Ancient Physicians Research Articles

Special Report: Bipolar Disorder II—Frequently Neglected, Misdiagnosed

Special Report: Bipolar Disorder II—Frequently Neglected, Misdiagnosed

A Review of the History of Ancient China

Handwritten prescriptions are based on the thorough understanding of diseases and accurate diagnosis of patients by ancient Chinese physicians. This article discusses the particularities of TCM handwritten prescriptions in different historical periods in China, which are crucial to the study of contemporary medicine and calligraphy and the treatment of TCM diseases with their unique writing styles. We aim at study and summarize the evolution of ancient Chinese manuscripts from a historical perspective. As the only way to record the experience of disease diagnosis and treatment, in-depth research on handwritten prescriptions can open up new fields of scientific research in traditional Chinese medicine, promote the wide application and dissemination of ancient Chinese calligraphy works around the world, and provide more opportunities for future generations of medical references. This paper mainly adopts the survey method, literature review method, data analysis method, comparative analysis method and inductive summary method to conduct research, and strive to make the research convincing. Traditional Chinese medicine formulas are the empirical data of generations of doctors in meticulous diagnosis, investigation, prescription, dialectical treatment, and are a precious medical case. TCM has a long history in China, and it is an important foundation for TCM to treat diseases because of its good medicinal calligraphy styles. In-depth research has the potential to open up new areas of scientific research in Chinese medicine and encourage the widespread adaptation and dissemination of ancient Chinese calligraphy works worldwide. Its widespread use increases the number of references available for future medicine.

A Historical Study of the Role of Exercise and Physical Activity in Medicine from Perspective of Galenian Medicine

Historical reports indicate that concepts such as health, well-being, personal and social development are closely related to physical activity, and the civilized nations of the world have always considered the importance of physical activity in the field of health and wellness. Among the ancient nations, the Greeks were most interested in exercise and physical activity, as it was an important part of ancient Greek medicine, and ancient Greek physicians, especially Hippocrates and Galen, focused on physical activity and proper diet as important components of a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, much of the basic information about the relationship between exercise and health was presented in the findings and medical texts of ancient Greece, which was comprehensively and practically proposed by Galen in the form of the theory of nature and the unnatural. The present study uses a descriptive-analytical method based on library information to answer the question of when humans with scientific and principled method found that exercise and physical activity have played a role in body health and the result of ancient Greek medicine, especially theory. Galen on the relationship between exercise and health in the form of abnormalities in ancient Greece, the Middle Ages, then the Renaissance to the present day, can play an important and effective role of exercise and physical activity in maintaining body health and disease prevention in different eras of human life.

Wpływ medycyny antycznej na postrzeganie zdrowia i choroby przez św. Hieronima w świetle jego wybranych pism

Darrel Amundsen argues that there were thinkers in early Christianity who recognized the natural causality of disease, used or recommended to others the use of ancient physicians and their recommendations for preventive health, that is, they were influenced by ancient medicine. The purpose of this article is to show the influence of ancient medicine on St. Jerome's view of health and disease. An analysis of his rather abundant literary oeuvre makes it possible to note that especially his letters addressed to various persons show a considerable knowledge of the subject of ancient medicine, a familiarity with the works of the most eminent physicians of antiquity, and the use of the knowledge that arises from these works, above all, in giving advice of a medical nature. This paper discusses the following: Ancient medicine and its approach to illness and health; Jerome on his own illnesses and the illnesses and sufferings of others; knowledge of ancient medicine in the work of St. Jerome; Jerome's medical advice.

