The History of Healing..
From opium to alcohol, from leeches to rattle snake oil, let’s go through the history of healing. While there is no written record of how prehistoric men healed themselves, it is strongly argued that humans had the capability of self-healing or as we believe at Azkka, healing by virtue. Archeologists found that by the middle-ages, treatment for fractures and bacterial infections were discovered. Then on, from opium to alcohol, from leeches to rattle snake oil, the ancient healing had seen its share of quirks and quacks. Let us look at the history of healing throughout the ages and how it has led us to present-day medicine and healing. Healing in Stone Age Austrian microbiologists studying the mummy of an iceman of approximately 5,300 years ago, at the end of the Stone Age and beginning of the Copper Age, found lumps of fruit, which were later identified as birch fungus. Birch fungus has laxative properties, so it is believed that the ancient men knew how to heal some of the common gastrointestinal problems with the help of Mother Nature. Healing in Medieval Ages In the medieval age, doctors, also known as barber-surgeons, treated wounds and broken bones. They used egg whites or old wine to contain wound. C-section operations were made wherein babies were directly removed from a mother’s womb. They used mandragora plant to dull pain during operations. Arab dental specialists taught a thing or two to dentists, also known as dentatores at that time. As the years progressed, number of ailments increased and so did the range and depth of treatments. Healing in the 19th Century One of the most indispensable tool, or let’s say creature, used in healing in the 19th century were leeches. The saliva of a leech contains several components such as anaesthetic, thrombin inhibitor and a vasodilator. The leeches helped contain the wound, dilate blood vessels and thus help increase blood flow. This is helpful in operations as blood clots occur commonly during operations. Healing during the World War 2 If leeches sounds horrendous, consider this – during the World War 2, military doctors used maggots for disinfecting wounds and promoting healing. Maggots discharge an enzyme that works as a biomedical agent, ingesting bacteria and breaking them down within their intestines. As we see, we have come a long way from these treatments. At Azkka, we believe in healing by virtue. Medical treatments have a big role to play in healing, but good health starts with purity and virtuosity. Stay healthy, stay blessed – Azkka Greetings to you.