The Greek origins of modern medicine

By Jayne Walker

The ancients used the word Physis, meaning natural constitution, to signify pharmacy and sorcery, and those who taught and practiced the healing arts came to be known as Physicians.
The symbol of the modern physician ,that of a staff with two coiled snakes around it, has its origins from the 'Greek God of medicine' being Aesculapius.
This ancient Greek physician had legendary healing powers so miraculous that after his death he was honored as a God, with healing temples and statues depicting him with a staff around which a snake was coiled with a herb in its mouth.
The snake represents the supreme knowledge that this reptile holds with regard to the healing power of herbs.
One of the daughters of Aesculapius, Hygeia, became deified as a Goddess of Health and this is where we get the word hygiene from.
His other daughter, whose success in using herbal remedies for curing diseases was known as the 'Goddess of Medicine', and was also known as Panacea - the word which we still use today to mean cure-all.

A lesser known fact is the sign Rx, which is generally found in the upper left hand corner of the modern prescription, has been traced to the pagan symbol for Jupiter. Its meaning being 'take thou in the name of Jupiter.'

More well known is the Hippocratic oath which is still taken today in many medical schools.
Hippocrates, the Father of medicine, lived from 460 to 377 B.C., and was one of the most influential men who ever lived.
He was the first to conceive the idea of diagnosis, and took great care in regulating the diets of his patients,the bulk of his treatments consisting of Herbs, nutrition, fresh air, massage, rest and reflective time. He initiated the phrase;

'Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.'

Modern science is looking increasingly to the plant world for answers in the search for cures and more and more people are realising the benefits of preventative medicine and balanced living such as expoused by Hippocrates.

Are we coming full circle back to the intelligence and power of Mother Earth and our natural state of being?

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