Νóσων φúσεις íητροí.
Nature is the healer of disease.
~ Hippocrates circa. 400 BC
I placed this quote from Hippocrates at the beginning of this article to demonstrate that Western medicine began with Nature as its foundation. There was also a spiritual dimension (i.e., rituals) to healing (see the final video in this post). This of course, got lost when medicine was taken away from the guardianship of the Hellenes (Greeks).
Below you will find a video with the Oath written and spoken in the Ancient Greek language. It is also translated in English text (and may be read in Modern Greek if you click the subtitles/cc icon), for those who want to read the whole statement. I am only going to focus on a few paragraphs in this article.
I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygeia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgment this oath and covenant.
Apollo was an Olympian (mortal) God – he had many roles, physician being one of them. Asclepius was his son – the God of health. Hygeia and Panacea were the daughters of Asclepius: Hygeia means health and Panacea means cure all. Hippocrates was an Asclepiad, so he is referring to his ancestors in the beginning of this Oath.
Paragraph Three: I will only apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.
Paragraph Four: I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness, I will guard my life and my art.
Paragraph Six: Things I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of treatment regarding the life of human beings, things which one should never divulge outside, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken.
The commonly held belief that the Oath begins with, “First, do no harm”, is erroneous: the prevention of harm is in the third paragraph. I also like the addition of the word “injustice” as I am all about the Law (Natural Law).
In the next paragraph, we get the avoidance of intentionally causing death through drugs, including abortion. This is on par with keeping people from harm but it is more serious since it is permanent: it cannot be remedied.
In paragraph six, is the promise to keep people’s information private even if it is obtained outside of treatment.
Modern doctors are supposed to adhere to these principles but how many of them actually do?
Medicine is now inextricably linked to pharmaceuticals – so many of these substances have now been proven to cause immense harm. Yet, they are still being peddled as safe and effective.
The Oath has been changed (see video below).
There is a line in there about “not playing at God”, but based on what I have seen over the last few years, many have done so with impunity.
For those who want to know more about the life of Hippocrates, I recommend this video.
