Ancient Egyptian Medicine

What was the Egyptian theory for cause of disease?

The Theory of Blockages

How did religion affect Egyptian advances? What did it cause?

-Encouraged knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology

-Made Hygiene important

Give 4 elements of Egyptian life that were supernatural:

-Temple Priests

-Shrines

-Spells

-Amulets

What were the three cures for a Blockage?

-Bleeding

-Purging

-Vomiting

Why was the Theory of Blockages so vastly accepted?

It was relatable to Egyptian lifestyle of Farming

What gave the Egyptians such an extensive knowledge of anatomy?

Obsession with the afterlife caused them to embalm dead bodies and this led to them coming into contact with organs

Define: Anatomy

A study of the structure and internal workings of something.

Define: Physiology

A study of the way body parts work/function

Give 5 organs that the Egyptians named

-Heart

-Liver

-Lungs

-Spleen

-Intestines

Give 4 aspects of Physiology that the Egyptians were aware of

-Breathing

-The Nervous System

-The Pulse

-Digestion

Give 2 Egyptian approaches to Personal Hygiene

-Washing twice per day

-Shaving body hair to avoid lice

Give 4 examples of natural Herbs used by Egyptians

-Cinnamon

-Malachite

-Pepper

-Frankincense

How did the Egyptians have access to so many Herbs?

Trade links

Which 3 countries did Egypt have trade links with?

-Mesapotamia

-India

-China

Give 2 examples of Communication used by the Egyptians

-Papyrus paper

-Heiroglyphics

Why did Heiroglyphics have no long term impact?

Future civilisations couldn't translate them

What were the 3 steps followed by Egyptian doctors? (Not Clinical Observation)

1. Examination

2. Diagnosis

3. Treatment

Which 3 types of external growth could Egyptian surgeons remove?

-Cysts

-Cataracts

-Tumours

Who was the bringer and taker of Epidemics?

Sekhmet

What were Charms and Amulets used for?

To scare away evil spirits

What animal was often used as a Charm?

The Scarab Beetle

What 2 substances were used by the Egyptians to treat infections due to their Anti-Septic qualities?

Honey and Willow

What percentage of Egyptian medicine did Honey make up?

30.3%

What antibiotic was used in Egyptian times as a cure?

"Bread in a Rotten condition"

Mummification

the preservation of dead bodies by embalming and wrapping them in cloth

Anatomy

The study of body structure

Sekhmet

goddess of war

canopic jars

Jars in which the ancient Egyptians preserved the internal organs of a deceased person usually for burial with the mummy.

blood-letting

the surgical removal of some of a patient's blood for therapeutic purposes.

Ebers Papyrus (1500 BC)

Oldest preserved egyptian compilation of medical texts.