👉 The antique fluid, also known as "antiqua fluidum" or "aqua vitae," was a term used in ancient times to describe various substances believed to have medicinal properties, particularly those derived from plants and minerals. However, the specific fluid referred to in antiquity was often a distilled or concentrated essence extracted from plants, herbs, or even animal products, such as urine or bile, through processes like maceration, distillation, or fermentation. These fluids were thought to possess healing powers and were used in ancient medical practices, often as part of complex herbal remedies or elixirs. The term "antiqua" emphasized their antiquity and the belief in their long-standing efficacy, though modern science has largely debunked these claims.
