History of Medicine in Ancient Greek

The classic period of Greek medicine was the year 460-136 BC. The Greeks enjoyed the reputation the civilizers of the ancient old. They taught men to think in terms of “Why?” And “How?”. And early leader in Greek Medicine was Aesculapius, (1200 BC) . Aseculatius bore to daughters/ Hygia and Panasia. The medical historian Douglas Guthrie has reminded us of the legend that Hygia was worshiped as the Goddess of Health and Panasia as the Goddess of Medicine. Panasia and Hygia gave rise to dynasties of healers (Curative medicine) and hygienists ( Preventive Medicine) with different philosophies. Thus, the dichotomy between curative medicine and preventive medicine began early and we know it remains true today. Hygia (Prevention) is act present fashionable among the intellectuals. But Panasia( Cure) gets the cash Aesculapius is still cherished in medical circles- his staff, entwined by a serpent continues to be the symbol of medicine.

By far the greatest physician in Greek medicine was Hippocrates (460-370BC) which often called the father of medicine. He was born on the little Island of Cos, in the Aegean sea, about 460 BC. He studied and classified diseases based on observation and reasoning he challenged the tradition of magic in medicine and initiated a radically new approach to medicine i.e., application of clinical methods in medicine. Hippocrates lectures and writing, as compiled letter by Alexandrian scholars into the “ Corpus Hippocraticum” in compassed all branches of medicines. This 72-volume work contains the first scientific clinical case histories. Some of the saying of Hippocrates letter became favorites with physicians, such as; “Life is short, the art (of medicine) long. Opportunity fleeting, experience treacherous and Judgement difficult”, and “ where there is love for mankind, there is love for the art of healing”. His famous oath, the “ Hippocratic oath “has become the key stone medical ethics. It sets a high moral standard for the medical profession and demands absolute integrity of doctors. Hippocrates will always be regarded as one of the masters of the medical art.

Hippocrates was also an Epidemiologist. Since, he distinguished between diseases which were epidemic and those which were endemic, he was , in fact, the first true epidemiologist. He was constantly seeking the causes of diseases. He studied such things as climate, water, clothing, Diet, habits of eating and drinking and the effect they had in producing diseases. His book “Airs, water and places” is considered a treatise on social medicine and hygiene Hippocratic concept of health and diseases stressed the relation between man and his environment. In short, the Greeks gave a new directions to medical thought. They rejected the supernatural theories diseases and looked upon diseases as a natural process, not a visitation form good of immolation. The Greeks believed that matter was made up of four elements- earth,air, fire and water.These elements had the corresponding qualities of being cold, dry, hot and moist and were represented in the body by the four humors- phlegm, yellow bile, blood and black bile- similar to the “ Tridosha theory’ in Ayurbeda. The Greeks postulated that health prevailed when the four humors were in equilibrium and when the balance was disturbed, diseases was the result. The Human body was assumed to have powers of restoration of humoral equilibrium, and it was the physicians primary role to assist in this healing process. While the humoral theory of Hippocrates was based on incorrect foundations, the concept of the innate capacity of the body of responding to disturbances in the equilibrium that constitutes health is highly relevant to modern medicine. Outstanding amongst post-Hipporatic medical centre was Alexanderia’s huge museum the first University in the world which sheltered a library containing over 70000 books. To this house of learning theme eminent men. Between 300BC and 30 Bc, thousands of pupils matriculated in the schools of Alexanderia, which replaced Athens as the world’s centre of learning. In short, the Hippocratic school inspired in turn the Alexanderia school and the Arabo-Persian medicine . The Hippocratic School changed the destiny of medicine by separating it from magic and raising it to the status of a science. They had scientific method, although not scientific knowledge. The glorious greek civilization feel into decay and was succeeded by the roman civilization




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