Ancient Medical Approaches Compared to Modern Medicine

Medicine Throughout Human History

Introduction

From the ancient times to today, medicine and how it is implemented has changed in some ways and has stayed the same in others. In ancient times, it was customary for societies to view health from the lens of spirituality, music, and food. Today, these customs can still be found in various branches of medicine, such as homeopathy and different forms of therapy. Pharmacology in the Middle Ages relied heavily upon herbal and natural medicine, but in the 20th century the field was transformed by the industrialization of pharmacology, with lab-prepared pharmaceuticals displacing natural remedies (such as hemp—one of the most common natural medicines). Today, technology is also being used in ways never before imagined to aid in diagnostics, genetic engineering, and more. This paper will describe medicine as it has appeared throughout human history, beginning with the contributions of the major civilizations from ancient times, on up to modern advancements, and the ways in which medicine is used now.

Ancient Times

Every civilization throughout history has had its own view of medicine and illness. For example, the Greek doctor Dioscorides is the one who wrote De Materia Medica which became the definitive text on herbal medicine, used by the ancient Romans and essentially all of Western society up through the end of the Middle Ages (Brazier, 2018). One typical illustration of what can be found in De Materia Medica is that of the healing powers of the sea urchin: Dioscorides writes that it “is good for the stomach, good for the intestines, and diuretic. The raw shell roasted well should be mixed with washing medications made for psoriasis. Burnt, it cleans foul ulcers and represses

abnormal growths on the flesh” (p. 183). However, this is but one example of medicine in the ancient times. The Egyptians also followed a similar method of pharmacology, and so did the Chinese, who placed a great deal of emphasis on the healing and medicinal powers of food. Yào shàn is a traditional Asian approach in which herbs and spices are used in meal preparation to for medicinal purposes (Hwang et al., 2014).

The fact is that most ancient cultures saw a strong connection between physical health and spiritual health. Another example comes from the philosopher Plato, who stated “to think about curing the head alone, and not the rest of the body also, is the height of folly” (Kyziridis, 2005, p. 43). This link was especially true in cases of mental illness. The Muslim Arab world was not unique in associating spiritual maladies with mental maladies; nonetheless, as Kyzridis (2005) points out, “the word Majnun is the Muslim word for mad or possessed while a jinn is a supernatural spirit. According to Koran a jinn may lie behind a mental illness” (p. 43). Hippocrates adopted a more physiological model based on bile and humors of the blood, which suggested that an “imbalance of the body fluids may influence the brain and provoke madness” (Kyziridis, 2005, p. 43). Then there is the famous Edwin Smith Papyrus, which reveals the extent of ancient Egyptian knowledge of medicine. All of these major civilizations advanced the concept of homeopathic medicines.

Cannabis, for instance, was a substance commonly used as a cure all—universally—from ancient China to the early days of the American colonies, where the Founding Fathers grew and used hemp for medicinal purposes (Brand & Zhao, 2017; Deitch, 2003). Just to drive home that point, one can look at the Song Dyansty text Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica, which included a reference on preparing cannabis for people experiencing severe pain. Instructions described soaking cannabis seeds in water, collecting the sediment, frying it and grounding it into a powder before boiling this and consuming it (Brand & Zhao, 2017). In fact it was not really until the 20th century that modern pharmacy began to take shape with people going to the drugstore for their medicines instead of to their fields, to their pantries or to their priests.

Important Scientists of the Modern Era

Famous medical scientists pre-20th century include Leopold Auenbrugger, who utilized percussive instruments as a diagnostic method, and Louis Pasteur and Paul Erlich—both of whom contributed to the science of vaccination, each advancing germ theory. There is also Karl Landsteiner, who revolutionized the science of blood transfusion and is known as the father of immunology and hematology; and Ludvig Puusepp, who is considered the first professor of neurosurgery in the world. Eliza Maria Mosher emphasized the need for physical fitness for maintaining health, and she is considered an important advocate for preventive health medicine. And Johannes Peter Muller was a famous physiologist who advanced microscopic studies of medicine. Each of these scientists helped to advance modern medicine in their own ways prior to the 20th century. Auenbrugger, for instance, helped to shape diagnostic techniques that would enable physicians to evaluate patients more effectively. Pasteur and Erlich focused on the idea of viruses and microbial fermentation, which led to the use of vaccinations as a medical treatment. Perhaps one of the most important scientists, however, was Mosher, who reiterated the fact that if people want to be healthy then they simply need to lead healthy lives—i.e., maintain a healthy diet and exercise their bodies. This idea continues to be one of the main principles of preventive health medicine—which, if utilized properly, would likely reduce a great many number of the world’s diseases, such as diabetes and many others.

Recent Contributions to Medicine

Today there are a great many breakthroughs in terms of molecular biology, genetic engineering and the use of technology. One of those breakthroughs is the ability of scientists to regrow body parts that have been badly damaged. Regenerative medicine has focused on the concept of using cells to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs. Hearts that have been damaged by heart attack could potentially be replaced by lab-grown hearts with the help of regenerative medicine.

Another breakthrough is with the use of the Internet of Things, which is being used in medicine to link personal digital devices to medical devices, including implants and sensors. This technology is being advocated as a way to help patients monitor and control dosages and is seen as potentially helpful for patients dealing with illnesses like schizophrenia. Sensors in pills would be used to communicate with a patch worn on the skin that in turn communicates to an app on a smart phone so that the end user receives a message about whether more medicine is needed.

Within the realm of diagnostic technique, artificial intelligence is being used to aid in the detection of skin cancer. AI can be programmed to identify skin cancer at a high rate than can doctors using the naked eye. This is just one example of the ways in which technological advances are aiding in medical care. AI can process information more quickly than any person on earth and it can be used to help people determine the state of their own mental health.

Immunotherapy is being used to help combat cancer and operates on the idea that the body has the ability, i.e., the tools, to fight cancer cells on its own and all it needs is to be supported. It is essentially the idea of Mosher, just updated for the modern era to include the use of immunosurveillance and vitamins, probiotics and minerals known to support and enhance the immune system. Gene therapy is also being used to address instances genetic defect in which health issues like sickle-cell anaemia are combated by genetic engineering (Pomeroy, 2020).