which is at the intersection of many disciplines that are relevant to my own research. I am currently researching indigo on a Getty-funded grant for their upcoming Pacific Standard Time series around the theme of art and science. Indigo is a plant perhaps best known for its use as a blue dye and its long history as a valuable and widely traded commodity. Associated with both royalty and the working class (think denim work clothes), its rich and problematic history (steeped in colonialism) goes back to ancient times, which makes Alain's extensive expertise in the Classics invaluable for the project. Less known is indigo's use as a medicine in many different cultures for various uses, as well as a cosmetic and as a medium for tattooing, which is how I came to discover the Institute. Alain and Emanuela have been an invaluable resource beyond their knowledge of plants and medicine, however. They have been generous in sharing articles and resources on a range of topics related to indigo, and an excellent sounding board to hear my questions and ideas. It has truly been a joy to work with them and to know them.

I was a visiting researcher at the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions in the Spring of 2013. Alan Touwaide, the director of the institute, was extremely helpful and was willing to guide me in issues that I was not familiar with. The institute has a vast library on medical issues. I benefited a lot in my research on Byzantine and Islamic pharmacology.

I am a huge fan of the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions for years. Although I did not have any chance to visit their library in California, I am following all of their activities from Facebook and LinkedIn day by day. Emmanuela and Alain are doing a great job by bringing such important books together, preserving them, and letting people use this precious library. I am so sorry that they have to find a new home for their library and continue helping people to learn new things from their collection.

I had the privilege of taking a course on ancient medicine and food from Professor Alain Touwaide. It was one of the most interesting and valuable classes that I took while at UCLA. And the Institute was crucial in providing us the interesting knowledge that can still be appreciated today in gardening, cooking, and medical practice.

Congratulations to Emanuela and Alain for the wonderful work they have done at the Institute. It is important to disseminate information through appropriate bibliography on how to treat certain diseases in a natural way.

I started to collaborate with Alain and Emanuela in 2017, during the 5th International Phytocosmetics Phytotherapy Congress, 15-17 May 2017, in Patras, Greece, thanks to Professor Jalal Ghaemghami. They brought such great insights and knowledge on the history of medicine and cosmetics, thus adding a fantastic element of newness and different perspective to the congress, with a great opportunity of learning and shedding some light on actives and ingredients that are largely used in our modern cosmetic products.

I was introduced to both Alain and Emanuela and their institute way back in the year 2017 at Greece. Since then we are working very closely with IPEC-ISPS. The institute has done tremendous work on the traditional use and history of medicinal plants. It has a huge collection of ancient and rare literature from different parts of the world. I happened to interact with Alain and Emanuela and felt enriched having learned many things which could be useful for our studies in India. I look forward to having long term collaboration for our future initiatives in the study of traditional medicine in India.

i would like to express my strong support for this non-profit institution and its Director, Alain Touwaide. . My involvement has been in the preparation of a translation of Galen's writings on the arterial pulses, a substantial body of work which was of the greatest importance in the development of Western medicine. In general the preservation of traditions in intellectual and practical matters is an essential activity and nowhere is this more important than in medicine for its ongoing progress. I myself, working in Tasmania, have derived great assistance from this Institute and its director. I rate it very highly indeed>

As a researcher I have had the great privilege to receive very often advices and guidance from Alain and Emanuela over the last twenty years and to use their tremendous collection. Their expertise , together with their library, is a very important scholarly endeavour that should be continued and receive support, as it is irreplaceable.