The two research dimensions of acupuncture and meteria medica: Ma Shi and Wu Kun

The relationship between acupuncture and meteria medica is an important issue for acupuncture and materia medica. In the past few centuries discusstion of the relationship has mainly focused on combining acupuncture and materia medica, and has therefore been less centred on a sufficient understanding of the genernal rationale of acupuncture and materia medica. Ma Shi and Wu Kun, two clinical physicians in the Ming Dynasty, systematically described the relationship between acupuncture and meteria medica in terms of their rationale and principles. They believed that acupuncture and meteria medica shared the same rationale, but they interpreted their ideas from the two ends of the relationship. The former gained insight into materia medica by drawing on acupuncture but the latter identified the nature of acupuncture by using materia medica. Their interpretation of the similarities between acupuncture and materia medica indicated that ancient physicians attempted to integrate acupuncture and materia medica clinically and theoretically and tried to minimise barriers between acupuncture and materia medica, which existed in those times. It is helpful to further understand the relationship between acupuncture and materia medica by examining the interpretation of Ma Shi and Wu Kun and developing reasonable and effective applications clinically.

Scope of Research and Advancement in Medical Astrology

Astrology and Medicine (Ayurveda) are both ancient and traditional form of knowledge in India. Both have their origin from Vedas. Astrology helps in predicting diseases through various combinations of planets in horoscope. In ancient times, Astrology had been an integral part of traditional medicine. There are certain diseases that have unknown etiology, which can be diagnosed on the basis of astrological factors. With the help of Astrology one can predict the time of onset of disease, course of disease, prognosis of disease and can treat them with the remedial measures prescribed in Astrology, along with the conventional medicine. In ancient times physicians were well versed with the knowledge of Astrology and use to treat patients with both modalities. This science remained ignored for last few decades. Nowadays a branch of Astrology called Medical Astrology is emerging among the Astrologers. Though, Astrologers have deep knowledge of planetary influence on body parts and can predict diseases, they are not trained in Human Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology etc., therefore it’s a need of time for physicians to gain knowledge of Medical Astrology and incorporate it with other modalities of treatment. Ayurveda believes in holistic approach towards wellbeing of mankind. There is a wide scope of research in Medical Astrology. There is also a scope for the development of tool like software, Apps etc. in the field of Medical Astrology. Allopath, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Astrology all have their limitations. Realizing the limitations of each of them and using them as complementary to each other and through this multidisciplinary approach towards health, with the help of new technologies, can open new avenues in health research and benefit the mankind

Phlegmatic diseases: A review

Unani system of medicine is based on the doctrine of humoral theory. According to this concept, each individual has a unique humoral composition, consisting of a mixture of all four humours with an ascendance of one of them, which functions as the representative of all humours in the body, and is referred to as having a sanguine, phlegmatic, choloric, and melancholic temperament. Phlegm is regarded as the best after humour blood because, in the absence of blood, balgham transforms into blood and is replenishing the organs. Phlegm has a cold-moist disposition and might be normal or pathological. Normal phlegm tastes sweet. According to Galen, regular sweet phlegm does not have a particular reservoir. Because it is remarkably similar to blood and is required for every organ in the body, hence transported in the blood. When the demeanor and taste of phlegm alter, it becomes aberrant and causes a variety of ailments. The etiology, pathological alteration, appearances, and symptoms of aberrant phlegm have been reported by ancient Unani physicians. The study attempts to build a knowledge of abnormal phlegm and its accompanying diseases based on the description found in the Unani literature.

Changes in Color of Urine in the Patients on Concoctive (Munzij) Therapy - An Observational Study

