To some extent, they had better chances of survival than any other contemporary civilization. The ancient Egyptians gained a wealth of knowledge of human anatomy and the workings of the body through their mummification practices. Mummification involved the removal of most of the body’s organs, including the intestine, pancreas, liver, spleen, heart, lungs, and brain. The ancient Egyptians administered medicine differently than we do in the modern world today. Ancient Egyptians had one of the most advanced medical understandings for their time. There was little separating mainstream practice and alternative medicine in ancient times: However, such is not true today in Egypt. In 1822, the translation of the Rosetta stonefinally allowed the translation of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions and papyri, including many related to medical matters (Egyptian medical papyri). We publish articles about humanism in medicine, patient stories, medical education, the medical school experience, health policy, medical ethics, art and literature in medicine, and much more. in-Training is the agora of the medical student community, the intellectual center for news, commentary, and the free expression of the medical student voice. Facts about Ancient Egyptian Medicine 8: Respiratory problems Today, prosthetics come in many forms, including artificial limbs, hearing aids, knee replacements, dentures and artificial heart valves. These skills allowed them to practice surgery. Some things ended up working really well. This is why mummification was so important and likely why prostheses existed. For first years, you're ready to ...read more, I met a resident who advocated that all medical students should become patients and have ...read more, When I was a first-year medical student, the upperclassmen said that medical school would get ...read more. Cauterizing vessels with hot blades helped slow the bleeding. This led researchers to test them out on people who needed a spare toe (or two). In their knowledge of the vascular system, the Egyptians also counted the number of vessels reaching each part of the body. The problem? Other filling recipes included honey, which has antibacterial properties, and ocher, a paint pigment heavy in iron, and ground wheat. Much of the contents of the papyrus, deal with constipation, giving several effective cures that in some parts of the world, are still used today. Acupuncture has also found a place in preventive care, particularly for its effects in the setting of hypertension. The resultant interest in Egyptology in the 19th century led to the discovery of several sets of extensive ancient medical documents, including the Ebers papyrus, the Edwin Smith Papyrus, the Hearst Papyrus, the London Medical Papyrus and others dating back as far as 2900 BC. It is used as the founding book of knowledge for ancient Egyptian medicine. Often referred to as a tyet or an Isis knot, cloth tampons were made by using scrap fabric, often cotton, rolling it up, and tying a string around the center. Some advise simply eating more figs (not so bad), while others prescribe castor oil, which we still use today, mixed with cold beer. This shows how Egyptians used amputation to treat infections and injuries, and it appears that people sometimes survived the surgeries. These elements were usually combined in recipes for the fullest effect. She has written on subjects from viticulture, regions, and history to market trends and food pairing. This is attributed to honey’s antioxidant and anti-microbial properties. They are committed on pushing their medicine to the extent that surgeries happened even in the ancient times! It can even be utilized as anesthesia during surgery, including invasive procedures like open heart surgery. It looks like the saying is true: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”. Ancient Egyptians also used other cloths similar to today’s pads, which was common throughout many early cultures. The most famous of these patients was a lady found with a wooden big toe. By operating on the dead, they were able to see issues in bodies and make associations with illnesses in life. The fact that they had such knowledge still mystifies historians today. Its intended purpose was to restore the body’s inner balance by placing needles at specific pressure points. Cauterization was first described by the Greek physician Hippocrates as burning a part of the body using heat. The name “Isis knot” refers to the goddess Isis, who according to legend, used a tampon while pregnant with Horus to protect him while in the womb from attacks by the god Seth. But you still have to admire the fact that the ancient Egyptians had a medical care system in the first place. It's weird seeing a mother waiting to deliver her baby while watching Nickelodeon on TV. Not only can it be used to sweeten your tea, but honey can also be placed on wounds and burns. Other (lets call them “organic”) items included hair, skin, blood, feces, and more from various animals and even humans. Others may have done more harm than good. Many would assume that tampons are a modern advancement that gives a woman on her period freedom. It's no wonder they only lived for an average of 36 years! Opioids today are still the leading pain medication, especially in cases of severe pain management. The area under the prosthesis had healed, showing that she actually used the prosthetic toe in life. Images show doctors performing the procedure on patients. A remedy for tapeworm contains equal parts lead, petroleum, ta bread, and sweet beer. Ancient Egyptian Medicine: A Systematic Review 13 process. Writings describe soldiers’ fascination with the uncircumcised penises of the conquered Libyans, often collecting them from the slain to bring home and show off. Honey is an ideal choice for treatment because it is cheap and readily available. Yet other items like lead and feces may not have been such great ideas. Egypt … It is true that tampons were not used until recently in many Western cultures. One describes how to treat “an itching tooth until the opening of the flesh: cumin, 1 part; resin of incense, 1 part; dart fruit, 1 part; crush and apply to the tooth.” The idea was that this would drain the infection. It is time ...read more, Advances in technology have not only dramatically changed health care, but have also changed the ...read more, This winter, take time to relax with family and friends. There were even advertising campaigns as late as the 1980s touting the benefits of tampons and trying to convince American women that they were safe. Facts about Ancient Egyptian Medicine 7: the ancient Egyptian practice. Speaking of Asclepius, there is also a Greek god known as Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing. The idea of measuring a pulse was far ahead of its time, and it would be centuries before it was picked up elsewhere in the world. The Papyrus Ebers consisted of 108 columns divided into forty-five groups. Egyptian hieroglyphs used a symbol for each word, but 24 uniliuteral signs were phonetic to pronounce loanwords and foreign words. Open wounds were often treated with balms made of combinations of … One was the Egyptian belief that after death, the body needs to be whole and preserved for them to be able to return to it in the afterlife. Still, C-sections are commonly performed and at least 30% of U.S. births are by C-section. Egyptian culture was largely based upon religion and many of their greatest monuments and festivals were a result of a desire to please Gods. There are descriptions of medical camps set up near construction projects and quarries so that injured workers could receive treatment. Since sugar wasn’t a part of the Egyptian diet, they did not have the tartar development and other issues that we do now. Prescriptions. Asclepius and his daughters Hygeia, the goddess of hygiene, and Panacea, the goddess of universal remedy, along with Apollo, the god of music, healing and prophecy, are mentioned in the Hippocratic Oath that we still recite today: “I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygeia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement…”, These medical practices may be ancient, but they are still used today because they are tried and true. In 2012, a mummy was CT scanned, uncovering a cavity that had been filled with linen. Their willingness to cut into a body put the Egyptians centuries ahead medically. A tracheostomy is most often performed in a patient who is anticipated to be on mechanical ventilation for a long period.The Greek physician Asclepius is credited for doing the first tracheostomy in 124 B.C. Doctors may no longer use spells and amulets as the ancient Egyptians did, but in many other ways, a visit to the doctor’s office may not have been so different thousands of years ago. Medicines aren’t a thing of modern times but they date back to the ancient Egyptian era. Nicole Gentempo is a freelance writer and certified sommelier who loves to explore natural beauty, cultures, and wines around the world. The ancient Egyptians have a very difficult environment to live on. They also knew that mint could calm a stomach. Having to take your medicine is apparently as old as civilization itself. 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