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Rheumatological Therapy in Prehispanic Mesoamerica
1Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología, Naucalpan de Juárez, Estado de México, México.
Reumatologia Clinica
|December 1, 2020
Summary
Nahuatl medicine in 16th-century Mexico integrated herbal remedies with magic and religion. This review examines its use, particularly for rheumatic conditions, in historical codices.
Area of Science:
- Ethnomedicine
- History of Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Prehispanic Mesoamerican health concepts blended magic, religion, and diverse medicinal resources (animal, mineral, herbal).
- Nahua physicians (ticitl) utilized these resources supplementarily, tailored to patient beliefs and needs.
- Distinct knowledge variations existed between rural and urban practitioners, and those with priestly roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review historical codices and recent literature on Nahua medicine.
- To investigate the application of herbal medicine for rheumatic diseases in 16th-century Mexico.
Main Methods:
- Review of primary historical sources: Cruz-Badiano Codex, Florentine Codex, Francisco Hernández Codex.
- Analysis of recent scholarly literature on Nahua medicine.
- Focus on herbal treatments for symptoms related to rheumatic diseases.
Main Results:
- Nahua medicine was sophisticated, incorporating a holistic approach to health and disease.
- Codices contain valuable information on medicinal plants and their uses.
- Evidence suggests the use of specific herbs for conditions resembling rheumatic diseases.
Conclusions:
- Nahua herbal medicine offered a complex system of healing in 16th-century Mexico.
- Historical codices are crucial resources for understanding indigenous medical practices.
- Further research into Nahua pharmacopeia may reveal insights into ethnobotanical treatments for rheumatic conditions.
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