The curious use of analgesics in the past

Through time, the history has been unraveling the way of life of our ancestors, their customs and beliefs , among them, the way they fought pain Physically using different types of analgesics, which helped them deal with their ailments.

Various anthropological investigations have shown that ancient cultures developed methods to fight against the ailments of their bodies In fact, through these studies it was discovered that they coped with different pathologies ranging from dental abscesses to open fractures.

The opium poppy goddess and Memphis stone in Egypt

The goddess opium poppy represented in broad strokes the effects of opium , considered a gift from the gods for its sedative and analgesic effects.The goddess carries in her crown part of this seed, representing the typical cuts that are made for obtaining n of the juice of this substance.

The curious use of analgesics in the past

In addition to controlling pain, it is known that the Egyptians used the opium poppy so that children would not cry at night and let their parents sleep.In this sense, it can be said that in a low relief you can see a daughter of Nefertiti, offering her husband, Semenkene , a flower of mandragora.

On the other hand, the Memphis stone was used by Egyptian doctors as an anesthetic: they reduced it to dust and used it on the sore area.Specialists point out that this was some kind of asphalt that, when burned , produced some soporiferous vapors, while others ensure that it gave off carbonic anhydride.

Vegetable substances in Mesopotamia

Older uses point to plant substances with property Anesthetics, such as mandragora, belladonna, cannabis, opium or coca .

The Assyrians used a rather peculiar method: they compressed the Carotid at the neck level causing cerebral ischemia, which achieved a comatose state that doctors took advantage of to perform the intervention.

The effects of wine in India

The Hindus they used the wine as relaxing and sedative.

The curious use of analgesics in the past

In fact, it is said that this technique immobilized patients to undergo surgical intervention.

Legendary surgeons in China

According to the legend, around 300 BC, Pien Chiao used a narcotic drink to numb two individuals and operate them from the heart.Similarly, Hua Tho, was another surgeon who got to prepare a fairly effective sedative which I call «Mario» with which he plunged his patients into a rather deep sleep, however, this fact also led him to death when he intended to operate the rebel Kuan Yun , who suffered from terrible headaches. Kuan I think it could be a perfect plan to be eliminated, and so I send the surgeon to run immediately.

Black Eleboro in Greece

In Greek mythology is narrated as Melampo, king of Argolia, I cure the daughters of the King Proetos of his madness.To do this, black eleboro was used that was supplied to the girls provoking them «forgetting».Moreover, Dioscorides recommended this plant for the treatment of odontalgia.

The curious use of analgesics in the past

The Greeks also went to the temple of Asclepius in the hope that if they slept there, the god of medicine would ease their pain.

Pliny plants in Rome

The Romans used the list of Pliny plants for analgesic purposes, in addition to using rat excrement ash or earthworms boiled in oil, mainly for toothache or sore ear.

Herbal infusion in the Aztec and Mayan civilizations

The Aztecs used the Stronger and braver prisoner, who was given a special treatment by giving a rather ostentatious dress and fed him exquisitely, then forced him to ingest a plant-based analgesic infusion, then lead him to the tip of the Templo Mayor where he was tied of feet and hands on the stone of the sacrifices arching the torso so that in this way the thorax was expanded and with a single movement a laparotomy was carried out: taking out the heart, the liver and the lungs.

The curious use of analgesics in the past

As for the Mayans, they pierced the penis with the prick of a maguey in honor of the gods, or the ones were extracted from the prisoners in order to avoid their participation in another warlike conflict.

It is like that as throughout the years it has been possible to unravel the techniques of our ancestors to fight with the ailments in different parts of his body using infusions, plants and drugs.

Images: Andrea Pravettoni, Li Taip, Paul Simpson, Omar Eduardo

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