As promised, todays post will be about the History of medicine. It is a very interesting subject and one that I am very passionate about.
History of Medicine
Medicine, in it's extreme early days, believe it or not, had a bit of a demonic undertone. Minor conditions like diarrhea or a painful elbow might be thought of as a typical part of life using nutrients from diet as the antidote, but the more serious issues like crippling arthritis or crippling headaches involved ritual and/or potions. Even though these medical practices were not ideal and are outdated, there are some tribes that still practice them even today.
Once Aristotle came into the picture in 3rd century BC, biology was truly born and the world of medicine was forever changed having learned most of his early medicinal uses from his father who was a physician. Because of Aristotle's passion for learning, we were finally able to understand human anatomy. He passed his knowledge on to people like Alexander the Great, setting the pace to push forward and continue on with expanding the knowledge of medicine influencing scientist for generations.
In the 5th century, 2 Greek philosophers Leucippus and Democritus had a different method of practicing medicine, using a theory called atomic theory which is matter that is composed of particles called atoms, this, of course, is referring to human composition. This is taking the study of medicine to a new, deeper level. With that in mind, they introduced remedies like the concept of a good diet, massage therapy and tonics.
Galen then started putting emphasis in the study of the heart and the arteries in 161 CE. A Muslim physician, Avicenna, also known as "the prince of physicians," advocated The Canon of Medicine, a written collection of medical practices, in 1025 and is used today in Eastern medicine.
Most drugs derived from Arabia and in those times medicine was favored over surgery until Albucasis came along, creating The Method, a group of surgical text, one of the first illustrated text on surgery, mostly valued by European Christians and was translated into Latin in the 12th century. .
It wasn't until 1867 a British surgeon Joseph Lister introduced the practice of antisepsis and with it coupled with anesthesia, modern surgery methods was born.
From there came the x-rays in the 20th century and the teachings of blood types in 1901.
For natural medical practices, the use of plants to treat various types of ailments commonly used. From wound care to the common cold, plants played a big roll in the history of medicine going all the way back to 3,000 BC.
Unfortunately, now days, since the introduction of pharmaceutical drugs by the 20th century, only about 25% of drugs prescribed by doctors came from plants. However, the ancient practices of using herbal medicines is becoming more appealing to people in recent days. (Epichealthflowermound.com - A Brief History of natural Medicine 2023)
When Hippocrates, the father of medicine, practiced herbal medicine, he recorded about 400 herbs and their medicinal benefits that are still being used today. (unicersalclass.com - A Look at the History of Herbs 2022)
The study of plants and their chemical compounds have found that they are a valuable part of our well being and the history of medicine. Although the practice of pharmaceuticals came from plants, about 80% of drugs today come from synthetic compounds.
Early humans used plants for diet and medicine millions of years ago. They used plants like willow, chamomile and St. John's wart learning by trial and error.
The Sumerians was the first known civilization to keep records of herbal medicine during ancient Mesopotamian times recording and identifying over 250 plants. In ancient Egypt, they recorded the use of about 850 plants that included recipes using herbs like garlic, cedar, aloe, coriander and frankincense.
The most extensive collection of herbal medicine was written by an English man named Nicolas Culpeper during the mid 1600s. Culpeper was an herbalist, botanist and physician, He also practiced apothecary and astrological medicine. His books was used by the American colonist in the late 1600s and in 1708 it became the first medical herb or pharmaceutical text printed in America.
Herbal medicine started shifting to what is called heroic medicine exploring the use of toxic materials like arsenic and mercury by the 19th century.
In 1904 when the Council on Medical Education or the CME and the American Medical Association or AMA was established regulations and standards was put on the treatment of patients and the learning and teachings of medicine became an ethical priority. If a school doesn't follow the guidelines set forth by the CME and/or AMA, it could result in stiff penalties now days.
Although modern medicine has broke away from natural medicine, in recent years, it has started making a comeback and still is gaining popularity. (theherbalacademy.com - Herbal History of Roots of Western Herbalism/Herbalism Through The Centuries n.d.)
We can avoid a lot of ailments and harmful side effects today by the use of natural medicine. Now I am not in any way telling anyone to stop seeing their doctor to treat their issues. I just think that alternative medicine is worth looking into and talking to your doctor about before starting or stopping a medication or regimen. Please consult your doctor before doing that!!
Looking back and seeing that the quest for medicine is a very interesting recollection and by natural means, is an interesting journey.
What do you think? Do you think the practice of holistic medicine has validity? Please comment below.
Next week I will be talking about ways to finding water or turning dirty water into safe drinking water.
DISCLAIMER:
Please remember, this blog is for entertainment purposes only and you should consult a professional before utilizing any of my content. I am not responsible for any damages to oneself, other people or property if you choose to ignore this disclaimer. Use at your own risk!
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