Ethnopharmacology in foods

This study explores the ethnopharmacological dimensions of food through the lens of Symeon Seth’s Syntagma de alimentorum facultatibus , an 11 th -century Byzantine manual that examines the nutritional and medicinal properties of various foods [ 1 ]. While it may seem that late Byzantine medicine merely echoed the classical knowledge of Greek and Roman scholars and the Arab influence, Seth’s manual reveals an innovative approach to food and health. By categorizing foods according to their effects on the body, both positive and negative, Seth introduces a nuanced understanding of how different food substances can affect human health. His work emphasizes the importance of balance, drawing from Hippocratic humoral theory, and provides a comprehensive guide to food as a therapeutic tool in maintaining health. By categorizing foods according to their physiological effects, Seth underscores the intricate relationship between diet and health. Despite its historical significance, Seth’s work has largely been overlooked in modern academic research, and this study aims to bridge that gap by exploring its ethnopharmacological contribution by recording and comparing Seth’s therapeutic claims with former historical and modern pharmacological data, including those from the European Medicines Agency. Through Seth’s manual, the ethnopharmacology of foods is highlighting the influence of traditional dietary practices on health. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany