Greek+Medicine

= = toc =**Greek Medicine**= While Greek Medicine particularly from the 5th century B.C onwards, increasingly used scientific method to develop cures, there still however the ancient Greeks (Hellenic) made important discoveries about the human body and health, so by the sixth century BC, medicinal practices focused largely on a more clinical approach involving observation. Their discoveries were made by firstly studying the human anatomy using dissection and vivisection, finding ways to heal using things such as plants and herbs, then finally practicing surgery on the human body using different instruments. Before the scientific method developed, most Greeks and Romans still saw medicine as a religion, and believed that superstitions, evil spirits and punishments caused illness from the gods. The Romans adopted methods of greek medicine and followed the famous greek philosopher Hippocrates. The best-known ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, made several important medical discoveries in Ancient Greece. He is revered as the 'Father of Medicine'. He was the first man to make medicine a profession and to see medicine as a science and not a religion. Hippocrates devised an oath, which every new doctor still swears to this day. = ****Origin**** = In Ancient Greece, medicine was considered to be a religion. Medicine and religion had one goal and that goal was to protect individuals from some kind of evil forces. Before the scientific method developed people in Ancient Greece considered medicine as a religion. The people of Greece believed that evil spirits, and superstitions caused people to become ill (Bendick 65). Religion and medicine were found to be in sanctuaries and temples, and the most famous temple was located at Epidaurus . At Epidaurus the Asclepius temple was located there, where sick people went to the temple to become cured of their illness. Asclepius was known as the god of healing. Asclepius usually had a snake around him this is how he was distinguished in the art of healing. His attribute still survives to this day as the symbol of the modern medical profession. At these temples there are shrines that are proven to help the patients. The patient is expected to sleep over night in the temple, and the god is suppose to visit the patient in the dream where the god will help the patient recover. Treatments included drug-induced sleep, bath treatments, and dietary changes. In many societies the roles of doctors and priests considered to be the same. Later, the people of Ancient Greece would soon discover that medicine and religion were separate from each other.

**Hippocrates**
Greek medicine first started by the Greek Philosopher Hippocrates in the 5th century B.C. and later expanded to other physicians (Longrigg 67). Hippocrates was known as the Great ancient Greek physician. Hippocrates enhanced medical intelligence in different areas of medicine such as causes of disease, treatment and other areas in which have helped our medical education to this present day. He believed that diseases were caused naturally. He conducted many experiments on the human body to discov er that diseases were indeed caused naturally. He was known to be the first physician to relate medicine to science and to be separate from religion (Pittman 153). Hippocrates was known to free medicine, religion and any other superstition related to medicine. He believed that experience and mind with speech are the criteria of the knowledge. According to Hippocrates, the diseases are not due to the "wrath of God", but to natural causes which bring disturbances in the function of the organism (Dawson 84). He was set against any idea of sacerdotalism, the belief that priests can act as mediators between God and human beings, and also opposed the spirit of trade-unionism in medicine (Pittman 157). Hippocrates was concerned with the physician's duties, not the "rights". This brought on the legacy of Hippocrates: The Hippocratic Oath.

**Hippocratic Oath**
The Hippocratic Oath was created by the Father of medicine. The Hippocratic Oath is a medical document that is required by all physicians to swear upon ethical codes. Such principles enforce doctors to perform in a way that follows the basic guidelines of modern society. The oath was the example for medical etiquette for centuries and endures in a modified form today. It is the basis for graduates of medical schools and the health professions all over the world.The Hippocratic Oath is against suicide and abortion, which were in consonance with the principles of the Christian Church. Suicide was not proscribed by ancient religions, mostly because they did not know of any eternal punishment for those who had ended their own lives. It is also against surgical procedures and is against the shedding of blood. The blood was where the soul was thought to reside. The second half of the Hippocratic Oath is the ethical half and is inconsistent with the principles and practices of Hippocrates. The Hippocratic Oath is still used today in modern form where medical students use it.

