Greek medicine & practices

Greek Medicine: Beginnings

• Emergence of Greek Medicine

  • 5th century BCE marked the emergence of medicine as a scientific discipline among the Greeks, moving away from religious and magical practices.

  • Previously, ailments were viewed as curses from gods, with specific examples like deistratus linked to Apollo.

• Asclepios and Healing

  • Apollo, a healing deity, entrusted his son Asclepios (Roman Asclepius) to the centaur Chiron for medicine training.

  • The temple of Asclepios at Epidaurus was prominent where patients would often experience dreams that provided healing guidance.

  • Sacred snakes in these temples symbolized rejuvenation and healing.

Hippocrates and Rational Medicine

• Hippocratic Contributions

  • Hippocrates (c. 460 – c. 370 BCE) is credited with the foundations of rational medicine.

  • Established a medical school on the island of Kos and wrote influential treatises on various medical subjects:

    • Anatomy, gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, prognosis, and medical ethics.

  • Famous for the Hippocratic Oath, emphasizing ethical principles in medicine, such as:

    • Commitment to patient welfare and confidentiality, including prohibitions on euthanasia and abortion.

• Prognosis and Diagnosis

  • Prognosis: Prediction based on observation of similar cases; contrasts with diagnosis which lacked specific techniques in ancient medicine.

  • Recognized the balance of bodily elements for health without an understanding of anatomy.

Treatments and Medical Practices

• Medical Treatments

  • Medicinal Therapy: Use of natural remedies with little theoretical explanation.

    • Wine as a disinfectant, and various plant-based remedies for cleansing wounds.

  • Surgical Practices: Focused mainly on wounds, fractures, and dislocations:

    • Key texts include detailed treatments for fractures and joint issues.

• Pharmacology Terms

  • Pharmakon: The Greek word for medicine, leading to terms like pharmacist and pharmacology.

  • Humoral Theory: Based on four humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile) impacting both physical health and temperament.

Aspects of Women’s Health and Obstetrics

• Gynecology

  • Limited anatomical understanding; Hippocratic doctors lacked knowledge of female reproductive organs.

  • Clinical observations and treatments for women’s health issues were documented.

• Pediatrics

  • Development of pediatrics as a branch dealing with children's diseases and health.

• Midwives

  • Midwives played crucial roles during childbirth and were often well-respected, possessing specific qualities necessary for care.

Roman Medicine

• Introduction of Greek Medicine to Rome

  • Greek doctors slowly gained acceptance in Rome; notable names include Archelaos and Aesculapides.

  • Training for physicians remained informal, often through apprentice systems.

• Galen’s Influence

  • Galen (129 – c. 216 CE) rose to prominence through extensive study and practice, especially with gladiators.

  • Wrote influential works on anatomy, physiology, and emphasized animal dissection for understanding the human body.

Medical Ethics and Practice

• Ethics in Practice

  • Ethically grounded practices emphasized by Hippocratic writings included confidentiality, maintaining a good personal condition, and respect towards patients.

  • Emerging professionalism set standards for medical practitioners, advocating for high ideals in patient care.

Limitations of Ancient Medical Knowledge

• Understanding of Anatomy

  • Dissections were largely restricted, limiting knowledge about the human body.

  • Reliance on analogy from animal dissection provided some insights but was insufficient for a comprehensive understanding.

Cultural Context of Medicine

• Social Perceptions of Doctors

  • Ancient Roman jokes reflect a poor public image of physicians, often depicted as incompetent.

  • Existence of both formal and folk medicine practices, with continued reliance on traditional remedies alongside scientific approaches.

• Preventative and Dietary Medicine

  • Importance placed on diet, exercise, and environmental factors in health management.

  • Greek and Roman medicine focused on lifestyle considerations in maintaining healthness.

Conclusion

• Legacy: The foundations laid by ancient Greek and Roman medicine influenced medical practice for centuries, establishing key concepts in ethics, pharmacology, and treatment methodologies.