Ancient African Medicine
--With a Concentration on Ancient Egypt--
Ji Hee Kim
Professor Tchaiko Kwayana
English 101
11/2/13
Ji Hee Kim
Professor Tchaiko Kwayana
English 101
11/2/13
Ancient African Medicine
Human civilization started in Africa. This may sound
incredible but it is nevertheless true, despite the fact that it has
not been written in any textbooks. At least, they were not in
any textbooks I was educated with. They developed the first
tools, as well as other aspects of human civilization such as
astronomy, jewelry, fishing, mathematics, crops, art, use of
pigments, cutting and other pointed instruments and animal
domestication. Africa flourished in two Golden Ages before the
coming of the European: one lasted from “the birth of man and the
development of organized societies”(Clarke) to 1700 B.C.; the other, from the Egyptians’
Eighteenth Dynasty to Cleopatra’s death(Clarke). Some of the oldest tools today were dug up in
Africa, and it is reported that Africans were the first ones to discover fire—the most important
discovery of all, for without fire humans would have died already long ago. Africa is also the
place from where our human ancestors originated. Therefore, it would not be wrong for us to say
that Africa is the mother of all modern civilizations. It has been proven by genetics, supported by
science, and dug up by archaeologists. Africa was not always the way it is now. At first, it, along
with the other 6 continents made up a huge, single landmass called Pangea. Then, as the tectonic
plate moved, and Pangea slowly split apart until it became the 7 continents we now have today.
Long ago, Africans traveled these continents in at least three waves(Barclay) through three
different routes, and in doing so, spread their wisdom and inventions. Proof of their travel exists
in the form of stone tools, food remains, architecture, human skeletons, and their own
descendents all over the world. Sadly, through the passage of time we have lost much knowledge
of the past, including past medical practices.
Map of Africahttp://www.art.com/products/p15440252-sa-i3744997/africa-map-1922-with-portions-of-europe-and-asia.htm
http://fc.codmanacademy.org/branches/geographya/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=5
Contrary to popular belief, Africans, and in particular Egyptians, were the first to develop
an advanced medical system. Nowadays, we credit most of these advances to Europeans or
Greeks; however, before these cultures had even started developing medical procedures, the
Egyptians were practicing medicine. I say Egyptians in particular because they possess one of
the more well-documented ancient civilizations. Today, doctors take the Hippocratic oath, based
on the beliefs of Hippocrates, the “father of medicine”, on what a physician should be and how
he should act, but the actual person deserving of the title, “father
of medicine”, would be Imhotep, the first Egyptian physician.
After all, he did live 2000 years before Hippocrates. In fact,
Imhotep was the one who established Per Ankh, or the House of
Life—the equivalent to a present day hospital—and developed
many of the medical tools we use even to this day (Ashra). On a
certain wall in Egypt from ancient times, is a carving of Imhotep
and various medical tools they used at the time. Unfortunately, the
block featuring Imhotep’s head on it is missing, but along the rest
of the wall we can spot a scissor, a needle, a scale, and a prescription—all of which should sound
very familiar to anyone of the 21st century. Yet despite this
incontrovertible proof, as well as other evidence, one wonders why
we do not call Egyptian civilization the birthplace of medicine. It is
also interesting to note how the Greek god of medicine is named
Asklepios (Atsma)—the Kemetic name for Imhotep (Ashra). The
similarities between their religions and names give credence to the http://blog.watershed.net/2012/08/10/nutrition-experts-from-the-medical-world-run-for-your-lives/
Ankhhttp://www.energyenhancement.org/Ankh%20Symbol1.jpg
theory that the Greeks had stolen and adopted Egyptian culture, only to tweak it to suit
themselves.
Another remnant from Egyptian civilization used in modern times is the famous medical
symbol, Rx (Kwesi). This symbol originated from the eye symbol of Horus, an Egyptian deity of
many forms and titles, the most common being that of the lord of the sky or sun (Dunn). When
one places the images side by side, a distinct resemblance can be seen between the two.
The eye of Horus is on the medical wall of Imhotep as well. The incorporation of gods in
medicine displays the manner in which the Egyptians practiced medicine. Nor were they alone in
this. It was common for many Africans to use both magic and medical treatment in what they
called “medicine”. Sometimes the roles were divided. One person administered magic, while
another acted as the physician, while in other cases, the priest and physician may be the one and
the same (one person acted as both priest and doctor). Many doctors at the time doubled as
priests or scribes and possessed ecclesiastical as well as lay titles such as “chief doctor and scribe
of the word of god”(Strouhal). The priest would pray to gods, and drive out or destroy the
“spirits” that possessed the patient (in reality, illnesses of which they did not know the causes)
using rituals, spells, incantations, talismans and amulets. While Egyptians were skilled at
medicine, they were inept at treating ailments where the cause was not externally visible, such as
Eye of Horus, Symbol Rxhttp://www.resurrectisis.org/Number0.htm
internal ailments and injuries. The Egyptians believed physical medicines, such as the use of
herbs, only helped decrease the pain, while magic was the actual cure. Though people of today
would consider this irrational, nevertheless, much of their cures worked as they used both
physical and spiritual medicine in concert. “Magic is effective together with medicine. Medicine
is effective together with magic”(Ebers papyrus).
Methods of physical treatment were wide and varied.
Though the Egyptians are
primarily known for their
surgical techniques, it was
rare for them to utilize
them in actual treatment.
