Week 11: Religion and Medical Treatment Flashcards
Reasons for turning to the supernatural divine related to medical conditions (2)
a) Miracles
b) Alleviation of pain
What is the relationship between religion and healing?
a) It covers the limitations of medicine
b) Compatible with healing, not antithetical
What examples show the influence of religion in healing?
a) Plage of Florence
b) Jesus as the healer (Lepra)
Brief description of Egyptian medicine
Mix of religious, supernatural, and natural treatments
Who was in charge of healing?
Domain of priests
What was the methodology used for healing?
Natural treatments, curses, and incantations
Was there any progress in Egyptian medicine? Why?
a) No progress due to close relationship with religion
b) Religions are conservative bodies
Description of early hospitals
a) Location
b) Infrastructure
c) Etymology
d) Main elements
a) Byzantium and the West
b) Attached to monasteries
c) Latin ‘hospitium’
d) Faith + Healing + Christian charity
(Monks washing others feet)
Healing Christian saints
a) No natural element
b) Mainly based on faith
a) Brothers Cosmas and Damian
b) Artemios
Brothers Cosmas and Damian
a) Relevant Arab martyrs in 3rd Century
b) Known as Anargyroi (Unmercenary / No money) as they treated their patients for free
St Artemios
a) Heals male genitals (urological conditions) by squeezing them or appearing in a dream
b) Patients came from the entire empire to the Church of St. John in Constantinople and slept in it until they were cured.
Examples of famous Saints in modern times
a) Lady of Lourdes in France
b) Island of Tenus (Virgin Mary
Ceremony used in Island of Tenus to show gratitude for being healed
Pilgrims crawl on their knees from the harbor to the temple
Role of the Virgin of Lourdes in healing
Healing by drinking at the spring and washing in it
Greek Gods of Healing
a) Apollo
b) Asclepius (5th C)
c) Machaon/Podalirios
d) Hygieia
e) Panacea
f) Eileithyia
Apollo description
a) Senior god (Son of Zeus)
b) Domains: Sun/Light/Music/Harmony/Healing
Asclepius description
a) Mortal healer in the Illyad
b) Seen as a deity for medicine in 5th Century
c) Son of Apollo
Machaon/Podalirios description
The two sons of Asclepius healed with natural drugs
Hierarchy of Gods in the Hippocratic Oath
Apollo => Asclepius => Hygieia (Healing/Cleanliness) => Panacea (All healing)
Eileithyia description
a) Goddess of childbirth and midwifery
b) Daughter of Zeus and Hera
Equivalent of hospitals in Ancient Greece
Asclepeia (Temples of Asclepios)
What services were provided in an Asclepeia?
Holistic approach
a) Rational medicine
b) Faith-based/supernatural healing
c) Natural treatments (e.g., surgery)
d) Spiritual uplifting
- Theater performances
- Baths
- Entertainment
What could you find in an Asclepia?
a) Amenities: Theaters / Shops
b) Group of practitioners / Senior physician attending the sick with the help of assistants
Note: No midwives
What does “mens sana in corpore sano” mean?
A healthy mind in a healthy body
Examples of Asclepions in Greece
a) Epidaurus (Largest / Earliest)
b) Kos
c) Pergamon
d) Corinth
Infrastructure of Asclepia of Epidaurus
a) Temples of Asclepius, Artemis, and Aphrodite
b) Stoa
c) Priests house
d) Baths
e) Stadium (Entertainment)
f) Theather (Good acoustics)
Description of treatment process in Asklepion of Epidaurus
a) Visitors arrived by boat
b) Extensive course of purification (katharsis) to prepare for god
c) Sleeping (enkoimesis) under drugs influence and waiting for a healing dream / instructions
d) Execution of rational medicine
Description of katharsis (purification) process
a) Diet
b) Baths
c) Purgatives
d) Drugs
e) Surgery
Description of enkoimesis
Surgery performed in a twilight state under heavy soporific drugs like opiates and mandragora
Description of rational medicine methods
a) Healthy, hygienic conditions
b) Good diet
c) Clean air and water
d) Assisted by faith in recovery
e) Superficial cancer / cataracts were treated with surgery
What is the sacred role of snakes?
a) Symbolic of the power of the earth and regeneration
b) Serpent-entwined rod wielded by the Greek god Asclepius
c) Believed to cure a patient or a wounded person just by touch
What shapes were put on marble (or gold) for those who are healed or already healed?
Parts of the body (Ears/Limbs
Asclepion of Kos
a) Hometown of Hippocrates
b) Massive complex for reciting prayers
a) Asclepion of Pergamon
b) Asclepion of Corinth
a) Theather
b) Several parts of the body as puppets
Description of Nekromanteion Ephyra
a) Underground (Oracle of dead)
b) People went to speak with dead
c) A lot of hallucinogenic drugs were found
d) Intimidating space
Description of Gnosticism/Drugs
a) Sect through the transition of Christianity
b) Heal by speaking with god through faith
c) Entire cities with hallucinogenic drugs
d) Create the illusion of heavy drugs
e) Healing environment by asking advice
f) No addiction due to restricted use
What is the problem with drug consumption?
High doses
Use of opioids was not that detrimental due to the lack of access