Dr. Caroline Macé, Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures at the University of Hamburg (Germany)

I collaborated with the institute and with the two very talented scientists for many years. I am a retired senior scientist in the Dep. of medicinal plants at the Volcani center, Agriculture research center in Israel. My main interest is ethnomedicine and the use of plants in old tradition.
The work done in the institute for the preservation of medical tradition is priceless and should be supported and continued.
Best Wishes
Prof. Zohara Yaniv Bachrach

It was a privilege to be invited by the founders of The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions to share my knowledge of Ayurveda, ancient Indian herbal medicine at the conference titled "Medical Traditions for the 21st Century" organized in association with UCLA. It was an excellent conference in which papers were read by some of the most prestigious scholars of ancient medical traditions - from all over the world. Kudos to Alain and Emanuela for their vision as well as execution of that vision! Alain's passion for Greek medical tradition, his vast knowledge and his passion to keep world ancient traditions alive is truly inspiring!

Como especialista en el campo de los estudios áraboislámicos clásicos, e interesado especialmente en el terreno de la etnobotánica histórica, he tenido el privilegio y la gran fortuna de mantener contactos con el profesor Touwaide y Emanuela, quienes, con enorme generosidad, han dedicado buena parte de sus vidas a la gestión del Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions. A lo largo de esos años ambos han convertido el Institute y la labor desarrollada por el mismo en una referencia a nivel mundial para todos aquellos investigadores interesados en la recuperación y puesta en valor de las tradiciones científicas de las civilizaciones del Mundo Antiguo y de la civilización árabo-islámica clásica. Y esto, no solo por la enorme riqueza de los fondos documentales que alberga la biblioteca del Institute, sino también por la sólida y tupida red de intercambios que sus responsables han sabido urdir entre investigadores de todas las partes del mundo.
Espero y deseo de todo corazón que el Institute reciba todo el apoyo necesario para que pueda continuar con su imprescindible aportación al conocimiento humano en esta nueva etapa de su andadura.
Todo mi reconocimiento y cariño al Profesor Touwaide y Emanuela por su generosidad y entrega.


Indalecio Lozano Cámara
Catedrático de Estudios Árabes e Islámicos
Departamento de Estudios Semíticos
Universidad de Granada (ESPAÑA)

I had the pleasure of being a member of the IPMT Advisory Board when the Institute was located at the Smithsonian in Washington DC. This gave me the opportunity to gain a very close insight into the workings and philosophy of IPMT along with the passion and dedication of its two founders. It quickly became clear that the Institute was undertaking unique and highly valuable work in tracing the origins of medical discovery from antiquity up until fairly modern times. Contributions to medical science came from two main areas -- first, in the collection of a world-class array of original books and manuscripts, mainly from Mediterranean countries, that documented the evolution and application of medical prescriptions from largely natural sources. The second emerged from the deep, scientific research and teachings of the founders into the historic foundations of these medical discoveries and their contribution, over time, to the emergence of increasingly complex drug forms. This vital research program has itself two important societal thrusts -- the first rests in the academic endeavors that catalog drug developments, learned publications that come from these discoveries, presentation of findings to learned societies and the teaching of these forensic skills to future scholars. The second has a potentially more commercial application -- the provision of a roadmap of ancient remedies to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies as they search for new and better ways to counter modern diseases. They have found that the natural solutions of medieval and earlier times have much to offer the present day research scientist confined by the four walls of a company laboratory. I sincerely hope that government, scientists, interested members of the public and medicine-based corporations will continue to generously support this valuable and inspiring venture. Dr. Philip Dover, Professor Emeritus, Babson College

This is an essential resource for anyone working in the History of Medicine and especially for access to rare books and manuscripts - both real and digital. There is an abundance of help of every kind available for scholars and enthusiasts.

I was able to have access to a world-class collection of books and the knowledge of Dr. Touwaide during an internship which is a precious memory for me. The Institute's work enables essential collaborations and research access.

Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti are so very generous with their knowledge, experience and their ability to illuminate the importance of preserving the medical traditions of everyone from Dioscorides to the Mayans. All presented with a smile, some humor and much dedication.
Visiting them in their amazing library is always an enjoyment; each time reveals a new inspiration, a sense of wonder and growth.
The Doctors, their work, past, current and future endeavors deserve to continue to be honored and supported.

