Theophrastus von Hohenheim

Theophrastus von Hohenheim, better known as Paracelsus, was a 16th-century Swiss physician and alchemist who revolutionized medicine by emphasizing observation and chemicals over traditional herbs. He believed that illness was caused by specific chemical imbalances in the body and that treatments should target these. Paracelsus introduced the idea that substances like mercury and minerals could be used to cure diseases, challenging existing medical theories. His work laid the foundation for modern pharmacology and emphasized the importance of experimentation in medicine. Overall, he was a pioneering thinker who shifted medicine toward a more scientific and individualized approach.