History of Traditional and Herbal Medicine Flashcards
Dr. Ajayi
Why do we study history?
- To understand the present, because the present is an offspring of the past
- To be able to follow the things that are worthy of emulation and to correct the things that need amending
- To commend the contributors in order to encourage more good contributions and discourage the bad ones
- It serves as a guide to future endeavours
What is the origin of the study of herbal medicine?
While the origin of herbal medicine could be traced back to the origin of life, its study only starts where documentation and records begin, and thus is linked to the art of writing. Hence the early record of herbal practice is found among these people who were able to record their experience and practice.
Where did the art of writing begin?
The art of writing started among the Egyptians and the Greek and later progressed to Rome, China, India and so on.
How was human knowledge of drugs and diseases passed down from on generation to another?
i. Orally,
ii. Then by use of signs and symbols, which then progressed to
iii. Writing with civilisation
In recorded history, Babylonians (about 3000 BC.) appear to have been aware of a large number of medicinal plants and their properties.
Some of the plants are still used in almost the same manner and for the same purpose.
List 3 examples of these plants
i. Chaulmoogra oil from the species of Hydnocarpus Gaertn, used to treat leprosy (recorded in the pharmacopoeia of Emperor Shen Nung of China between 2700 and 3000 BC.)
ii. Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and iii. Castor oil seed (Ricinus communis) were excavated from Egyptian tombs, which indicated their use in 1500 BC.
The Egyptian book written in 1500 BC containing knowledge of medicinal herbs is called________.
Papyrus Ebers
Examples of present day important drugs that were in common use in Egypt about 6000
years ago include:
i. Henbane
ii. Mandrake
iii. Aloe
iv. Onion
v. Pomegranate
vi. Castor oil
Highlight the efforts of 5 contributors to the knowledge of medicinal plants.
i. Hippocrates (460 - 370 B.C.): Greek. Father of medicine. Compiled and described over 400 simple herbal remedies contained in his material medica. Some of the medicinal plants included opium, rosemary, mint, sage and verbena.
ii. Aristotle (384 -322 B.C.): Listed more than 500 plants of medicinal importance.
iii. Theophrastus (370 - 287 B.C.): Greek biologist. Wrote the famous Historia Plantarium, among others, a standard botanical textbook in his time and many years after his death.
They all worshipped the god of medicine, Asclepius
iv. Dioscorides (First century A.D.): Published five volumes of the book, “De Material Medica” in 78 A.D., which contained descriptions of more than 600 medicinal plants, their collection, storage and uses. It was a standard reference in the medieval period in Europe.
v. Pliny the Elder (23 - 70 A.D.): One of the first roman naturalists. Wrote 37 books and developed 2 volumes (20 & 27) to medical botany.
vi. Galen (131 - 200 A.D.): Greek pharmacist and physician. Described for the first time, the method of preparing pharmaceutical preparations of plant and animal drugs. “Galenical pharmacy” is named after him.
His teachings inspired the development of the sect known as Eclectics, who use herbs and minerals to treat illnesses.
Allopathic and Homeopathic systems of medicine are based on his doctrines
vii. St. Columba of Isles of Iona in Switzerland (563 A.D.): Establish a herbarium in the garden of his house.
viii. St. Gall: The garden of his monastery was reported to contain medicinal herbs.
The use of herbal medicine among the Australian aborigines was first observed when?
At the end of 15th century
Respond with True or False.
i. In the early days of Rome, while Greece was a center for medical knowledge, Roman medicine was considered less advanced.
ii. The art of healing wasn’t highly valued in Roman society, seen as something below the status of a typical Roman.
iii. Romans treated themselves using home remedies.
iv. Self-medication was often combined with prayers to the gods associated with specific illnesses.
v. One panacea of many ills at that time was the ordinary cabbage (Brassica oleracae L.) which was eaten with wine or applied externally.
vi. In the medieval period, the practice of diagnosing was based on the state of the urine and the state of stars at that time.
vii. In the medieval period, the main treatment was accupuncture
i. True
ii. True
iii. True
iv. True
v. True
vi. False. It was bloodletting.
The book Chronical de Peru written by ________________________ and was published in Seville in 1553, lists plants such as ____ and ____
Pedro de Cieza de Leon
Potato and coca
Discuss the doctrine of Signatures and Similar.
Developed by Paracelsus (1490 - 1541), a Swiss alchemist and physician, the doctrine of signatures is an ancient belief that plants resembling parts of the human body can be used to treat ailments of those corresponding body parts.
For example, plants with heart-shaped leaves were thought to be beneficial for heart conditions, liver- shaped parts for bilious diseases and plants with milky exudates were believed to improve lactation in women.
A specific example is the use of Eye bright (Euphrasia officinalis L.) to treat dim eyesight; the corolla of this plant has a dark purple spot that resembles an eye.
Rauwolfia serpentina, was named as such because its root takes the shape of a snake. It was assumed by locals to cure snake bite. It, however, has no such medicinal property. This is an example of the failure of the doctrine.
The belief held for about four centureies and wasn’t abandoned until modern phytochemistry and pharmacology provided a new basis for rationalised use of plants in medicine.
Discuss Nigerian history of herbal medicine.
Orunmila, the first man to practice the art of healing in the Yoruba land, was endowed with the knowledge of medicinal herbs by God.
Orunmila’s younger brother, Osanyin, gained knowledge of medicinal herbs by assisting his elder brother.
The two were eventually separated by intertribal wars, and were reunited years later when Orunmila’s wife Gbirinbiti told her husband of a slave who had made comments about medicinal herbs. Upon further investigation, this slave was revealed to be Osanyin, Orunmila’s lost brother.
________ a herbalist in the 17th Century believed that all diseases were governed by the planets as were the hundreds of herbs he prescribed.
He established a medical practice in ____ after
a period of apprenticeship and devoted his time to the study of astrology and medicine.
Many of his publications were considered
unorthodox and his medical tracts were condemned by his contemporaries.
Culpeper
1640
