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Cardiocentrism in ancient medicines
Fabio Zampieri1, Gaetano Thiene1, Alberto Zanatta1
1Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Italy.
Insights
Ancient civilizations viewed the heart as the body's spiritual and biological center. This historical review explores pre-Harveian medical beliefs about the heart, revealing enduring truths.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical History
- History of Science
Background:
- Ancient civilizations universally considered the heart the body's biological and spiritual core.
- This cardiocentric perspective influenced religious and medical thought across millennia.
- Pre-William Harvey medical theories on the heart are often overlooked.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a schematic overview of ancient medical beliefs concerning the heart.
- To evaluate the historical significance of pre-classical cardiocentric views.
- To explore the non-linear progression of medical knowledge and the re-emergence of past insights.
Main Methods:
- Historical literature review of pre-classical medical texts.
- Analysis of ancient civilizations' beliefs on the heart's function and symbolism.
- Comparative study of historical and modern understanding of cardiac concepts.
Main Results:
- William Harvey's 1628 publication marked the scientific beginning of cardiology.
- Ancient beliefs often placed the heart as the seat of emotions, intellect, and vital energy.
- Some ancient concepts about the heart contain elements of modern scientific understanding.
Conclusions:
- The history of cardiology extends beyond William Harvey, with valuable insights from ancient traditions.
- Medical history is not strictly linear; past ideas can hold relevance for current scientific development.
- Re-examining ancient medical beliefs can uncover potentially useful truths for contemporary science.
Abstract:
History of cardiology starts scientifically in 1628, when William Harvey (1578-1657) published his revolutionary book Extercitatio anatomica de motu cordis et sanguinis in animalibus, where he described "general" circulation, movements and functions of heart, heart valves, veins and arteries [1]. Consequently, all theories and practices of ancient medicines were reduced to superstitions. Historians relegated pre-Harveian cardiology to roughs notes, preventing a proper historical evaluation of many centuries of conceptions and practices. All the ancient civilizations shared the conviction that the heart was the biological and spiritual center of the body, the seat of emotions, mind, will, a vital energy produced by breathing and healing, and the soul. This cardiocentric view maintained a special role both in religion and in medicine across millennia from east to west, passing over cultural and scientific revolutions. Here, we will try to give a schematic account of medical beliefs on the heart from the most important pre-classic medicines. Some of them today show to have a kernel of truth. This demonstrates, at least, that history is a non-linear process and that intuitions or even truths, potentially useful for the present and scientific development, can re-emerge from the past.
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