

The surge in popularity of Ancient Traditional medicine and therapies in the West signifies a return to a more naturalistic approach to healthcare.
Over the past decade, this shift has sparked one of the most dynamic developments in the range of healthcare options available.
Modern medicine is being challenged. Historically, it has overlooked the idea that disease is unique to each sufferer and that prevention is better than cure. Yet, ancient healing practitioners understood this fundamental truth profoundly.
Hippocrates, born around 460 BC and often regarded as the father of modern medicine, acknowledged that part of his medical knowledge was derived from ancient Egyptian medicine. His training at the temple of Imhotep in Memphis introduced him to the Law of Contraries, a principle stating that illness should be treated with substances causing opposite effects to the symptoms. For instance, a remedy known to induce constipation would be used to treat diarrhoea.
EGYPTIAN MEDICAL PRACTICES
In ancient Egypt, health prescriptions were typically issued by a Priest or Priestess. Many temples included a sanatorium where the High Priest performed “miraculous healings” after offering sacrifices to the Gods. Purification rituals, which involved bathing, shaving body hair, and dietary restrictions against raw fish and certain “unclean” animals, were commonplace. The Egyptians also used fragrant oils for their healing properties, employing aromatic baths, massages, and inhalations to treat various ailments. Cleopatra, known for her seductive powers, mastered the art of aromatherapy, using aromatic herbs and fragrances to entice her lovers.
TREATMENTS FOR POISONOUS BITES AND DREAM ANALYSIS
Treatments for snake and scorpion bites—common hazards in Egypt—often involved magicians who used spells and amulets to protect their patients. Physicians also employed dream analysis to uncover the underlying causes of chronic diseases.
SURGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN ANCIENT EGYPT
Egyptian healthcare practitioners meticulously recorded their patients’ symptoms and the remedies employed. They successfully treated head injuries by opening the skull to relieve pressure and used mineral cement to fill teeth. Abscesses in the mouth were drained by drilling into the jaw, and night blindness was treated with animal liver, a practice still used today.
The foundation of Chinese medicine is detailed in the “Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic,” a dialogue between the Yellow Emperor and his minister Qi Bo, compiled in the first century. Chinese physicians assess disharmony in a patient's lifestyle before prescribing remedies, tailored to each individual's unique needs. Central to Chinese philosophy is “Chi” or life force, a blend of heavenly and earthly influences, which sustains human beings and animals alike. Chi governs health at the cellular level and controls every aspect of the human body. It is replenished by the air we breathe and the food we eat. Physical or emotional trauma can disrupt the flow of Chi, and Chinese medicine aims to restore its smooth flow using herbal remedies and acupuncture.
AYURVEDA: ANCIENT INDIAN HEALING
The history of Indian medicine dates back 5000 years to the self-realized rishis or seers of truth. Ayurveda, or the science of life, evolved from their insights into the close relationship between humans and the universe. Like Chinese philosophy, Ayurveda recognises that cosmic energy manifests in all things. It teaches that humans are a microcosm of the universe—a network of intelligence within an energetic universe, constantly interacting with our environment through breathing, eating, thinking, and feeling.
HOMEOPATHY AND THE PRINCIPLE OF LIKE CURES LIKE
Homeopathy, explored later by Samuel Christian Hahnemann around 1800, is based on the principle of “like cures like.” Highly dilute remedies, believed to operate at an atomic level, stimulate the body's own healing processes.
THE RESURGENCE OF NATURAL HEALING
We are on the cusp of a new era in healthcare, witnessing a resurgence in natural healing driven by a dissatisfaction with conventional methods. This shift may stem from a deep-seated, intuitive understanding that we are inherently connected to nature and our environment. The human body often requires just a gentle nudge to realign, re-energize, and heal itself, returning to a state of natural health.
Editor's note: Here is an article on the Pioneer Imhotep Imhotep – ‘one who comes in peace’
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