With innovations appearing in our lives seemingly every day it seems that new breakthroughs in science are the only ones we trust. New is always considered better. With this prevalent thinking those who espouse the wisdom of the ancients are ignored and perhaps even ridiculed – right up until the point when modern science backs them up. Sometimes looking to ancient knowledge as a source and then checking with modern science can yield useful results.
Frankincense: How to Use Ancient Wonder Cure for Healing
Several thousand years ago ancient physicians found that frankincense had antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties, and therefore prescribed it as a cure for a variety of ailments, including indigestion, cough, and halitosis (bad breath) and helps to eliminate toxins from the liver and the kidneys
Due to its antiseptic property, frankincense oil could also be applied to wounds to prevent them from developing infections. Frankincense may even be ingested to aid the recovery of internal wounds. And in 2010, scientists reported that frankincense stopped cancer from spreading and caused cancerous cells to close themselves down.
Ancient Chinese Remedy Could Wipe Out Tuberculosis
A centuries-old herbal medicine discovered by Chinese scientists to cure malaria could also aid in tuberculosis treatment and even slow drug resistance. Artemisinin is isolated from the plant Artemisia annua, sweet wormwood, an herb employed in traditional Chinese medicine .
TB usually takes up to six months to treat and this is one of the main reasons the disease is so hard to get under control. However the use of the ancient herb could be key to shortening the course of therapy because it can clear out the dormant, hard-to-kill bacteria.
Donkey milk: Ancient elixir of life experiences modern-day resurgence
Donkey milk was hailed by the ancients as an elixir of long life, a cure-all for a variety of ailments, and a powerful tonic capable of rejuvenating the skin.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation acknowledges that donkey milk has “particular nutritional benefits”, with a protein profile that may make it more suitable for those allergic to cow’s milk . Moreover, donkey milk is the closest known milk to human breast milk with high lactose ratios and low-fat content.
It is also rich in vitamins, contains anti-bacterial agents, reported to be 200 times more active than in cow’s milk, and anti-allergens, which are believed to be responsible for alleviating psoriasis, eczema, asthma, and bronchitis.
Roseroot, an ancient remedy for fatigue and disease, gets new respect
Ancient Greeks, Vikings, Caucasians, prehistoric Siberians and Mongolians, and ancient Chinese emperors were all taken with the medicinal properties of the wild herb Rhodiola rosea (golden root or roseroot). Many centuries after it was introduced to Siberia, people there still say those who drink roseroot tea will live to be 100. In ancient times, Siberians found the root so valuable they would trade it for wine, fruit and honey.
The latest research has found that the ancients were right to be enamored with roseroot: It works not just in reducing some symptoms of depression, but it also gave “significant reductions in fatigue, depression, and performance ratings” in two groups tested in another study.
Ancient Chinese herbal remedy may be solution for chronic pain
A recent study supports the efficacy of an ancient Chinese herbal remedy that has been used for centuries in the treatment of pain. The remedy comes from Corydalis yanhusuo, a flowering herbal plant that grows in Siberia, Northern China and Japan. So far almost 500 different compounds have been tested for their ability to relieve pain.
Unlike opium, the medicine is a non-addictive analgesic that works via a compound that can relieve acute, inflammatory, and neuropathic or chronic pain.
When the roots of the plant are dug up, ground, and then boiled in hot vinegar, they produce dehydrocorybulbine (DHCB), which acts like morphine, but does not work through the morphine receptor in the human body. Instead it acts on the other receptors that bind dopamine.
Australian Scientists Explore The Medical Marvels Of Ancient Maggot Therapy
The use of maggots in medical treatments was developed independently around the world over the last 1000 years by several ancient cultures, for example: the Hill people of Northern Myanmar (Burma) and the Mayan healers of Central America, and, the aboriginal Ngemba tribe of New South Wales in Australia.
In Australia, the maggot medicines of ancient indigenous communities were brought back to life during the First and Second World Wars. “They remove bacteria by eating them and digesting them, and through their excretions and secretions that they place into the wound… So they have anti-microbial properties… This controls the infection sufficiently for the body to heal the wound” Dr. Stadler told reporters.
Said to Cure Everything but Death, These Seeds are an Ancient Miracle Cure
The black cumin seed or “Nigella Sativa” is indigenous to the Mediterranean region.
In Arabo-Islamic culture the seeds are prescribed as a medicine for various ailments including fever, asthma, chronic headaches, diabetes, digestion issues, back pain, infections, and rheumatism. When used externally it can help to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
The seed is believed to have 100 healthy components and is a significant source of fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Many studies have been completed in recent years and prove the seed’s strong anti-inflammatory response, anti-leukemic properties, cardio-protective, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and immune-modulatory properties. The seeds also help improve the immune system and aid in cancer prevention.
Medieval Medical Books Could Hold the Recipe for New Antibiotics
Some medievalists and scientists are now looking back to history for clues to inform the search for new antibiotics. The evolution of antibiotic-resistant microbes means that it is always necessary to find new drugs to battle microbes that are no longer treatable with current antibiotics
One example is the 1,000-year old recipe called Bald’s eyesalve was to be used against an infection of the eyelash follicle.
It contains wine, garlic, an Allium species (such as leek or onion) and oxgall. A modern study shows this recipe turned out to be a potent antistaphylococcal agent, which repeatedly killed established S. aureus biofilms – a sticky matrix of bacteria adhered to a surface – in an in vitro infection model. It also killed MRSA in mouse chronic wound models.
Pancreatic Cancer Treated With Ancient Chinese Medicine
Phellodendron amurense , the bark of the Amur cork tree, has been used in ancient Chinese medicine for thousands of years , typically administered as a painkiller.
Modern researchers have also discovered that the cork tree’s extract had the ability to block cancer development pathways and inhibit the scarring that prevents anti-cancer drugs from entering the cancer.
The Ancient ‘Plant of Immortality’ That Treats Over 50 Medical Conditions
Known as “the plant of immortality” by the Ancient Egyptians, aloe vera it still known today for its many health benefits. For millennia it has been used to treat more than 50 medical conditions, from obesity to burns, dermatitis, ulcers, asthma, diabetes, acne, and even leprosy.
It boasts anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties which help detoxify the body and support the immune system . It also contains the vitamin B12, which is normally only found in animal based foods and it is important in the creation of new red blood cells, making it invaluable to vegetarians.
The Ancient Art of Smudging: From Banishing Evil to Curing Ailments
The burning of plant materials to produce smoke with positive effects has been practiced since ancient times. One of the best-known examples is the use of incense in the ancient Near East. Another popular example is smudging, which has been practiced for centuries by Native Americans and, more recently, in the New Age movement.
Apart from spiritual benefits, smudging is known to have a number of health benefits, many of which are backed by scientific studies. For example, sage smoke increases oxygen supply to the brain, which in turn allows tensed muscles to relax.
The smoke from certain types of plants changes the molecular structure of air and energy, inducing a cleansing effect. Moreover, smudging has been found to be an effective practice in aromatherapy. This is due to the fact that the sense of smell is connected strongly to instinct and memory. Therefore, smudging is effective in combating negative emotions, including anger, fear, and grief.
Source: https://www.ancient-origins.net/history/ancient-remedies-0012251