Aztec Medicine

 

 

The art of healing has existed among nearly every civilization. The Aztecs believed disease to be caused either by natural or divine reasons. Good behavior and moderation were synonyms of good health for the Aztecs, as any type of excess would damage and expose the individual to the evil spirits. Health for this civilization consisted of a balance of the organism, a lack of thereof was what they deemed as disease. The practice of medicine within the Aztec civilization was a family practice that would be passed down through the generations. The Aztecs practiced surgeries, used herbs, and rituals to cure the sick. The purpose of this research paper is to analyze the most popular types of tangible procedures and medicines used by the Aztecs and evaluate their effectiveness based on contemporary medical research.

 

Primary Sources

 

Gates, William. n.d. An Aztec Herbal: The Classic Codex of 1552. Dover Publications.

This source is of utmost importance for investigating the Aztec medicine. It is a translated version of the Libellus de Medicinalibus Indorum Herbis, Latin for "Little Book of the Medicinal Herbs of the Indians". A Codex that was originally produced in the Nahuatl language describing the various medicinal remedies used by the Aztecs.

                                                                                                                                        

Sahagœn, Bernardino De. Florentine codex. Santa Fe, NM: School of American Research, 1950.

The Florentin Codex is a study of the history of the Aztec people with an emphasis on their natural aspects. The source is valuable for this work because it describes the Aztec use  of hallucinogens. This ties into the psychological aspect of the paper.

 

 

Secondary Sources

 

Frederiksen, Thomas H. "AZTEC MEDICINE." Aztec Medicine - Aztecs of Mexico, history. Accessed April 20, 2017. https://ambergriscaye.com/pages/mayan/aztecmedicine.html.

The author masterfully elaborates on the Spanish arrival to the New World and its consequences. It gives value to the background of the primary source text, which was written post-Columbus.

Food Composition Databases. Accessed April 21, 2017. https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list?fgcd=&manu=&lfacet=&count=&max=&sort=&qlookup=&offset=&format=Abridged&new=&measureby=&ds=&order=&qt=&qp=&qa=&qn=&q=&ing=.

Database containing nutritional values on each of the three sisters.

 

Gutierrez Moctezuma, Juvenal, and Monica Gutierrez Cadena. "Historia de la medicina. Organizaci—n Medica Mexica (Azteca) y sus tratamientos, con Žnfasis en la epilepsia." Revista Mexicana de Neurociencia 10, no. 4 (July 2009): 294-300.

This work elaborates on epilepsy in the Aztec civilization. It gives a good background story regarding the causes of it. Because Epilepsy is described in The Classic Codex, it is important for the accuracy of this work to reference its information to work written by scholars.

 

Goldenholz, Daniel M., Robert Moss, Jonathan Scott, Sungyoung Auh, and William H. Theodore. "Confusing placebo effect with natural history in epilepsy: A big data approach." Annals of Neurology 78, no. 3 (2015): 329-36. doi:10.1002/ana.24470.

Study demonstrating the placebo effect on epilepsy patients. Successfully demonstrate what may have happened with the Aztec civilization.

 

Harvey, Herbert R. "Public health in Aztec society." Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 57, no. 2 (March 1981): 157-65. Accessed April 24, 2017.

Insight into how hygienic and well planned for sanitation the Aztec empire was build and maintained.

 

Montellano, B. De. "Empirical Aztec medicine." Science 188, no. 4185 (1975): 215-20. doi:10.1126/science.1090996.

Background information on the Aztec medical codex.

 

Sigel, Erwin. "Mapping of the Benzodiazepine Recognition Site on GABA-A Receptors." Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2, no. 8 (2002): 833-39. doi:10.2174/1568026023393444.

Study demonstrating the one chemical properties of related tracoxilo-xochitl, and itŐs effects on the human body.

 

Steckelberg, James M., ŇHoney: An effective cough remedy?Ó http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/honey/faq-20058031

Study that demonstrates honeyŐs ability to help with cough. Serves for validation of the Aztec method for healing a cough.

 

Tierra, Michael, and John B. Lust. The natural remedy bible. New York: Pocket Books, 2003.

Description of the Ruta Graveolens for the lice method evaluation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alek Ortiz