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
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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 managementArticle was published in
Journal of Czech Physicians
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