[Picture of Paracelsus, the physician--and we today]

This article features the question whether Paracelsus and his dark, sometimes contradictory doctrine still includes some messages for modern physician. The lonely, pugnacious fighter from Central Switzerland remains today 'confused between favour and hatred from the parties'. Some contradictory examples shall outline controversies lasting for centuries. Subsequently Paracelsus' picture of nature, man and medicine is outlined, particular his meaning of nature and work of a good physician, but also his furious often unjustified overwhelming criticism about those physicians who went astray "in the labyrinthus medicorum". Sheep-physicians and wolf-physicians are confronted mercilessly and in a black and white scheme by this Lutherus medicorum. This likewise strange as well as also fascinating picture of a physician by this man of Hohenheim does not imply a clearly conceived temple inviting for an easy academic stroll. The sketch of a temple, however, serves as a symbol for the paracelsic science of healing: Philosophy, astronomy and alchemy are the three columns for the physician. These three columns are founded on virtue, the ethos of the physician. Religion the love for god, serves as a celestial roof. Finally the author expresses his opinion, that even today 500 years later, a modern, scientifically educated physician may profit from the philosophic and ethic principles of Paracelsus, who himself was a contemporary of a time of change like we are in our days.