Mesopotamian Medicine
Arturo Castiglioni in A History of Medicine, 2019
The historical edifice, especially as regards medicine, is far from perfect; but at least it corresponds to the truth in its principal lines. All memory of these great civilizations that have been engulfed by the march of time was already lost in the periods that followed after. About the year 2000 b.c. the land between the Euphrates and the Tigris represented the centre of Mediterranean civilization. At this time, characterized by a firm and rigid administration of civil and military powers and governed by a powerful monarchy, medicine was entirely in the hands of a priestly cast. In Babylonia and in Assyria the practice of medicine was thus confided to a special caste, as is also shown by some seals of physicians that have been preserved. Certainly Babylonian medicine represents a closed system, organically constructed on concepts that were partly erroneous, but justified by the environmental conditions in which it arose.
Arabian Medicine
Arturo Castiglioni in A History of Medicine, 2019
Rigidified in a system of formulas and dominated by mysticism, medicine was forced to exist in a state of scholastic dogmatism, in which it is difficult to find any animating ideas. Arabian medicine is in reality formed by various diverse currents which exercised their predominating influences according to the times and places in which they developed. Only a few of the writers and teachers of so-called Arabian medicine were native Arabs. The Arabs soon came into contact with Oriental medicine, and especially with the schools of Alexandria and of Syria. In the Nestorian schools of Edessa and Nisibis, illustrious masters taught medicine, translating the ancient Greek classics into Syrian and Persian. The Arab dominion of lower Spain also developed a Moorish medicine that included famous names. The teaching of medicine and the organization of sanitary services showed rapid and marked progress.
Patient narratives: Personalized medicine in the field
Priya Hays in Advancing Healthcare Through Personalized Medicine, 2017
This chapter underscores the need for personalized medicine to be implemented into the clinic. Personalized medicine has the potential to have great positive impact on patient care, as reflected in the story of Alexis and Noah Beery, twin daughter and son of Joseph and Retta Beery, born on August 16, 1996. Retta Beery articulately recounts the profound story of the discovery, through the tools of personalized medicine, of a mutation that the twins possessed and a journey that was filled with trials and tribulations, which their parents went through to diagnose the twins' unknown disorder. Personalized medicine's main impact will be on better patient care, as also shown by the example of Hunter Labs, a laboratory devoted to personalized medicine tests in Campbell, California. Chris Riedel, CEO of Hunter Labs, notes many instances where his lab has demonstrated personalized medicine's profound influence on patient care.
Discrepancy between electronic medicine list, pharmacy delivery and patient reported medicine intake in Greenland
Published in International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 2021
ABSTRACT Medicine use is a cornerstone in the treatment of many conditions, but ill-use has the potential to harm the patient. Thus, accurate medication information is critical for patient care and safety. To investigate the association between participants’ reporting of using medicine daily, medicine list on Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and number of medicines handed out. Thirty-seven elderly Greenlanders were included, representing three different locations in Greenland. They were interviewed on daily medicine intake. Medicine list and pharmacy delivery were retrieved from the EMR. The difference between the number of drugs recorded in the EMR and the number delivered by pharmacy increased with number of drugs prescribed (p<0.0001). Thirty participants claimed that they were on daily medicine, and the EMR was in accordance with the delivered recorded by the pharmacy in just five participants. Eight had no registered medicine delivery. Four of seven, who claimed not being on daily medicine, were on daily medicine according to EMR. We found distinct discrepancies between EMR medicine list, medicine delivery by pharmacy and patient self-reported medicine use.
Why do people use different forms of complementary medicine? Multivariate associations between treatment and illness beliefs and complementary medicine use
Published in Psychology & Health, 2006
Felicity L. Bishop, Lucy Yardley, George T. Lewith
This study investigated associations between complementary medicine use and treatment and illness beliefs. Previously validated questionnaire measures of treatment beliefs, illness beliefs, and complementary medicine use were presented and advertised online. Completed questionnaires were received from 247 participants. Logistic regression analysis showed that demographic characteristics, treatment beliefs, and illness beliefs accounted for approximately 36% of the variance in complementary medicine use. Separate analyses were conducted to predict use of different types of complementary medicine. The strength of associations between beliefs and complementary medicine use was related to the type of complementary medicine used. The results suggest that people use complementary medicine because they are attracted to it rather than because they are disillusioned with orthodox medicine, and that both treatment and illness beliefs have an important role in explaining why people use complementary medicine.
Proposal of practicing Japanese Kampo in menopausal medicine
Published in Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2005
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is now called “Kampo Medicine” in Japan. What is really needed for the treatment of human sickness and what is really wanted by sick people is medical care tailored to the particular patient, which respects the individual characteristics and personality of the patient. In Kampo medicine, therapeutic policy is determined on the basis of the physical constitution and condition of individual patients. For this reason, Kampo medicine is called “tailor-made medicine.” One characteristic of Kampo medicine is that it is aimed at treating conditions preceding disease. The diagnosis system of Kampo medicine therefore includes identification of the personality of each patient and correction of its distortion, if any. Women with undefined complaints in the climacteric period often have multiple symptoms. To identify the characteristics of each patient and to provide treatment tailored to each patient, SHO diagnosis is needed. This diagnostic process is unique to Kampo medicine and is not included in modern Western medicine. Making full use of the traditional diagnostic approach of Kampo medicine, SHO is determined and the patient's condition is understood from the standpoint of Kampo medicine. Optimum treatment is then provided on the basis of such understanding of the patient and his or her illness. Kampo medicine is established as a science with art. Practicing Kampo medicine involves dealing with patients using a science with art and thus providing humane medical care to patients. Kampo medicine is thus of use to all the world.
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