“I swear by Apollo the Physician, and by Asclepius and Hygeia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill, according to my ability and judgement this oath and this covenant: To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art, if they desire to learn it, without fee and covenant, to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and the sons of him who has instructed me and to his pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but to no one else. I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgement; I will keep them from harm and injustice. I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly, I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness will I guard my life and my art. I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from the stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work. Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief, and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves. What I may see or hear in the course of treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about. If I fulfill this Oath, and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy my life and my art, being honored with fame among all men, and at all times. If I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot” (King 76).

**The Four Humors**
The Greeks considered the mind and body as one. They believed that if the mind can be cured then the body would be cured also. Hippocrates came up with the theory known as the 4 humors. Blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. Hippocrates believed that these four parts were suppose to remain in the same spot or else a disease would occur (Greek 65). Blood was said to come from the heart, phlegm from the brain, yellow bile from the liver, and the black bile from the spleen. The four humors are said to have psychological effects as well as physical effects. These four humors are capable of affecting the mind and the body. Blood is known to have nutrition and growth, and is known promote optimism. The phlegm is known as fluids in the body, and is known as sensitivity. The yellow bile has to do with the digestive system, and is known as courage and ambition. The black bile, is known as the solid and structural connective tissues of the body and is known as realism and pragmatism. To cure diseases, doctors would try to increase the opposite humor connected with the disease the patient had. If a disease like a fever occurred, which was a hot, dry disease caused by too much yellow bile, the doctor would try to increase the opposite fluid, phlegm by prescribing cold baths. If this did not work, doctors would then prescribe drugs, such as potent poisons to purge the body of the oppressive humor. In the theory of the four elements it was said that the body was composed of four elements: fire, air, earth, and water.

**Roman Medicine**
The early Romans didn’t rely on doctors, their prescription for a healthy life was a simple diet that included wholesome food, wonderful hygiene, and exercise. As the Roman empire started to grow and become more complex the demand for doctors started to increase and the Romans soon realized that they were eager for physicians. The most famous and known doctors in Rome were known as the greek doctors Galen and Dioscorides. Galen was considered to be the most important physician after Hippocrates (King 65). Galen is respected for his contributions to anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology and for his incorporation of philosophy, logic, and experiment with medicine. Dioscorides was passionate about medicinal herbs, he wrote a book called “materia medica” which was the basis for pharmaceutical and herbal writing. He checked every drug clinically and tested them out. This linked the science of pharmacy and the science of medicine together. The Romans used both scientific and mythological methods in their medicine, by adopting the methods of Greek medicine; the Romans obtained a solid foundation (Hippocrates 123). The Romans followed Hippocrates, who separated the study of medicine from philosophy.The Romans adapted the Hippocratic method and combined it with mythical and religious views. The Romans used Greek methods, and also included prayers and offerings to the gods. Unlike today, the Ancient Roman doctors received no respect, because they were considered to be fraudulent ( Dawson 45). This reputation was caused by the doctors magical tricks, and the lack of useful treatments. The job required minimal training, as they only had to apprentice with their senior. Thus, many free slaves and people who had failed at everything else filled this profession. Some did try to find new remedies; however, others used medicine to con people. Public surgeries were done to attract audiences as an advertisement. Doctors would even become beauticians providing perfumes, cosmetics, and even hairdressing.

**Bibliography**
Dawson, Ian. Greek and Roman Medicine. N.p.: n.p., 2005.

Hippocrates. Hippocrates on Ancient Medicine. N.p.: n.p., 2005.

King, Helen. Greek and Roman Medicine. N.p.: n.p., 2001.

Lloyd, G.E.R. In the Grip of Disease: Studies in the Greek Imagination. N.p.: n.p., 1998.

Longrigg, James. Greek Medicine: From the Heroic to the Hellenistic Age a Source Book. N.p.: n.p., 1998.

Pitman, Vicki. The Nature of the Whole: Holism in Ancient Greek and Indian Medicine. N.p.: n.p., 2006.

"House of the Adonide or of Queen Carolina; Apollo, Chiron, Hippocrates" Erich Lessing Culture and Fine Arts, Pompeii.

"Percincts of Temple of Ascelepius" Hartill Art Associates Inc, Spain Emporion (Ampurias)