There are various causes of diseases but retention of morbid matter (mawad-e-fasida) in the body is one of the main causes and these morbid matters must be evacuated from the body to regain health. Concoction (nuḍj) and evacuation (tanqiya) are the two prime methods that ancient physicians described and recommended for the treatment of such diseases. Concoction is a process of moderation and modification in the viscosity of morbid matter to make them suitable for evacuation conveniently from their sites of lodgement. Several indices of concoction can be seen in the pulse, urine, and stool, which help to find out level and stages of concoction. Drugs, which appropriately alter the consistency of morbid matter to render them easily eliminable from the body, are known as concoctive (Munzijat). A total of 125 eligible participants, after getting their written informed consent, were enrolled in the study and 50 participants completed the study. They were advised to take a decoction of phlegmatic concoctive drugs once in the morning before breakfast for 15 days. Three urine samples of each patient were collected: before starting the concoctive therapy, at 5th day and 12th day. The changes in the color intensity of urine were observed by photoelectric colorimeter at a wavelength of 580 nm (yellow filter). The patients were advised to refrain from such diets and drugs which tend to change the color of urine during the entire study period. Statistical analysis was restricted to those patients who completed the study. The Mean ± SD of optical density at 0 day was 0.0872 ± 0.0284; while it was 0.0782 ± 0.0275 at 5th day which was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The Mean ± SD of optical density on 12th day was 0.0484 ± 0.0196 which was found statistically significant (p < 0.01) in comparison to baseline values. Concoction is a continuous process of medicatrix naturae (tabiyat) which is facilitated by humour specified concoctive drugs. The statistically significant change in urine color indicates the effect of concoctive drugs on body humours.

Aconite in Victorian Tropical Toxicology

Beginning as a symptomatic reading of Arthur Conan Doyle’s use of a fictional African root poison, the Radix pedis diaboli, in “The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot” (1907), and Indian poisoned darts in The Sign of the Four (1890), this article makes some general comments on the history of colonial tropical toxicology, focusing on the Indian aconite ( Aconitum ferox) and its roots ( Radix aconiti indica). Arguably, Doyle had aconite in his mind while creating the fictional African root poison. Victorian toxicologists, who were deeply interested in Indian poisons, created stereotypes of India as congeries of melancholy and culturally backward, industrially primitive, and morally corrupt societies. Doyle’s fictional poisons were influenced by a normative cultural bias that saw tropical pharmakons like aconite with an Orientalizing gaze. By shifting the geographical focus from Doyle’s “Ubangi country” to nineteenth-century India, I draw attention to a larger spectrum of tropical toxicology. The colonial zeal to taxonomize the properties and utility of tropical pharmakons obsessively revolved around their toxic uses as criminal weapons or accidental killers, while marginalizing the medicinal uses that the plant had been historically put to by ancient Indian physicians.

A modern history of neurosurgery and neurology in India: lessons for the world.

The compendia of medical knowledge of the great ancient Indian physicians Suśruta, Caraka, Jīvaka, and Vāgbhaṭa all attest to the practice of neurosurgery and neurology starting in the 1st millennium bce. Although a period of scientific stagnation ensued between the 12th and 20th centuries ce, Indian medical neurosciences once again flourished after India's independence from British rule in 1947. The pioneers of modern Indian neurosurgery, neurology, and their ancillary fields made numerous scientific and clinical discoveries, advancements, and innovations that proved influential on a global scale. Most importantly, the efforts of Indian neurosurgeons and neurologists were unified at the national level through the Neurological Society of India, which was established in 1951 and enabled an unprecedented degree of collaboration within the aforementioned medical specialties. The growth and success of the Indian model bears several lessons that can be applied to other nations in order to garner better collaboration among neurosurgeons, neurologists, and physicians in related fields. Here, the authors elaborate on the origins, growth, and development of neurosurgery and neurology in India and discuss their current state in order to glean valuable lessons on interdisciplinary collaboration, which forms the basis of the authors' proposal for the continued growth of societies dedicated to medical neurosciences across the world.

Expert symposium on severe acute hepatitis of unknown cause in children, a paradigm of exchanges and sharing between Chinese and Western medicine professionals.

Expert symposium on severe acute hepatitis of unknown cause in children, a paradigm of exchanges and sharing between Chinese and Western medicine professionals.