I had the great fortune to work with and learn from Alain and Emanuela as a research intern during my undergraduate studies at New Mexico State University as part of the Research Training Program at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and returned as a volunteer throughout my graduate studies at the George Washington University. The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions is an astounding testament to Alain and Emanuela's lifelong dedication to preserving knowledge from the past and propelling research and innovation for the future. The institute offers researchers access to not only a truly one-of-a-kind library, but also massive digitized collections of data and images. This non-profit is a pioneer for the creative application of ancient knowledge to a vast range of multi-disciplinary inquiry from medicine, public health, paleobotany and beyond.

This Institute, founded and led by Drs Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti, is unique in the world. Founded in 2007, it fosters research on the history of medicine and science in the ancient Mediterranean World - the botany, medicinal plants, and therapies of that time. The Institute's most important contribution is the research library compiled by the founders with a remarkable collection of books and documents, many rare, historical, one-of-a-kind manuscripts on the history of medicine. Now, they wish to transfer this priceless literature collection to an institute that will protect them and make them available to researchers worldwide. Indeed, these medical traditions are as important as they ever were, at this time of a global pandemic; they may embody answers to the future of humanity.

Alain Touwaide is one of the very finest scholars of our time. His work on ancient medicine is of the very highest quality. His library of ancient manuscripts is likely the best there has ever been. I will, this year, double my financial contribution to the Institute.

As an academic who has worked for more than 30 years in pharmacology and neuroscience, I am convinced that the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions plays a unique role in our current cultural discourse. The link the Institute offers to the past through its activity and remarkable library is an extraordinary asset that deserves to be preserved and expanded,

I have enjoyed keeping up with all that is happening in the world of traditional medicines and medical traditions. I have been following the web site for several years now and it is a great source of information about publications, conferences and occasional information - stories.

The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions is one that I hold close to my heart. After taking a class with the Scientific Director Dr. Alain Touwaide, I became even more passionate for the health field and truly appreciated the history of how current medical practice has come to be. Dr. Touwaide and Emanuela were two of the kindest people I have ever met during my undergraduate at UCLA and I hope that their mission to find a new home for their amazing library succeeds.

During my stay in Washington DC several years ago, this library contained many books necessary for my research, and which were not easily available elsewhere.

I can’t believe the wealth of knowledge contained in both the library and the minds of the people behind the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions. I have been honored to edit a few of the books which have come out of the Institute, first when affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute in Wash. DC, and later when affiliated with the Huntington in Calif. While Alain Touwaide is a prolific writer himself, he and Emanuela are the most earnest schools and transmitters of knowledge I have ever met. I will consider any and all work with them as the highest honor, particularly given how freely they share their tens-of-thousands of library volumes with anyone who thirsts to learn.

The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions Inc is the best institute I've ever seen. Dr. Touwaide and Emanuela have one of the best personal library collections in the world, and they've dedicated decades of their work in trying to preserve medical traditions, searching for manuscripts all over the world and going into libraries that others have not been. They care about the library and their research more than anything. This simply is THE best institute in the field.

Alain Touwaide's scholarly lifework, the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions, houses an absolutely unique and incredibly rich research library, probably the best worldwide, for the history of medicine, pharmacology and botany. It needs all possible support, including financial one, so that this superb source of information can continue to exist and inspirate future research.

Emanuela and Alain have done a wonderful, unique and original job at the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions. By combining data coming from various sources (ethnology, botany, pharmacology, history, literary traditions) they developed a treasure of information with real practical applications in the future of medical treatments. This endeavor is some that has to be preserved, foster and funded.

Jaime E. Bortz, MD, MA, PhD
Professor, Department of Medical Humanities
School of Medicine - Buenos Aires University
Buenos Aires - Argentina
jaimebortz@yahoo.com.ar

A truly unique collection and dedicated people who go above and beyond the call to maintain history for current and future scholars.

