Paracelsus: The “Tria Prima” & Beliefs around Mental Health
Paracelsus rejected demonology and developed care for the mentally ill. He believed that the cause of mental disturbance is the imbalance or conflict between instincts and the spiritual nature of a human, instead of being caused by witches, demons, or spirits. Furthermore, he believed in the four elements as well as the belief that the cosmos is constructed from three spiritual substances which are; Mercury, sulfur, and salt which he called the “tria prima”. These substances were not understood as simple substances during that time period compared to now in this modern-day society. Rather, they were looked at as broad principles that had the ability to give objects both their inner essence and the outer form. The “tria prima” was also used to define the human identity. Sulfur was thought to embody the soul containing the emotions and desires that one may have. Salt represented the body, and Mercury represented the spirit that had to do with imagination, moral judgment, as well as higher mental capabilities. Paracelsus believed that by understanding the chemical nature of the “tria prima” a physician would have the ability to cure disease. A person was seen as a small world or in other words a microcosm while the total world around us was referred to as the macrocosm. In order to understand those who are concerned with the well-being and illness in the body and mind, we have to look at the living scene and all of its different aspects such as the inter-relations and interactions. He also stated that the disease which deprives man of his reason comes from nature
In an analysis of “The psychiatry of Paracelsus”, Galdston says that the whole of Paracelsus’ thinking revolved around the understanding that those who are concerned with the well-being and illness in the body and mind, the living scene, and all of its different aspects such as the inter-relations and inter-actions needs to be looked at. He also stated that the disease which deprives man of his reason comes from nature. His concept about the micro and macrocosm make it possible for him to anticipate a more modern view regarding how the most common source of aspects such as psychological conflict, and psychopathology is the emotional dissonance that occurs between the individual and the world that the individual lives in. Moreover, when the individual lacks psychological harmony between them and the society they reside in, the individual is more likely to become sick. Paracelsus advocated treatments such as magnetism, bloodletting, and drilling holes in a patient’s skull, however, he also believed in psychotherapy similar to how it is used today in modern time, as well as in persuasion, exhortation, instruction, fasting, and prayer. Lastly, he greatly believed in the effects of sleep and advised the use of somnifacient (sleep-inducing medicine), and that the soul had self-healing powers.
https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.40.10.1311
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