Ancient Techniques for Pain Relief Before Modern Medicine

**Relief From The Pill**

Pain is our body’s way of telling us that something isn’t right. Nowadays, modern medicine offers various ways to manage pain and anxiety, often with simple pills. But have you ever wondered how people dealt with pain before these advancements? Throughout history, people have always found ways to cope with pain. While some methods worked better than others, all contributed to the evolution of the modern medicine we benefit from today.

**1500 BCE**
Many painkillers today originate from opium, which ancient civilizations recognized for its pain-relief properties. It’s believed that using opium for pain dates back to the Neolithic Age. Some evidence suggests it could be the soma plant mentioned in the Rig Veda, an ancient Indian text from around 1500 BCE.

**400 BCE**
Various cultures have relied on natural herbs and plants to ease pain. For example, willow bark contains salicin, which is good for reducing pain and inflammation. In 400 BCE, Hippocrates recommended chewing on willow bark for pain relief. Even today, people use it to help alleviate anxiety, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, and headaches.

**Middle Ages in Europe**
During Europe’s Middle Ages, figuring out which plants could treat pain involved a lot of guesswork. Sometimes, the remedies were merely placebos. A popular but flawed theory was that a plant resembling a body part could treat ailments related to that part. This method was often ineffective and, in the worst cases, toxic.

**Widespread Belief**
Before the advent of modern medicine, many believed pain had a divine origin, sent as punishment. People would pray or make offerings at temples, hoping for relief from their suffering.

**The Ancient World**
Trepanation, the practice of drilling a hole in the skull, was common in ancient times. Remarkably, many people survived this procedure even without modern sterilization techniques. Skeletons in Africa and South America show signs that patients lived years after their surgeries. Trepanation was often used to treat headaches and migraines.

Understanding how people managed pain throughout history helps us appreciate and improve our current methods.