A top shelf organization that preserves stories and culture. Alain and Emanuela have tremendous knowledge and expertise in this important field of study.

Provides unique resources concerning the early history and practice of Western medicine. A goldmine of information, which will benefit numbers of researchers given future updated storage and maintenance facilities. Deserves considerable additional financial support.

These people offered me the unique, by all means, experience to work in their archives and amazing library. Their knowledge and material on ancient medicine and especially on ancient pharmacopeia is endless. Each time I need someone to advise me on ancient medicine, I turn to them. It's not only that they know how to be of help but they are always there to help you out on subjects of their scientific interest.

Alain and Emanuela have been tirelessly working all these years producing work of impressive quality. Hope they can continue in the years to come.

The work of the Institute, of Alain Touwaide and of Emanuela Appetiti has been and is of fundamental importance for medical historical studies: not only for the themes of medical history in antiquity, but also for the history of the ' longue durées' of scientific thought, for the history of botany, of therapy, of care from antiquity to the early modern age. The collaborations of the Institute with many Italian academic realities have always been very fruitful: they have allowed many scholars to grow in their skills, providing them with texts, archives, first-hand sources, translations and comments. The library of Alain and Emanuela has always been available to young people, especially students, as well as Alain's and Emanuela's scientific knowledge, always generously made available to those who wanted to learn a fundamental part of the history of medicine and science.
The History of Medicine Unit of La Sapienza University, where I'm teaching History of Medicine, has always worked in collaboration with the institute, drawing up projects and organizing teaching cycles, always obtaining scientific success and more than positive evaluations.

This scholarly library is precious for research and must live on.

Alain and Emanuela are both vessels of deep knowledge, and they've dedicated so much of their lives to amassing an invaluable collection of medicinal and botanical history. Researchers and students like myself from around the world have benefitted from knowing them and their Institute. Their work and collections are very important resources to support!

-Vanesa
Alabama, USA

The rich library and other resources constituted over decades by Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti have allowed researchers across many disciplines to enrich their research and to work together. Their time in residence at the University of Victoria (2009-2011) led to new connections among historians, literary scholars, anthropologists and sociologists, especially those whose work focuses on the history of medicine and ethnobotany. Students benefited tremendously from working with Alain in his seminars and in their individual research projects.

As associate dean responsible for coordinating their work with our faculty, I remain grateful for the opportunity to work with him and Emanuela: they share their erudition with great generosity. A MOU allowed UVic students to enjoy research internships with the Institute, life changing for some.

The establishment of the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions has been an important step in keeping intact the resources they have gathered and in making them available. I am crushed to learn that the Institute needs a new home. After the years that Alain and Emanuela have spent at the Smithsonian and the Huntington Library, it's hard to believe that the library might not be readily available to scholars.
Claire Carlin
University of Victoria, BC, Canada

Over many years, the dedicated work of the Touwaides has created a flood of new knowledge about pre-modern medicine. It is a unique and meaningful contribution. -- Dominik Wujastyk

The institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions has served as a repository and resource for scholars located all over the world. It has been a center of excellence, organized, managed, and curated by superb scholars who have mastery and control of the subject areas. I do believe it has shaped a great deal of scholarship on ancient, medieval and early modern medicine, folk healing traditions, as well as medical botany and knowledge of the plant world.

The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Tradition is an absolute valuable institution supporting a braod field of research in the history of medicine, especially focussing on manuscript studies. I've always loved cooperating with the IPMT and gained a lot for my scientific research but also for my university teaching and supporting PhD students. In my opininion it is absolutely necessary to support the IPMT's work to let them continue their excellent and indispensable work which truly possesses a lot of innovating potential.

