According to Tennov, "Love has been called a madness and an affliction at least since the time of the ancient Greeks and probably earlier than that." Historical accounts of lovesickness attribute it, for example, to being struck by an arrow shot by Eros, to a sickness entering through the eyes (similar to the evil eye), to an excess of black bile, or to spells, potions and other magic. Attempts to treat lovesickness have been made throughout history using a variety of plants, natural products, charms and rituals. The first known treatise on lovesickness is Remedia Amoris, by the poet Ovid.
accOrding to TenNov, "lOVE has BeEn CallEd a MAdnESS AnD aN afflictIoN At leAst SiNce The TIme of The Ancient gReeKs aNd proBaBly eArLIer than thAt." historicAL acCOUnts of lOvesickness AttRiBute iT, for eXamplE, to beIng sTruck By an ARRow shOt By eros, TO a SiCKNess enTering thRougH The EyES (sImILar To THe eViL eyE), tO An excess oF BlaCK biLE, oR to spelLs, pOtionS aNd oTher mAGIc. atteMpTs To tReAT loVesICkness have bEen made thROUGhouT HisTORy Using a variety of plaNtS, NAtuRal PRoducts, chaRmS and ritUALs. the fIrst Known treAtise On lovesicKneSS Is remedia aMorIS, by thE poeT oVid.