Historical Archive of Blood Pressure and Evolution of Hypertension

Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries of the circulatory system. The pulse is the feeling of the heartbeat in some arteries. Hypertension also known as high blood pressure, is the name given to a common medical condition in which the force exerted by the blood carried from the heart to the body against the walls of the arteries is high enough to cause health problems such as heart disease. Hypertension has been known since antiquity. Descriptions have been found in the Egyptian papyri, in ancient Chinese and Indian medical literature, as well as, in the work of ancient Greek physicians such as Galen and Hippocrates and Muslim scientists into Latin in Andalusia and Sicily. When we come to the 17th century, we see that blood circulation was experimentally proven by William Harvey. The important work of the 18th century, blood pressure was first recognized and first attempts were made to measure this pressure. The clinical sphygmomanometer that could measure systolic pressure over the radial artery is defined by Samuel von Basch in 1880. 20th century has witnessed changes in terminology, discovery of the measurement method that is recently used and emergence of pathogenetic definitions and by the middle of the twentieth century, checking BP by sphygmomanometer became part of the routine physical examination in hospitals and clinics. It was considered necessary to treat hypertension after the detrimental effects of high blood pressure on the body were noticed. So reserpine, hydralazine, ganglion blocking agents, peripheral adrenergic inhibitor, oral diuretics, beta blocker, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers drugs such as were synthesized. While the use of some drugs is limited due to their side effects, some are still used in the treatment of hypertension today. Additionally the potential for gene therapy in hypertension is one that will be watched with interest.The search for new antihypertensive drugs are still ongoing. The potential for gene therapy in hypertension is one that will be watched with interest.
 Keywords: History of blood pressure, pulse, hypertension, antihypertensive drugs

PHARMACOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON SHIBB-E-YAMANI (ALUM) – A REVIEW

Shibb-e-Yamani (Alum) commonly known as phitkari is a mineral origin drug. It has been used in Unani system of medicine from time immemorial. The earliest discussion of Alum can be traced back in the works of ancient Greek physician Dioscorides subsequently described by Arab physicians especially by Razi in detail. Alum is a colorless, transparent, odorless crystalline mass with a sweetish astringent taste having astringent, haemostatic, caustic, styptic, antispasmodic and antiseptic properties. It is therapeutically used in various diseases like leucorrhoea, haematuria, haemoptysis, menorrhagia and other haemorrhages. It is externally used in a number of diseases such as uterine and anal prolapse, bleeding from nose, gums, vagina and rectum, excessive sweating in armpits, groins and soles of the feet. This review is an attempt to compile and document information on different aspects of Shibb-e-Yamani (Alum) mentioned in classical Unani as well as contemporary literature.The mineral drug has been suggested to be taken up for further scientific investigations so as to validate the medicinal claims presented herein and to utilize its maximum therapeutic potential.

Yiyi Fuzi Baijiang Decoction Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis Partly by Regulating TLR4-Mediated PI3K/Akt and NF-κB Pathways.

Yiyi Fuzi Baijiang Decoction (YFBD), an ancient prescription developed by the ancient Chinese physician, Zhang Zhongjing, has shown remarkable effects in treating ulcerative colitis (UC). However, there are few studies on its mechanism. This study was designed to explore the potential mechanism of YFBD in treating UC. The principal ingredients of YFBD were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced mice and lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated RAW264.7 cells were used in the study. The body weight and disease activity index (DAI) of mice were recorded and analyzed for 10 days. After sacrifice, the colonic tissues were harvested. The colon length was measured, and the histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The levels of inflammatory cytokines in mice colons and RAW246.7 cells were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence. The effects of YFBD on the TLR4-mediated PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways were determined by western blot analysis. HPLC identified five compounds in YFBD: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, benzoylmesaconine, benzoyl aconitine, and quercetin. YFBD alleviated weight loss, colon shortening, and colonic histopathological lesion in mice. Meanwhile, it decreased the DAI and histological score of mice with UC. In addition, YFBD remarkably decreased the levels of interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the colons of DSS-induced mice and LPS-stimulated RAW246.7 cells. Furthermore, the expression of key proteins in TLR4-mediated PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways significantly decreased with YFBD treatment. In conclusion, YFBD had protective effects on mice with UC, which was in part related to its anti-inflammatory effects and downregulation of TLR4-mediated PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways.

