The prehistoric man, motivated by feelings of sympathy and kindness, was always at the behest of his kindred, trying to provide relief, in times of sickness and suffering. Since his knowledge was limited, the primitive man attributed 1 Man And Medicine: Towards Health For All disease and in fact all human suffering and other calamities to the wrath of gods, the invasion of body by "evil spirits" and the malevolent influence of stars and planets. The concept of disease in which the ancient man believed is known as the "supernatural theory of disease".
As a logical sequence, the medicine he practised consisted in appeasing gods by prayers, rituals and sacrifices, driving out "evil spirits" from the human body by witchcraft and other crude means and using charms and amulets to protect himself against the influence of eviI spirits. The administration of certain herbs or drugs whose effect is doubtful or nil but hopefully harmless may also be likened to a kind of magic ritual associated with the need to "do something". There is also evidence that prehistoric man improvised stone 'and flint instruments with which he performed circumcisions, amputations and trephining of skulls. It is thus obvious that medicine in the prehistoric times (about 5000 BC) was intermingled with superstition, religion, magic and witchcraft.
Primitive medicine is timeless. If we look around the world, we find the rudiments of primitive medicine still persist in many parts of the world - in Asia, Africa, South America, Australia and the Pacific islands. The supernatural theory of disease in which the primitive man believed is as new as today. For example, in India, one may still hear of talk of curing snake bites by "mantras". Diseases such as leprosy are interpreted as being punishment for one's past sins in some cultures. Although primitive man may be extinct. his progeny - the so-called "traditional healers" are found everywhere.
They live close to the people and their treatments are based on various combinations of religion, magic and empericism. Indian medicine (3) The medical systems that are truly Indian in origin and development are the Ayurveda and the Siddha systems. Ayurveda is practised throughout India, but the Siddha system is practised in the Tamil-speaking areas of South India. These systems differ very little both in theory and practice (4). Ayurveda by definition implies the "knowledge of life" or the knowledge bywhich life may be prolonged. Its origin is traced far back to the Vedic times, about 5000 BC. During this period, medieval history was associated with mythological figures, sages and seers.
As a logical sequence, the medicine he practised consisted in appeasing gods by prayers, rituals and sacrifices, driving out "evil spirits" from the human body by witchcraft and other crude means and using charms and amulets to protect himself against the influence of eviI spirits. The administration of certain herbs or drugs whose effect is doubtful or nil but hopefully harmless may also be likened to a kind of magic ritual associated with the need to "do something". There is also evidence that prehistoric man improvised stone 'and flint instruments with which he performed circumcisions, amputations and trephining of skulls. It is thus obvious that medicine in the prehistoric times (about 5000 BC) was intermingled with superstition, religion, magic and witchcraft.
Primitive medicine is timeless. If we look around the world, we find the rudiments of primitive medicine still persist in many parts of the world - in Asia, Africa, South America, Australia and the Pacific islands. The supernatural theory of disease in which the primitive man believed is as new as today. For example, in India, one may still hear of talk of curing snake bites by "mantras". Diseases such as leprosy are interpreted as being punishment for one's past sins in some cultures. Although primitive man may be extinct. his progeny - the so-called "traditional healers" are found everywhere.
They live close to the people and their treatments are based on various combinations of religion, magic and empericism. Indian medicine (3) The medical systems that are truly Indian in origin and development are the Ayurveda and the Siddha systems. Ayurveda is practised throughout India, but the Siddha system is practised in the Tamil-speaking areas of South India. These systems differ very little both in theory and practice (4). Ayurveda by definition implies the "knowledge of life" or the knowledge bywhich life may be prolonged. Its origin is traced far back to the Vedic times, about 5000 BC. During this period, medieval history was associated with mythological figures, sages and seers.
