16 Contributions of Hippocrates - Father of Medicine

(Last Updated On: April 16, 2021)

Contributions of Hippocrates of Kos (460 – c. 370 BC) are distinguished, and he considered as a legend in the history of medicine. Also known as Hippocrates II, this Greek physician the Father of Medicine. More than 60 earlier Greek medical works are documented in Hippocratic Corpus or Hippocratic Collection.

“Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease” – Hippocrates

The ancient past was very miserable with no medicine, no doctor, and no treatment. Hippocrates appeared in the scene as the angel to help humankind with proper medication, care, and guide. Even now, the medical guideline and direction given by Hippocrates are equally important in the area of medical science.

Contributions of Hippocrates

In this article, I am going to talk about some of the Contributions of Hippocrates.

1. A direction towards the healthy way of Life

From his books, we get guidance about our food habits. In all his books, Hippocrates talks concerning the significance of following an excellent food plan reminiscent of consuming meals containing chlorophyll, and different foodstuffs like wheatgrass, sprouts, and edible algae.

At present, we perceive that life-style and poor food plans can result in illness, and plenty of issues are brought on by consuming an excessive amount of fats and sugar.

Hippocrates felt that the physical and psychological problems we may have, most are caused by our unplanned food habit. Hippocrates first recognized this when he made dietary suggestions with the intention to assist individuals to remain match and wholesome.

This recommendation remains to be legitimate at present, as seen in his suggestion to eat meals stuffed with chlorophyll, i.e. green food, which means vegetables and food full of vitamins and minerals.

2. A collection of 60+ medical work in the books – Hippocratic Corpus

Hippocrates authored many books as regards science and drugs and one instance is the Hippocratic Corpus. This is a complete collection of many solutions and guidelines effective even in the present time.

Hippocratic Corpus was written in Ionic Greek and contained lectures, philosophical essays, and analysis. It additionally included a group of around 70 completely different ailments, their signs, and solutions.

3. People suffer mostly because of Chest-Related Illness

Hippocrates was a great surgeon at all times. From his 90 years of life, Hippocrates experienced that people mostly suffer from their chests. Apart from the head, the chest is the most important part of the body engaging many other critical organs of the body. A lot of Hippocrates’ work and education were associated with ailments of the chest.

He was the primary to empty an abscess on the chest wall utilizing a tube, and this method remains to be used at present. Lots of his ideas are nonetheless taught to medical college students.

4. Pneumonia was very common and horrible

Now, we don’t see Pneumonia is so gruesome, but the days of Hippocrates were not that much easy. Pneumonia is an inflammatory situation that impacts the air passage or air sacs within the lungs. It’s primarily brought on by viruses or microorganisms.

Many people suffered from Pneumonia and succumb to death. Hippocrates first identified the signs in kids and referred to as it an illness “named by the ancients.”

He acknowledged that in extreme instances, it may result in death, and many individuals died of pneumonia as a result of they may not get the right therapy. Now, pneumonia might be handled with improved drugs and saved the lives of many.

5. Hippocrates brought out medication and cure for Empyema

Empyema or empyema thoracic is a group of pus and fluid within the area between the 2 pulmonary pleura brought on by microorganisms.

Additionally, it is referred to as respiratory inflammatory illness. It may be cured with the assistance of antibiotics and chest-tube drains. Without therapy, it may result in pneumonia, which is one of the great contributions of Hippocrates.

The primary signs of the illness are cough, fever, and chest ache. At present, the prognosis for this illness is a CT scan and X-ray, however, Hippocrates was capable of diagnosing without using these fashionable methods.

The illness consists of three essential levels: the formation of pleural fluid, fibrous septa forming within the membranes, and the shortcoming to sufficiently increase the lungs.

This illness can unfold to all elements of the lung and sometimes led to dying until Hippocrates got here up with a treatment. It was frequent in each adult and kids.

6. Finger Clubbing is a sign of chronic lung disease, lung cancer, and cyanotic heart disease.

Hippocrates was the primary to diagnose this situation which is characterized by the swelling or bloating of the fingers, which is a symptom of many other serious diseases, such as chronic lung disease, lung cancer, as well as cyanotic heart disease.

Signs and history are crucial for doctors to start medication. It is likely one of the signs of Eisenmenger’s syndrome which is a chromosomal dysfunction resulting in congenital coronary heart defects and pulmonary hypertension. At the moment, nobody had heard of the situation.

7. Epilepsy is a dysfunction of the nervous system

Epilepsy is a dysfunction of the nervous system and was documented by Hippocrates in his ebook On the Sacred Illness.

Individuals at the moment thought that epilepsy was a supernatural illness without particular origin, however, Hippocrates proposed that it was a bodily ailment.

He believed that the situation started with the formation of phlegm within the veins of the pinnacle and will result in psychological sickness.

This particular disease can occur in any part of life. For some, epilepsy occurred at delivery and others developed the situation later in life. Hippocrates is famous that younger kids who have been vulnerable to die from epilepsy.

The ancient concept was a bit different, quite superstitious. The traditional Greeks described the situation as “sacred,” and Hippocrates believed that epilepsy proved that that mind may management the body.

