The doctors of ancient Egypt combined magic spells with remedies.

1. Medicine in Egypt

2. Medicine in Ancient Egypt

3. The doctors of ancient
Egypt combined magic
spells with remedies.
The most common cure for maladies was an
amulet and a magic spe
ll
to modify the
incorrect behaviour that had caused the i
ll
ness
in the
fi
rst place.

4. Injury & Disease
Injuries were easy to understand in
ancient Egypt; disease was a bit
more di
ffi
cult. When someone was
injured there was a plain cause and
an e
ff
ect which could then be
treated; when a person was sick,
however, the cause was less clear
and so diagnosis more problematic.

5. mummi
fi
cation
Although the Egyptians practised
mummi
fi
cation, doctors did not
understand the internal functioning
of the body. They did not realize
that the brain had anything to do
with thinking; it was believed that
the heart was the centre of reason.
They also thought that blood, urine,
excrement and semen circulated
constantly around the body.

6. The earliest-known pregnancy test
Women moistened a sample of barley and
emmer (wheat) with their urine each day.
If the barley grew, it meant the child would
be a male; if the emmer grew, it would be a
female. If neither grew, it meant the
woman was not pregnant. The e
ff
ectiveness
of this test has been validated by modern
science. The urine of non-pregnant women
wi
ll
prevent barley
fr
om growing!

7. Remedies and prescriptions for
various ailments, wounds,
stomach complaints, skin
irritations, broken bones and
many other conditions were
recorded on sheets of papyrus .
Some prescriptions
undoubtedly had de
fi
nite
physical bene
fi
ts, while others
would have had a purely
psychological e
ff
ect

8. The modern symbol for prescriptions is believed to have originated from
the "Eye of Horus" symbol. In the second century, a Greek physician
named Galen
fi
rst adapted this symbol to impress his patients. Gradually,
the symbol evolved into the one we use today.

9. Dentistry
Dental practices can be traced back to ancient
Egypt as well. The earliest recorded reference to
a dental practitioner was in 2600 B.C. in regard
to a scribe of Djoser named Hesy-Re, who was
the
fi
rst known dentist in Memphis, Egypt. His
tomb was inscribed with the phrase, "the
greatest of those who deal with teeth and of
physicians." Early Egyptians performed
surgeries such as draining abscesses and
extracting teeth. They also provided recipes to
treat bad breath and for mouthwashes meant
for pain relief and tooth health. Gold bridges
were also found on some mummies, but it is
disputed whether these were applied before or
after the individual's death.

10. Fun Facts
Animal dung, particularly that of a dog, donkey, or gazelle, was believed
to ward o
ff
evil spirits and aid healing, according to the Ebers Papyrus.
Moldy bread and lizard blood were occasionally used as topical
treatments.
When ancient Egyptians performed any type of surgical procedure,
they used alcohol as an anesthetic.
A common problem that could not be treated was malaria.

11. Thank you