Traditional medicine and the present: the therapy of gout
Authors:
Tomáš Alušík 1; Štefan Alušík 2
Authors‘ workplace:
Ústav dějin lékařství a cizích jazyků 1. LF UK v Praze
1; Katedra vnitřního lékařství IPVZ, Praha
2
Published in:
Čas. Lék. čes. 2017; 156: 454-457
Category:
History of Medicine
Overview
The authors describe the history of treatment of gout by using colchicine (colchicum; the active substance of Colchicum autumnale). The references to this plant and its effects (incl. several recipes for the preparation of remedies) in the gout treatment date back already from the antiquity, but the indisputable evidence of its use in the therapy of the disease in question comes only from the 6th century AD, by Alexander of Tralles. At present, colchicine became an officially preferred drug.
Some other examples of medicines of plant origin (e.g. verbena), which were used already by ancient civilizations and are often chosen for therapy even today. The potential of medicinal drugs hasn’t been completely exhausted yet.
Keywords:
traditional medicine, antiquity, colchicine, artemisinin, Alexander of Tralles
Sources
1. Říhová M et al. Kapitoly z dějin lékařství. Karolinum, Praha, 2005.
2. Strouhal E, Vachala B, Vymazalová H. Lékařství starých Egypťanů I: Staroegyptská chirurgie, péče o ženu a dítě. Academia, Praha, 2013.
3. Betancourt PP, Armpis EA, Bassiakos Y et al. The Chrysokamino metallurgy workshop and its territory. Hesperia Supplement 36, The American School of Classical Studies, Princeton, 2006.
4. Arnott R. Chrysokamino: occupational health and the earliest medicines on Crete. In: Tzedakis Y, Martlew H, Jones MK (eds.). Archaeology Meets Science: Biomolecular Investigations in Bronze Age Greece. The Primary Scientific Evidence 1997–2003. Oxbow Books, Oxford, 2008: 108–120.
5. Beeston RF, Palatinus J, Beck CW. Organic residue analysis: Chrysokamino. In: Tzedakis Y, Martlew H, Jones MK (eds.). Archaeology Meets Science: Biomolecular Investigations in Bronze Age Greece. The Primary Scientific Evidence 1997–2003. Oxbow Books, Oxford, 2008: 87–107.
6. Betancourt PP. Chrysokamino, an early Minoan smelting site on the northeast coast of Crete. In: Tzedakis Y, Martlew H, Jones MK (eds.). Archaeology Meets Science: Biomolecular Investigations in Bronze Age Greece. The Primary Scientific Evidence 1997–2003. Oxbow Books, Oxford, 2008: 245–248.
7. Hartung EF. History of the use of colchicum and related medicaments in gout. Ann Rheum Dis 1954; 13: 190–200.
8. Wentzel G. Die Göttinger Scholien zu Nikanders Alexipharmaka. In: Abhandlungen der königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Historisch-philologische Klasse, vol. XXXVIII. Dieterichsche Buchhandlung, Berlin, 1892: 131–226.
9. Gow ASF, Scholfield AF. Nicander: The Poems and Poetical Fragments. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1953.
10. Richette P, Doherty M, Pascual E et al. 2016 updated EULAR evidence based recommendations for the management of gout. Ann Rheum Dis 2017; 78: 29–42.
11. Nutton V. Ancient Medicine (2nd ed.). Routledge, London and New York, 2013.
12. Beck LY. De materia medica by Pedanius Dioscorides. Olms-Weidmann, Hildesheim, 2005.
13. Riddle JH. The medicines of Greco-Roman Antiquity as a source of medicines for today. In: Holland BK (ed.). Prospecting for drugs in Medieval European texts: a scientific approach. Overseas Publishers Association, Amsterdam, 1996: 7–18.
14. Wellmann M. Krateuas. In: Abhandlungen der königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Philologisch-historische Klasse,Neue Folge, Band 2, No. 1. Weidmann, Berlin, 1897: 1–32.
