Cultural-historical aspects of diabetes and phytotherapy

Győry, Hedvig and Székely, Edit and Blázovics, Anna (2022) Cultural-historical aspects of diabetes and phytotherapy. In: Aegyptus et Pannonia VII. Magyar-Egyiptomi Baráti Társaság, Ókori Egyiptomi Bizottság, Budapest, pp. 231-272. ISBN 9786156571014

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Abstract

Both types 1 and 2 of diabetes mellitus have probably been making people’s lives miserable for thousands of years, so we would expect that their treatment would be traceable over the course of several thousand years. In this article, we examine the question of the recognition, medical definition and vegetal treatment of diabetes in the ancient Mediterranean, Middle- and Far- Eastern regions based on the ancient Egyptian papyri, the works of Graeco-Roman authors, the medical texts of Indian Ayurveda and Chinese Materia Medica, respectively, and in the field of Arabic-language medieval medicine,which partially summarized the earlier achievements, and adapted them to the Middle East. Diabetes became a defined condition in European medicine, thanks to Avicenna’s Kanun fi Tib encyclopedia. Medicine in these areas was strongly intertwined with the science of nutrition, so it is no surprise that dietetics became one of the main pillars of treatment in medical practice. We have isolated those cases that indicate the alleviation of the symptoms and complications of diabetes, since it was considered an incurable disease in all areas of the ancient world. Modern medicine also drew a great deal from these teachings, and advice on the right way of life, including food, is still a guiding principle. Medicinal and food plants found in ancient recipes are still often used in the treatment of diabetes today.We also provide a brief overview of 24 plants with antidiabetic effects attested by phytotherapy.

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