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H i s to r y a n d T r e n d s o f H e a l t h C a r e 1:1 History of Health Care Why is it important to understand the history of health care? Would you believe that some of the treatment methods in use today were also used in ancient times? In the days before drug stores, people used many herbs and plants as both food and medicine. Many of these herbs remain in use today. A common example is a medication called morphine. Morphine is made from a poppy plant and is used to manage pain. As you review each period of history, think about how the d iscoveries have helped to improve the health care you receive today. Ancient Times Table 1-1 lists many of the historical events of health care in ancient times. In primitive times, the common belief was that disease and illness were caused by evil spirits and demons. Treatment was directed toward eliminating the evil spirits. As civilizations developed, changes occurred as people began to study the human body and make observations about how it functions. Religion played an important role in health care. A common belief was that illness and disease were punishments from the gods. Religious rites and ceremonies were frequently used to eliminate evil spirits and restore health. Exploring the structure of the human body was limited because most religions did not allow dissection, or cutting apart of the body. For this reason, animals were frequently dissected to learn about different body parts. The ancient Egyptians were the first people to record health records. It is important to remember that many people could not read; therefore, knowledge was limited to an educated few. Most of the records were recorded on stone and were created by priests, who also acted as physicians. The ancient Chinese had a strong belief in the need to cure the spirit and nourish the entire body. This form of treatment remains important today, when holistic health methods stress treating the entire patient—mind, body, and soul. Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, and massage (Tui na) are still commonly used. Hippocrates (ca. 460–377 bc), called the "Father of Medicine," was one of the most important physicians in ancient Greece (See Biography box for more information about Hippocrates). The records that he and other physicians created helped establish that disease is caused by natural causes, not by supernatural spirits and demons. The ancient Greeks were also among the first to stress that a good diet and cleanliness would help to prevent disease. 3 Biography Hippocrates Hippocrates (ca. 460–377 bc) was a Greek physician who is called the "Father of Medicine." He is best known for authoring a code of conduct for physicians, the "Hippocratic Oath." The oath began as a swearing to the healing gods to practice medicine following a strict code of ethics. Through the years, the oath has been modernized and no longer involves swearing to the gods. Most schools of medicine still use some form of the oath, and it is a rite of passage to practice medicine in many countries. The ancient Greeks thought that illness and disease were caused by the disfavor of the gods or evil spirits. H ippocrates' beliefs led medicine in a more accurate d irection. He believed that illness and disease had rational and physical explanations. Hippocrates stressed the importance of observation, diagnosis, and treatment. He was the first to accurately describe symptoms of pneumonia and epilepsy in children. He encouraged the use of a good diet, fresh air, cleanliness, and exercise to help the body heal itself. Hippocrates founded a medical school in Cos, Greece, to teach his ideas on medicine. His students were held to a strict ethical code of behavior. This oath is the basis of medical practice today. Image courtesy National Library of Medicine The Rod of Asclepius (Figure 1-1A), the Greek symbol associated with medicine and healing, was founded in ancient Greece. The caduceus symbol (Figure 1-1B) is often mistaken as the medical symbol, but it is actually the symbol for commerce. In Greek mythology, A sclepius was believed to be the son of Apollo and the