Here is the history of what different physicians used previously to treat what we call infection. For more see: https://explorable.com/history-of-antibiotics
During ancient times:
▪ Greeks and Indians used molds
and plants to treat infections.
▪ In Greece and Serbia, moldy bread
was traditionally used to treat
wounds and infections.
Warm soil was used in Russia by
peasants to cure infected wounds.
▪ Sumerian doctors gave patients beer
soup mixed with turtle shells
and snake skins.
▪ Babylonian doctors healed the eyes
sing a mixture of frog bile and sour
milk.
▪ The Sri Lankan army used oil cake
(sweetmeat) to serve both as
desiccant and antibacterial.
As the medical arts became more sophisticated and enriched and therapies more experimented the need for having a diagnosis became apparent. If we have a name for an illness, (a set of symptoms with a predictable progression) it becomes much easier to know its course and then employ the substance that works to limit the process and its progression. Thus began the naming of illnesses in order to classify symptomatology and provide direction for treatment. Some of these names were based on the location in the body along with a description. For example sinusitis (sinus-, sinus cavity + -itis, inflammation) means inflammation of sinus cavity. Similarly arthritis, (arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation). Some names are based on the geographical location where they are found like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Other names are based on the name of the doctor or doctors who observed and described the compilation of symptoms like Lou Gehrig’s Disease, aka Charcot disease; or Addison’s Disease. Some names are based on the disease process like sciatica, abdominal cramping. Some are based on the agent causing them like Cholera caused by bacterium Vibrio Cholerae. Others are vague and basically explain the symptoms like Hand-foot-mouth disease.
In our current medical age “Diagnosis and Management” is the way Allopathic physicians practice. Once someone’s headache is diagnosed as sinusitis an antibiotic is prescribed and the course of healing will be seven to ten days. If the headache is diagnosed as caused by a vision problem reading glasses will be prescribed. Headaches can also be related to dehydration, lack of sleep, too much caffeine, high or low blood pressure, ear infections, misalignment of jaw, tight neck muscles, or traumas to name a few. This is where taking the time to acquire a thorough history is of paramount importance.
Homeopathy uses a similar concept of treating the symptomatology of an illness. The difference is in the detail of the symptoms. Allow me to explain further.
Continued on page 70
src: wikimedia.org
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