Incense in medicine: an early medieval perspective

The production, use, and meaning of incense represent relatively untapped areas of study within early medieval history. In this article, I present evidence for the medical use of incense in the Carolingian world. Using a sample of eighth‐ and ninth‐century manuscripts, I analyse incense recipes, investigating their contexts and ingredients, as well as the use of incense itself as an ingredient in medical remedies. This evidence not only suggests that incense was understood as a multipurpose substance, but also offers a new window into exploring early medieval medical knowledge and practice and relates to the sacralization of medicine in this period.