I first learned about ancient and present medical traditions through a class at UCLA. Dr. Alain Touwaide taught this class and I was fascinated by his passion for medical research. It was an honor to attend his lectures and to visit an incredible library that stores thousands of manuscripts important for understanding the historical context and foundation of medicine. I strongly believe that the work that goes towards preserving and understanding ancient medical texts is imperative for the contemporary development of medicine. Thus, it is essential that the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions should continued to be supported.

The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions is an unique combination of outstanding academic excellence and an unparalleled library resource. The founders, Emanuela and Alain are top-tier researchers and prolific authors of serious medical history publications. Furthermore, their library houses some 30, 000 entries that have allowed other academics and researchers access to information that would otherwise be difficult, at best, for them to investigate. Long before I had the opportunity to attend one of Alain's lectures here in Beijing, I had sought out his papers and found them to be extremely helpful in my own research. Furthermore, having hosted these two outstanding academics in my own medicinal plant garden, I can say without hesitation that the character of these two founders and the drivers of this non-profit is a rare find; they are not only excellent academics, they are also outstanding people who have devoted their lives to the mission of both preservation and presentation of the historical context that is the foundation of all medicine. An extremely noble endeavor!
In short, Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions is a treasure that not only deserves support, it must be supported!

One of the most astounding research collections in the history of ethnobotany--the type of work that Alain and Emanuela do is unique and the resource they have produced in this research library is an immense gift to the history of science and medicine.

Little things add up to significant work. Once I attended an international meeting organized by Dr. Alain Touwaide and Emanuela in northern Costa Rica. During a recess in the proceedings, I spoke about the Congress with Alan while he was using his busy time as an organizer to help a young student translate a Greek text into Spanish for her local class. With patience and kindness, he helped her while, at the same, took care of Congress matters with me. This unhurried conversation went from Spanish to Greek to English, backwards and forward.This incident is the way the Touwaide charity library does good work. They have made Mega accomplishments on the international scale as exemplified by this Mini story.

Specialist researcher and library for those interested in the ancient history of medicine, plants and Classical world.

The work of Alain and Emanuela has no comparison in the field of contemporary ethnobotany and the history of medicine. They devotedly collected and classified all the relevant material and their library stands out as a true gem, with titles that are difficult to find even in the most specialised libraries and large collections. Over and above, whoever has ever come across the field of history of medicine knows the amazing work the Institute for the preservation of Medical Traditions has done in more than thirty years to keep alive the scholarship that is desperately needed nowadays. It is imperative that their scientific undertaking goes on for the benefit of the entire academic community.

I encountered Dr. Alain Touwaide through his publications several years ago, and later I was privileged to attend some of his lectures. The corpus of his work culminated in the establishment of the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions along with Dr. Emanuela Appetiti.
The name, Preservation of, is modest since this edifice in addition to the preservation of past traditions contains also the seeds of development of new medications on the basis of historically long, and geographically diverse attempts of humankind to contend disease. This kind of knowledge created over millennia is extremely valuable. It should not only be preserved and studied, but also further explored. By analogy and in its own magnitude, Drs. Touwaide & Appetiti collection is a small library of Alexandria.
Supporting the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions is a small recognition of the enormous efforts of Dr. Touwaide and Dr. Appetiti.
In essence it is respect and protection of our Heritage!

Taxiarchis Geladopoulos, PhD
ALTER CHEM

This is a unique site with extremely valuable information related to medicinal plants and ancient knowledge from texts and current research.

The Institute for the Preservation of Medical Tradition (IPMT) serves a unique role in medical research: uncovering, organizing and making available to modern medicine ancient knowledge and therapies developed since the dawn of human history. The founders and directors of this enterprise, Alain Touwaide and Emanuela Appetiti are highly dedicated and experienced in their work. IMPT is housed in the Department of Botany at the Smithsonian where it serves as a research base for the investigation into ancient manuscripts, their organization and preservation, as well as a platform for teaching and building awareness of the potential value of ancient herbs and remedies in modern medical applications. The mission of this organization is not only unique but of great importance to the medical community.