When they did, it tended to consist of trepanation and
amputation. It was more of a last resort, as there was less
chance of survivors. Instead, they tended to utilize
massaging, splinting, and therapeutic herbs and foods;
however, when they did perform surgery they had more
success than one might expect. There exist records of 10
cases of trepanned skulls carried out on living patients, all of whom survived the trepanning for
long periods of time (Strouhal). Through their many conquests, Egyptians amassed a vast
repertoire of herbs, and were the first to recognize many of these herbs’ properties (White).
Among them are castor oil, cumin, dill, and coriander, as well as many other unrecognizable
herbs (due to difference in names). With these, Egyptians made mixtures of all kinds for most
illnesses one might be able to think of and more—even for baldness and infertility. Some
mixtures contained rather exotic elements, ranging from animals’ body organs to urine and feces
and were ineffective; however, there were many mixtures that were.
Egyptian medicine was broad and specialized. Physicians
concentrated on treating illnesses regarding one area of the body
for the most part, so they had different doctors for different parts
Statue of the Goddess Tawarethttp://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_04.2.365.jpg
Corianderhttp://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2008/10/p_SIP912623.jpg
Trepanned skullhttp://www.alef.net/ALEFBodyArt/Trepanning/TrepannedSkull01.Gif
Wired teethhttp://ancientpeoples.tumblr.com/post/25377007790/treatment-methods-for-oral-and-dental-ailments-in
of the body. “The practice of medicine is very specialized among them. Each physician treats
just one disease. The country is full of physicians, some treat the eye, some the teeth, some of
what belongs to the abdomen, and others internal diseases”(Hierodotus, Histories 2, 84).
Interestingly enough, there is not much evidence supporting the existence of Egyptian dentists,
despite all the specialization. In total, there are only 6 references to dentistry: 5 from Old
Kingdom and 1 in the 26th dynasty. Prescriptions existed for disinfectants, astringents, and mild
analgesics, but there was no dental surgery. The closest they ever got to it was anchoring loose
teeth by fastening the loose tooth to a stable one with gold or silver wire. Of this, there are only 5
recorded examples that remain (Strouhal). Many Egyptians had bad teeth, so bad they damaged
people’s health.
Physicians learnt the skills and knowledge of their professions at the Houses of Life. As
apprentices at the House of Life, they gained practical experience, but primarily had to study
what was already written—medical texts written by previous doctors. These medical texts tended
to describe internal anatomy based on analogy with
human bodies, and had names for the internal
organs well-known from butchery and cooking.
Contrary to what is widely regarded as fact,
embalming and surgery were two completely
unrelated fields. The embalming procedure had
nothing in common with medical
autopsies(Strouhal). The medical texts not only served as a “fount of knowledge” (Strouhal), but
also as “insurance against possible failure”(Strouhal). Physicians had to follow a certain code in
practicing their profession similar to that of the Hippocratic Oath and supporting this, laws which
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/mj08/nlm_update_kotzin/graphics/image076.gif
punished them if they did not follow the code. These laws also helped to protect doctors and
resemble our present-day malpractice laws. Diodorus, a Greek historian, describes the codes and
laws which bind Egyptian physicians: “[They] administer their treatments in accordance with a
written law which was composed in ancient times by many famous physicians…If they follow
the rules of this law as they read them in the sacred book and yet are unable to save their patient,
they are absolved from any charge; but if they go contrary to the law’s prescriptions they must
submit to a trial with death as the penalty” (Diodorus).
All in all, these many similarities in laws, tools, and knowledge between Ancient Egypt
and Ancient Greece, as well as the similarities between Ancient Egypt and the present-day,
underlines Africa’s title of the “Mother of Civilization” and prove that, contrary to what is
widely held as fact, most of our knowledge originated from Africa—not Greece, or any other
ancient civilization.
Works Cited
Atsma, Aaron J. “Asklepios”. Theoi Greek Mythology. Theoi Project. 2000-2011.Web. 10 Oct.
2013. < http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/Asklepios.html>
Barklay, Eliza. “Ancient Man and his First Civilizations”. National Geographic News. Web. 2
Nov.2013.
<http://realhistoryww.com/world_history/ancient/Misc/Ancient_American_affinities/
American_affinities.htm>
Clarke, John Henrik. “Africa: The Passing of the Golden Ages”. National Black United Front.
May. 1988. Web. 2 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.nbufront.org/MastersMuseums/JHClarke/ArticlesEssays/
PassingOfGoldenAge.html>
Diodorus. Historical Library.
Dunn, Jimmy. “Horus, the God of Kings in Ancient Egypt”. Tour Egypt. 1996-2013. Web. 10
Oct. 2013. <http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/horus.htm>
Gay, Robins. “Women in Ancient Egypt”. Women’s Roles in Ancient Civilizations-A Reference
Guide. Ed. Bella Vivante. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press. 1999. 178-9. Print.
Hierodotus. “Histories 2”.
Kwesi, Ashra. “Ashra Kwesi Explains Ancient African Medical Instruments at the Per Ankh-
Kemet(Egypt)”. Youtube. Youtube, 26 Jan. 2009. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.
Osaze, Jabari. “Ancient Egypt (Kemet): Birthplace of Medicine”. Youtube. Youtube, 22 Oct.
2011. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.
Strouhal, Eugen. "Life of the Ancient Egyptians". Ancient Egyptian Civilization. Ed. Brenda
Stalcup. Trans. Deryck Viney. Opus Publishing Ltd. 1992. 99-109. Print.
White, John Manchip. Ancient Egypt: It's Culture and History. 1st ed. Dover Publications. 1970.
Print.