Tacuinum sanitatis facts for kids

Ibn Butlan's Tacuinum sanitatis, Rhineland, 2nd half of 15th century.

Harvesting garlic, from Tacuinum Sanitatis, around 1400 (National Library of France, Paris).

The Tacuinum Sanitatis (sometimes spelled Taccuinum Sanitatis) is a special handbook from the Middle Ages. It mainly focuses on health and well-being. This book is based on an older Arabic work called Taqwim al‑sihha, which means "Maintenance of Health."

An Arab scholar named Ibn Butlan from Baghdad wrote the original Arabic book in the 11th century. Later, it was translated into different Latin versions. The Tacuinum Sanitatis describes the good and bad effects of various foods and plants. It also talks about six important things needed for a healthy life.

What Makes a Healthy Life?

The Tacuinum Sanitatis explains that six key things help you stay healthy:

• Eating and drinking enough, but not too much.
• Getting fresh air.
• Balancing activity with rest.
• Balancing sleep with being awake.
• How your body gets rid of waste.
• The effects of your feelings and thoughts.

The book teaches that if these elements are out of balance, it can lead to illness. It was a very popular guide for staying healthy in medieval times!

Images for kids

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  Tacuinum Sanitatis, from Lombardy, late 14th century (Biblioteca Casanatense, Rome).