We Go Way Back
You might think that ancient healing practices involved more primitive methods and medicines, and are irrelevant today. However, while we have certainly come a long way since, we still have a lot to learn from past notions of health and healing.
Evidence of formal medical practices go as far back as around 3200 BCE in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq, Kuwait, Turkey and Syria). The Egyptians and Greeks took inspiration from Mesopotamia and in turn influenced early western medicine. In Asia, ancient medical practices in India and China bore some similar medical principles to their Middle Eastern counterparts. Let’s take a look at what the ideas of healing were like in the past
In Mesopotamia, two kinds of healers worked closely together. The Asu specialised in herbal remedies and the Asipu used charms and spells. They shaved their heads to be easily identifiable as they travelled around to attend to the sick. (Stravaganza)
In ancient Greece, the sick would sleep on the temple grounds of Asclepius in the hopes that the god of medicine would visit them in their dreams to heal them. (Researchgate)
A painting from 18th Century, Nepal (wellcomecollection). The painting interprets how the male body was perceived based on the ancient Indian teachings of Ayurvedic medicine.
The Natural World of Ancient Healing
Across many different cultures, early medical philosophies commonly believed that disease was caused by an imbalance in the patient’s being. Health treatment involved direct changes to a person’s day-to-day activities to restore balance in everything from diet to baths. In doing so, healers looked to the natural world as a wealth of resource.
Ancient physicians also treated their patients’ entire being — their mind, body and soul. They were called upon not only to heal physical and mental illnesses but even social rifts within a community in times of tragedy. Moreover, many cultures believed that diseases had a spiritual dimension. Hence, medicine men were often also shamans whose healing rituals were meant to cleanse sin and appease the gods.
Thermal springs for healing, Germany, 1548 AD. (wellcomecollection)
Using thermal springs for medicinal purposes dates back to the Neolithic age (10,000 – 4,500 BC) and was practised widely from Egypt to India. Mineral-rich, hot water was believed to heal anxiety as well as bone, muscle and skin ailments.
“Physician Preparing an Elixir”, 1224 AD from Baghdad, Iraq (Wikimedia Commons)
This watercolour depiction is a translation from the Greek Materia Medica written between 50-70 AD. The manuscript documents the healing properties of plants, insects, and animals.
Attempts to cure sickness were part of the relationship between people and their gods. These wooden figures were an offering to Sitala, the Hindu Goddess of Smallpox. (wellcomecollection)
The OG Healers: Of Gods and Magicians
Ancient physicians often played multiple roles, using their wide range of knowledge to look after the wellbeing of the people. As a ›result, they were well-respected and even revered. Some of these physicians later became enshrined as gods. Many myths and legends we know today are built around them.
Alchemists, who often thought of themselves as magicians, also contributed to the development of medicine. Alchemy is a medieval chemical science that aimed to turn ordinary metals into gold. In the process, they discovered effective chemistry methods for extracting and preparing natural substances of medicinal value.
A common depiction of Shen Nong, the Chinese deity of medicine and agriculture. He is believed to have been a Chinese emperor in 2852 BC. (Wikimedia commons)
A large statue of Imhotep worshipped as a god of medicine in Egyptian healing rites. (WellcomeCollection)
Imhotep was the chief advisor to Pharaoh Djoser, an architect and astrologer circa 27th century BC. He is also the first known medical practitioner in Egypt.
A portrait of Jabir ibn Hayyan of Arabia, who is considered one of the pioneers of modern chemistry. (Wikimedia Commons)
Traditional or Modern — Why Not Both?
The physicians of antiquity treated the whole being. In doing so, they were comfortable with blending the experiences of the physical and spiritual, the observable and the unseen, the explainable and the inexplicable.
Today, modern western medicine overshadows these modes of medical thinking. Following the Age of Reason in the 18th century, modern treatment methods boast rationality and precision. In its quest for efficiency, modern medicine is also highly specialised to target specific illnesses in the body. These principles have led to great strides in the medical field and many new cures have been invented.
That being said, we’d be the poorer for it if we were to completely disregard the wisdom that traditional medicine carries. For that, we have plenty of different cultures to learn from.
Precision, precision, precision. Today, surgeons can operate safely on vessels as small as 0.3mm. (Unsplash)
In pharmacies, a wide range of packaged, off-the-shelf medication is easily available in modern pharmacies to treat specific ailments. (Unsplash)
The World Health Organisation has incorporated Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into their global classification of diseases and diagnoses. TCM caters to the unique, holistic conditions of each individual. (Brittanica)
Sources: Britannica, Britannica, Healthcare Design, Hindawi, Hopkins Medicine, HMC Architects, JSTOR, Nature, NCBI, NCBI, NCBI, NCBI, NYTimes, Research Outreach, Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society, The Conversation, Wikimedia Commons, World History