Why was Jan van helmont considered important?

Jan van Helmont was an important figure in the history of science due to his pioneering work in the field of biochemistry and plant physiology. He is best known for his experiment with a willow tree, which demonstrated that plants gain weight primarily from water rather than soil, challenging prevailing theories about plant nutrition. His methods laid the groundwork for later scientific inquiry and contributed to the development of the concept of gas in chemistry, particularly through his studies of "gas" (which we now understand as gases like carbon dioxide). Additionally, van Helmont's emphasis on experimentation helped shape the scientific method.