This article aims to understand the concept of the "Ancient Medicine" from the beginning. As we Know very few civilizations existed for long time on this planet, among them, Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Chinese and Indus Valley civilizations are the significant ones and lasted for almost more than 5000 years or more. They developed many techniques and practiced several rituals in their time. As a matter of fact earlier they discovered few plants which were used as healing agents along with soil and clay to prevent mainly wounds.Use of these plants as healing agent had become of more traditional through generations without any knowledge about them. It was until in the medieval times, when people chose their profession with more concern and inclined towards inventions and survival of their race, then, evolution of medicine seemed to begin, "Apothecary" an ancient word was used to describe a person's ability of having complete knowledge about "materia medica", another ancient word, mentioned the therapeutic properties of active substances of the plants and they were the only professionals recognized by the society who could provide medicines and its related awareness. It was documented in the book “De materia medica” by Dioscorides and "Ebers Papyrus". I have listed out few common plants which were used since ancient times and they are:
1.Fennel was used then to cure painful urination, expel menstrual flow, stop bowel discharge etc.
2.Rhubarb was used to treat flatulence, convulsions, internal disorders, sciatica, asthma, rickets, and dysentery.
3.Gentian was used for curing liver disorders, deep ulcers, eye inflammation and used as astringent, inducer for abortion.
4.Birthwort was used to help in childbirth of which mechanism isn't known though.
5.Liquorice was used to treat stomach disorders, chest pain, liver abnormalities, kidney problem,bladder disorders etc.
6.Artemisinin It was used to treat malaria.
7.Ginseng was used to treat diabetes, fatigue and had effects on memory.
8.Aloe was mainly used as cathartic.
These are known as traditional medicines and Traditional Chinese Medicine system have been widely used in European territories. Most interesting fact I found about this system is that there were use of human organs such as dried human placenta known as "Ziheche" to treat infertility and impotence etc, other parts including bones, fingernail, hair, dandruff, earwax, feces and urines. The actual revolution of medicine took place in the 20th century when the era of technology just begun. Then, may we say the ancient medicines were the precursor of modern medicine!
1.Fennel was used then to cure painful urination, expel menstrual flow, stop bowel discharge etc.
2.Rhubarb was used to treat flatulence, convulsions, internal disorders, sciatica, asthma, rickets, and dysentery.
3.Gentian was used for curing liver disorders, deep ulcers, eye inflammation and used as astringent, inducer for abortion.
4.Birthwort was used to help in childbirth of which mechanism isn't known though.
5.Liquorice was used to treat stomach disorders, chest pain, liver abnormalities, kidney problem,bladder disorders etc.
6.Artemisinin It was used to treat malaria.
7.Ginseng was used to treat diabetes, fatigue and had effects on memory.
8.Aloe was mainly used as cathartic.
These are known as traditional medicines and Traditional Chinese Medicine system have been widely used in European territories. Most interesting fact I found about this system is that there were use of human organs such as dried human placenta known as "Ziheche" to treat infertility and impotence etc, other parts including bones, fingernail, hair, dandruff, earwax, feces and urines. The actual revolution of medicine took place in the 20th century when the era of technology just begun. Then, may we say the ancient medicines were the precursor of modern medicine!
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