History of Medicine

Considering cancer is one of the oldest diseases of mankind, dating back to prehistoric ages, it is astounding that there is yet no real cure for cancer! Not only that, we have yet to fully understand what causes cancer in humans, and how to stop it. The Egyptians have the earliest record of identifying and treating cancer as far back as 3000 BC. The Edwin Smith Papyrus describes 8 different types of cancer and mentions there is no cure for it. At the same time, it describes surgery and cauterization, which involved destroying tissue with a hot instrument called “the fire drill” as treatments used on tumors. Ancient Egyptians were able to distinguish between benign tumors from malignant (cancerous) tumors. Edwin Smith papyrus The ancient Greeks also made a detailed study of cancer, with Hippocrates being the first and perhaps the most significant. Hippocrates identified malignant and non-malignant tumors and likened its appearance to a crab, thus giving rise to the nam

So we know that the Rx symbol used in prescriptions originated in the ancient world, but how and when exactly did the process of writing prescriptions start? The concept of a doctor writing a prescription followed by a pharmacist filling it is a modern concept. In ancient times, the doctor would provide the medicine to the patient, and before doctors, it was the priests who made up concoctions by mixing different ingredients. But slowly the act of compounding medicines became a specialty, and the doctor's job was restricted to prescribing it and sending the patient to a compounder or pharmacist to get it made. Although the exact origin of this practice is murky, the practice of preparation and dispensation of drugs certainly existed for thousands of years, dating all the way back to the oldest of civilizations: the Sumerian and Egyptian civilizations. The world’s first recorded prescription is thought to be a clay tablet in Mesopotamia dated ~2500 BCE which lists 15 prescriptions

Have you ever wondered why medicines are denoted with an ℞ or Rx symbol? There are actually many theories about its origin but the most common one is that the symbol for prescriptions originated from the "Eye of Horus", which was an ancient Egyptian symbol associated with healing powers. According to Egyptian mythology, Horus lost his eye in battle but his mom used her powers to restore his eye, hence it became a symbol of healing.  Eye of Horus In the 2 nd century, Greek physician Galen adapted this symbol to impress his patients. Galen’s influence on medicine was so strong that even the symbol was borrowed through the centuries and it eventually evolved into the modern symbol Rx (the eye of Horus kinda looks like an Rx). Other theories place its origin in Latin and Roman times. One theory is that Rx was used as an abbreviation of the Latin word recipere , meaning “to prepare,” which physicians wrote on medical prescriptions. Yet another theory points to the similarity of

Following up on the history of essential oils seemed like a natural step, so here's a look at the origins of aromatherapy and essential oils. The birth of aromatherapy is generally attributed to Ancient Egypt, but the idea of using natural oils for medicinal purposes didn't just come from Egypt. Ancient Indians and Chinese also explored natural oils extensively, and it became an integral part of Indian Ayurvedic medicine.  The Egyptians used oils for many different purposes including religious ceremonies, cosmetics, medicine and even mummification. During mummification, embalmers used various botanicals like cinnamon, frankincense and myrrh, along with cedar and juniper oils to prepare the body for burial. They also left jars of essential oils in the tombs, presumably for the deceased to enjoy in the afterlife! Aromatic oils were extensively used for prayers, with each God having a different oil dedicated to them. The Egyptians cultivated plants specifically for their oils and

For my birthday recently, I got a gift certificate for a spa treatment, which I am really excited about. It is so relaxing and rejuvenating to both the body and the mind. I have also recently started using an oil diffuser in my room, and I absolutely love it!. It leaves my room smelling so fresh and natural, and feels so relaxing. It got me interested in aromatherapy and I found this cool book on using essential oils for different ailments called  Introducing Essential Oils: Ancient Medicine  by Dr. Josh Axe and others.  As you might guess from the title, the book not only describes the uses for different natural oils but also details how such oils have been used for healing through the ages, including during ancient Egyptian, Chinese, Greek, and Biblical times. They are still popular in many parts of the world and are slowly but surely gaining popularity here in the U.S.  Using aromatherapy for relaxation has been used for thousands of years, and its effectiveness is no myth- accordin

