Drug and Genes Lecture 3

Otzi's Belongings

Clothing - stylish, no wool or woven cloth, well prepared

Tools - Fire-making kit, longbow and arrows, small axe, copper axe

Otzi's Health Concerns

Hair: traces of arsenic

Nails: horizontal grooves (great stress)

X-Ray: Significant wear and tear on joints, broken bones

Parasites: Two human fleas (lyme disease), human whipworm

Otzi's Medicinal Fungus?

Carried a fungus known for its anti-parasitic and laxative effects

Otzi's Bracken Fern

Historically used to treat intestinal parasites such as tapeworm

Otzi's Sloeberry

Historically used to treat diarrhea, coughs, and colds. Flowers have been used as a laxative

Otzi's Moss

Moss was found in the stomach; it is possible he was using the moss to address wounds.

Otzi's Tattoos

There were near many joints, suggesting they were possibly used for pain relief (acupuncture?).

Hypothesis on Otzi's Death

- Died on accident in mountains?

- 2011 X-ray revealed flint arrowhead in shoulder (Bled out)

- CT Scan showed Otzi suffered severe head injury (Damage to cerebrum)

More Otzi Mystery

- Cuts were on his hands, wrists and ribcage

- Likely died holding dagger

- The blood of 4 others were found at the site

Archeology Contributing to Early Pharmacology

- There is direct evidence of plants/other natural remedies being used for specific medical conditions

- Findings such as the tablets found in Egypt contain pharmacological scripts