The Association between Gut Microbiota and Osteoarthritis: Does the Disease Begin in the Gut?

Some say that all diseases begin in the gut. Interestingly, this concept is actually quite old, since it is attributed to the Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, who proposed the hypothesis nearly 2500 years ago. The continuous breakthroughs in modern medicine have transformed our classic understanding of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and human health. Although the gut microbiota (GMB) has proven to be a core component of human health under standard metabolic conditions, there is now also a strong link connecting the composition and function of the GMB to the development of numerous diseases, especially the ones of musculoskeletal nature. The symbiotic microbes that reside in the gastrointestinal tract are very sensitive to biochemical stimuli and may respond in many different ways depending on the nature of these biological signals. Certain variables such as nutrition and physical modulation can either enhance or disrupt the equilibrium between the various species of gut microbes. In fact, fat-rich diets can cause dysbiosis, which decreases the number of protective bacteria and compromises the integrity of the epithelial barrier in the GIT. Overgrowth of pathogenic microbes then release higher quantities of toxic metabolites into the circulatory system, especially the pro-inflammatory cytokines detected in osteoarthritis (OA), thereby promoting inflammation and the initiation of many disease processes throughout the body. Although many studies link OA with GMB perturbations, further research is still needed.

COMMENT: Bioethics in Unani medicine: Relevant quotes from Kamilussanah, a 10th century manuscript.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in its Alma Ata Declaration, 1978, focuses on the development, promotion and recognition of the traditional medical systems. India has taken steps in this direction by recognising Unani medicine with other traditional medical systems practised in India. Presently, Government is promoting integration of the recognised traditional medical systems with conventional medicine at the national level, as an interdisciplinary approach to providing better patient-centred care. Bioethics is a field of enquiry that examines ethical issues and dilemmas emerging from medical care and research involving humans. Although the term 'bioethics' was first mentioned in 1927 and later established as a distinct discipline in 1970s, the ethical principles in various contexts had been described centuries ago in the classical texts pertaining to traditional medical systems. Since ethics as a code of conduct was followed by ancient Unani physicians to safeguard the interests of humanity when providing healthcare, it was felt that a review of classical Unani manuscripts should be attempted to give an insight into codes of conduct described by various Unani physicians. In this paper, a 10th century book, "Kamilussanah" authored by Ali ibn Abbas al-Majoosi, also known as Majoosi (930-994 CE), is reviewed through the prism of ethics.

Concepts of Pathology from Ancient India-A Review of Sanskrit Literature

Contribution by ancient physicians from the Indian subcontinent towards the field of pathology has been largely unknown globally. This paper aims at providing a glimpse of the knowledge possessed by the Sanskrit scholars of ancient times (derived from Sanskrit texts written originally between 1500 B.C. and 1500 A.D) regarding the basis of disease and correlating their ideas with our present understanding of the concepts in Pathology. Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) was developed in India during the Vedic age (approximately 1500-500 BC). The early ayurvedic practitioners gave due importance to etiopathogenesis of diseases as a separate field called Nidana-shastra. (Nidāna means etiology or cause). Charaka emphasized that illness is caused by imbalance of the three principles (doshas) - vata, pitta and kapha, and that genetic defects are transmitted by either the sperm or the ovum. Sushruta depicted various modes of communicable disease transmission - physical contact, exhaled air, close contact, fomites etc, Madhava classified diseases based on pathogenesis (primary or secondary), etiology (endogenous or exogenous) and prognosis (curable, incurable, mild and acute). Chakrapani propounded that epidemics in a community occur due to deterioration of factors that are common to all who inhabit that community- namely air, water, soil, food, etc. Vagabhatta emphasized the importance of personal hygiene and proper nutrition for good health and elaborated the role of contaminated river water in several diseases. Agada tantra is the science of poisons and their antidotes which was founded by Kashyapa.