Similar to the concept of the Chinese qi and Indian prana, ancient Egyptians believed in the concept of Ka. Ka was the principal aspect of the soul or divine spirit and the vital life force or essence of a person, much like qi/prana. Ka is depicted as a pair of upraised hands in Egyptian hieroglyphics, which symbolizes a protective embrace by a person's ka. Symbol of ka in hieroglyphs It is very interesting that these similar concepts existed in so many ancient civilizations, developing independently (presumably), and yet having so many other similarities. Like the idea that ka was eternal and survived death. It differs from person to person and gives people individuality.  Ka was also the reason for the existence of pyramids and mummies. The Egyptians believed that when a person died, the ka left the body, but could return if the body was preserved so they went to great lengths to preserve the bodies of pharaohs and other important people, even stocking the tombs with food and dri

One of the earliest surgeries interestingly involved the head and can be thought as a form of brain surgery. Trepanation was an ancient practice that involved boring of holes in the skull. The practice dates back to the Neolithic period which was 12,000-4,000 years ago and it appears to have been practiced in several different civilizations. Apparently, 5-10% of all skulls found from the Neolithic period from around the world show signs of trepanation. After the Stone Age, it was most commonly practiced in ancient China and South America, and the practice continued in Europe through the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The name is derived from the Greek word trypanon , which means "a borer." It is believed that trepanation was done to treat various ailments including head injuries, epilepsies, and blood clots. It may also have been some form of tribal ritual to cleanse the body of evil spirits, particularly of the mentally ill. Hippocrates gives the most detailed account of tr

As I wrote in my last post, Hippocrates was the first physician to recognize the brain as the center of conscience and intelligence. Until then, it was widely believed that the heart controlled all emotions and intellect. This theory came from the ancient Egyptians who maintained that the heart was the seat of thought and soul, and the brain was nothing more than an accessory. They believed that good deeds lightened the heart, so when one died, the God Ammut would weigh the heart and decide your fate depending on the weight. A heart that was as light as a feather was returned to life, but a heavy heart was gobbled up. It seems that this is the reason we correlate happiness and kindness with a light heart and grief with a heavy heart! God Ammut weighing a dead man's heart in the afterlife. Image: National Geographic The ancient Greeks had opposing views on the center of thought and emotions. Aristotle was one of the most famous proponents of the Egyptian theory that the hear

Happy Easter! Every year for Easter Sunday, Christians around the world pray to Jesus Christ, their Savior. It is the fundamental belief of the Christian faith that Christ came on earth to heal humans and rid them of their pains and sicknesses. On this occasion, I thought it would be cool to look at some of the supernatural beliefs related to medicine in the ancient world. Most of the ancient civilizations had a close relationship with god. All suffering and diseases were attributed to the wrath of the gods. This was most evident in the oldest civilizations of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians believed that gods, demons, and spirits played a key role in causing diseases. They believed that spirits blocked channels in the body and affected the way the body functioned. They used prayer as a solution to their diseases, and priests played the role of doctors. Similarly, the Babylonians believed spirits were responsible for illness, with each spirit responsible for o

Sticking with the wonderful theme of alcohol, here’s a look at wine in ancient medicine. Adapted again from  Tom Standage’s A History of the World in 6 Glasses , but also other sources that have studied the use of wine in ancient civilizations. Although beer is thought to be the oldest drink consumed by humans, wine has an equally ancient history. The only difference is that it took longer for wine to become a common drink. The origin of wine has been traced back to the Neolithic Period, somewhere between 9000 and 4000 BCE, in the Zagros Mountains in present-day Iran and Armenia. Unlike beer, which was drunk by both the rich and the poor, wine was a status symbol associated with wealth and power. It was only consumed by those who could afford the expensive beverage, namely kings and noble men in ancient Greece. It was the Romans who transformed it from a luxury drink to one for the masses. It has been well known since the time of the ancient Greeks that wine can help relax and re