Hippocrates had a modern mind. He believed in logic and science. He additionally advised that the mind was the eventual reason for dying as a result of the shortcoming to breathe was brought on by a blockage within the veins of the head. He noticed that the primary signs of epilepsy have been shivering and a contraction of the mind.

8. Remedy for Hemorrhoids was a great relief for human

Hemorrhoids, or more generally piles, is a dysfunction of the rectum and anal canal. In historic Greece, it was thought to have been brought on by extra bile and phlegm and was troublesome to deal with.

Hippocrates first noticed this situation and worked on it, which is now recognized to be brought on by a swelling of the blood vessels within the rectal space, which is one of the great contributions of Hippocrates. The findings of Hippocrates is still addressed significantly by the doctors.

9. Hippocratic Face must have their logical causes

The Hippocratic face is caused by impending danged of death, long term illness, or excessive hunger, excessive evacuation, or anything like this. The Hippocratic face, or Latin facies Hippocratica, describes a dramatic change in an individual’s facial options which is characterized by sunken eyes and cheeks, and relaxed lips.

These signs have been first described by Hippocrates and have been an indication of extended moderately than acute sickness. If the causes weren’t handled, the situation could possibly be deadly. People earlier that time, used to think about the face, cursed.

10. Hippocratic Oath still renders the professional spirit

Hippocrates was an excellent doctor and wished all those that adopted him to abide by the identical set of ideas and ethics. He due to this fact proposed the Hippocratic oath which outlines the foundations that must be adopted by all medical practitioners.

The oath is a commitment and self-motivation. The oath states that each one doc ought to do their responsibility with full respect to the affected person and keep away from any malpractice.

The oath is the liability of the doctor to professional ethics. The oath begins by swearing upon the gods and units out a listing of guidelines that must be adopted.

The oath is included in his Hippocratic Corpus. One instance included within the oath is that of abortion being an immoral act.

Hippocrates additionally states that anybody who follows his oath will acquire an excellent status as a physician. At present, most medical college students swear this oath on commencement.

10. Use of diagnosis, medication, and devices

The rectal speculum is a beneficial diagnostic device for docs and was first utilized by Hippocrates to detect illnesses contained in the body. It’s inserted by the anus and used to detect tumors and inside irritation.

Hippocrates used many devices like this to diagnose illness and taught his college students to use every instrument precisely and when to make use of it. He additionally invented devices which could possibly be used to carry out surgical procedure.

11. The Endoscopy gives an inner look into the body

It was much needed to view inside the body in order to diagnose. The precept of endoscopy is to look contained in the body, and its earliest type was invented by Hippocrates.

Hippocrates initiated the process during his time. At the time, individuals have been cautious of this method, however, nowadays it’s a frequent diagnostic device used for early detection of sickness and illness.

12. Hippocratic theory is evergreen

Hippocrates is credited with being the primary particular person to imagine that ailments have been induced naturally, not due to superstition and gods. Hippocrates was credited by the disciples of Pythagoras of allying philosophy and drugs.

He separated the self-discipline of drugs from the faith, believing and arguing that illness was not a punishment inflicted by the gods however somewhat the product of environmental components, weight loss program, and residing habits.

Certainly, there’s not a single point out of a mystical sickness within the entirety of the Hippocratic Corpus.

Nonetheless, Hippocrates did work with many convictions that have been primarily based on what’s now identified to be incorrect anatomy and physiology, corresponding to Humorism.

13. First Documented Chest Surgeon with a lot of success and new findings

Hippocrates’ another contribution could also be present in his descriptions of the symptomatology, bodily findings, surgical remedy, and prognosis of thoracic empyema, i.e. suppuration of the liner of the chest cavity.

His teachings stay related to present-day college students of pulmonary drugs and surgical procedures.

Hippocrates was the first documented chest surgeon and his findings and strategies, whereas crude, corresponding to the usage of lead pipes to empty chest wall abscess, are nonetheless legitimate, which is one of the great contributions of Hippocrates.

14. Hippocrates is recognized as the Father of Medicine

Hippocrates is revered to be the “Father of Medicine” for his manifold pioneering contribution from the front. His contributions revolutionized the follow of drugs; however, after his demise, the development stalled.

So revered was Hippocrates that his teachings have been largely taken as too nice to be improved upon and no important developments of his strategies have been made for a very long time.

The centuries after Hippocrates’ death have been marked as a lot by retrograde motion as by additional development.

15. Hippocrates was a great doctor

Hippocratic drugs were notable for their strict professionalism, self-discipline, and rigorous follow. The Hippocratic work On the Doctor recommends that physicians all the time be well-kempt, trustworthy, calm, understanding, and critical.

The Hippocratic doctor paid cautious consideration to all elements of his follow: Contributions of Hippocrates were to adopt detailed specs for, “lighting, personnel, devices, positioning of the affected person, and strategies of bandaging and splinting” within the historic working room. He even stored his fingernails to an exact size.

16. Naming of the medical terms

Analyzing nature and signs in different cases, Hippocrates categorizes human illnesses according to merit, such as acute, chronic, endemic as well as epidemic.

He also applied terms like exacerbation, relapse, resolution, crisis, paroxysm, peak, and convalescence, considering signs and history, some of the valuable contributions of Hippocrates.

16 Contributions of Hippocrates – Father of Medicine