Agryasangraha – A Cluster of Drugs, Diet & Deeds (Primordial & Quintessentials) as Envisioned in Ayurveda

The term ‘Agrya’ refers to leading or primary and „Sangraha‟ refers to collection, Agryasangraha literally translated applies to mean collection of leading or principal substances. Agryasangraha in fact comprises of single drugs, food articles or regimen which are either wholesome or unwholesome in the given context. The expression „Agrya’ was first coined by Charaka the ancient Ayurveda physician of great eminence. There is a detailed discriprition of Agryas in Charak Samhita, written around 1000 BC that has pioneered this concept of Agryasangraha. The text has discussed the concept in sutrasthana [the first section of the text] where in a number of primordial materials [Agrya] have been mentioned. Among the other Ayurveda texts only Ashtanga Sangraha and Ashtang Hridaya written around 3rd / 7 th century AD have conceived the concept and have made few additions to the collection of Charaka. Ashtang sangraha has mentioned it in 13th Chapter of sutrasthana whereas Ashtang Hridaya has mentioned it in uttarasthana 40th Chapter.

Review Article: Scope of Ayurveda in Antenatal Care WSR to Garbhini Paricharya

The aim of reproductive and child health program of government of India is to get a healthy child from a healthy mother. The woman is considered as one of the most essential factors for the continuity of the human race. Garbhini paricharya (Antenatal Care) means all round care of the pregnant women. According to modern science, antenatal care is a systemic supervision of the pregnant women. It should be started from confirmation of pregnancy to the delivery. During Garbhavastha (pregnancy), she experiences lots of anatomical as well as physiological changes at the level of Dosha (body humors), Dhatu (Body tissues) and Mala (body waste products). During pregnancy women experiences features like edema, pallor, heartburn, vomiting, constipation, weakness, increase in weight and abdominal fundal height, etc such changes though physiological may turn in to pathology, so prevention of these must so she has to take a range of medicine. These changes are nothing but maternal adaptation to the increasing demand of the growing foetus. The Growth and development of foetus requires more nutrition from mother. This causes increased workload on the maternal Dhatus (Body tissues), so she needs extra nutrition during Garbhavastha (Pregnancy). Now a days due to change in life style i.e. sedentary and increased stress, strain due to this has increased incidence of pregnancy complications, abnormal labor that leads to surgical incidence in conducting delivery. Aim of Garbhini paricharya (Antenatal care) is to develop all the Dhatus (Body tissues) of the pregnant women and foetus and decreases adverse outcome of pregnancy. Ancient Indian physicians were very much aware of this fact and various diet recipes and regimens have elaborately mentioned in our Samhitas (Ayurvedic Texts) under the heading of Garbhini paricharya (Anti natal care). According to all acharyas the commonly used drugs in garbhini paricharya (Antenatal care) are brumhana (nourishing), Madhura (sweet), Snigdha (unctuous) these drugs help in achieving the good health, energy, strength, complexion of the child. Ayurveda has suggested a very good protocol Masanumasika Garbhini Paricharya (month wise antenatal care) i.e. Ahara (diet), Vihara (lifestyle), Vichara (psychological aspect) to be followed during pregnancy with respect to each month. This article describes an Ayurveda perspective of Ahara- Vihara (Diet and Regimen) W.S.R to Masanumasika Garbini Paricharya (month wise antenatal care).

Panchakarma Excerpts From Chikitsa Sangraha : A Book Review

Historically, Panchakarma had a pivotal role in treating patients of Kerala through the contributions of ancient physicians and their role in reforming Panchakarma to its current form is invaluable. Most of them couldn’t document their experiences as the social context was unfavourable at that time and the methods of treatment varied in different localities. There were scarcely any undertakings for giving them a unified form. Chikitsa sangraham is one of the few works that documented the treatment methods of that era and led to the consolidation of at least some of the regional changes in practicing the Panchakarma procedures.