Treatment of migraine attacks before the twentieth century

Raimundo Pereira Silva-Néto,Kelson James Almeida

doi:10.48208/headachemed.2011.12

Abstract

Migraine accompanies humans throughout their existence and, for the relieve of their pain, various forms of treatment were used. From the Neolithic to the Modern Age, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Chinese, Greek, among other people, have suffered intense attacks of chronic headache. Many different treatments have been used from skull drilling and bloodletting to the use of herbs and plants. People who lived before the twentieth century had no knowledge of any drug treatment.

Highlights

Pain, especially headache, is one of the great scourges of humanity
Up to the early years of the nineteenth century, there is no record indicating any pharmacological treatment for headache, as the first chemical substance with analgesics to be isolated in the laboratory was salicin, from willow bark (Salix Alba) by the Italian chemists Brugnatelli and Fontana, in 1826.3 As time went on, this drug would lead to acetylsalicylic acid, commercialized only in the twentieth century, starting on October 10th, 1903.4
In Greece, Hippocrates (460-377 BC) always involved himself with the treatment of pain, as evidenced by the famous sentence attributed to him, "Sedare dolorem opus divinum est". He treated the migraine with powder made from the bark and leaves of willow (Salix alba), a plant rich in salicin.[2,12]

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Especially headache, is one of the great scourges of humanity. In several regions of the world, there has always been engagement in the search for its cure. Migraine is manifested clinically by recurrent episodes of headache and other associated manifestations such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia and phonophobia. This type of headache is the most frequent complaint and, when very intense, it may prevent the patient from doing his/her routine activities.[2]. Up to the early years of the nineteenth century, there is no record indicating any pharmacological treatment for headache, as the first chemical substance with analgesics to be isolated in the laboratory was salicin, from willow bark (Salix Alba) by the Italian chemists Brugnatelli and Fontana, in 1826.3 As time went on, this drug would lead to acetylsalicylic acid, commercialized only in the twentieth century, starting on October 10th, 1903.4. Throughout ancient times to the years preceding the twentieth century, man has used different treatments to the relieve of headache.[5]

BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN ERA

AFTER THE CHRISTIAN ERA