materia medica

 
Pronunciation: /məˌtɪərɪə ˈmɛdɪkə/

noun

[mass noun]
  • the body of remedial substances used in the practice of medicine: his confidence in materia medica tends to waver
  • the study of the origin and properties of substances used in the practice of medicine: to one Professor is assigned Human Anatomy and Materia Medica

Origin:

late 17th century: modern Latin, translation of Greek hulē iatrikē 'healing material' (the title of a work by Dioscorides)