15. Puschmann T. Alexander von Tralles: Original-Text und Übersetzung nebst einer einleitenden Abhandlung: ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Medicin. Wilhelm Braumüller, Wien, 1878–1879.
16. Scarborough J. The life and times of Alexander of Tralles. Expedition Magazine 1997; 39(2): 51–60.
17. Guardasole A. Alessandro di Tralle. In: Garzya A. (ed.). Medici Bizantini. Unione tipografico-editrice torinese, Torino, 2006: 557–570.
18. Langslow D. The Latin Alexander Trallianus. Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, London, 2006.
19. Bouras-Vallianatos P. Clinical experience in Late Antiquity: Alexander of Tralles and the therapy of epilepsy. Med Hist 2014; 58(3): 337–353.
20. Mann J. Murder, magic and medicine. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1992.
21. Bellamy D, Pfister A. World Medicine: Plants, Patients and People. Blackwell Publishers, Oxford, 1992.
22. Rippe O et al. Paracelsovo lékařství: filosofie, astrologie, alchymie, léčebné postupy. Volvox Globator, Praha, 2004.
23. Karpenko V. Alchymie. Nauka mezi snem a skutečností. Academia, Praha, 2007.
24. Ball P. Ďáblův doktor. Paracelsus a svět renesanční magie a vědy. Academia, Praha, 2009.
25. DiMasi JA, Grabowski GH, Hansen RW. Innovation in the pharmaceutical industry: new estimates of R&D costs. J Health Econ 2016; 47: 20–33.
26. Ude C, Schubert-Zsilavecz, Wurglicz M. Gingko biloba extracts: a review of the pharmacokinetics of the active ingredients. Clin Pharmacokinet 2013; 52: 727–749.
27. van Agtmael MA, Eggelte TA, van Boxtel CJ. Artemisinin drugs in the treatment of malaria: from medicinal herb to registered medication. Trends Pharmacol Sci 1999; 20(5): 199–205.
28. McGovern PE, Christofidou-Solomidou M, Wang W et al. Anticancer activity of botanical compounds in ancient fermented beverages (review). Int J Oncol 2010; 37(1): 5–14.
29. Navrátilová Z, Patočka J. Bioaktivní látky pelyňku ročního (Artemisia annua L.) a jejich uplatnění v terapii malárie. Kontakt 2012; 14(4): 505–513.
30. Rombauts K, Heyerick A. CAM-Cancer Consortium. Artemisia annua. Dostupné na: www.cam-cancer.org/The-Summaries/Herbal-products/Artemisia-annua
31. Hsu E. The history of qing hao in the Chinese materia medica. Trans Royal Soc Tropical Med Hyg 2006; 100(6): 505–508.
32. Veeresham C. Natural products derived from plants as a source of drugs. J Adv Pharm Technol Res 2012; 3(4): 200–201.United States: maternal and pediatric health outcomes and costs. Matern Child Nutr 2017; 13: e12366.
33. Renfrew MJ, Pokhrel S, Quigley M et al. Preventing disease and saving resources: the potential contribution of increasing breastfeeding rates in the UK. UNICEF, 2012. Dostupné na: www.unicef.org.uk/Documents/Baby_Friendly/Research/Preventing_disease_saving_resources.pdf
Labels
Addictology Allergology and clinical immunology Angiology Audiology Clinical biochemistry Dermatology & STDs Paediatric gastroenterology Paediatric surgery Paediatric cardiology Paediatric neurology Paediatric ENT Paediatric psychiatry Paediatric rheumatology Diabetology Pharmacy Vascular surgery Pain management Dental HygienistArticle was published in
Journal of Czech Physicians
Most read in this issue
- Secondary symptoms of disability in international studies
- The contemporary view of the cardiac conduction system
- Traditional medicine and the present: the therapy of gout
- New ways towards the improvement of the seniors’ health literacy