A history of women in medicine

This book reveals the untold story of forgotten female physicians, their lives, practices and subsequent demonisation as witches. In this pioneering work, Spearing draws on current archeological evidence, literature, folklore, case studies and original religious documentation to bring to life these forgotten female healers. By doing so she exposes the elaborate conspiracy conceived by the Church to corrupt them in the eyes of the world. Turning these women from benevolent therapists into the embodiment of evil required a fabricated theology to ensure those who collected medicinal herbs or practiced healing, would be viewed by society as dealing with the devil. From this diabolical association, female healers could then be labeled witches and be justly tortured and tried in the ensuinging hysteria know today as th European witch craze. -- Provided by publisher.