Tibetan Medicine

Tibetan medicine is very ancient. It was over thousands of years when the ancient treatise on medicine "Chjud-shi" was written.

At present the scientists study various books about Tibetan medicine. The methods of treatment used by Tibetans are different from modern medicine but the theoretical ideas are quite logical. Tibetan doctors thought that:

- diseases were caused by the violation of the equilibrium of the main «vital sources»;

- a disease reflected the suffering of the entire human organism and not just the separate organ. They considered that it was necessary to treat the entire organism.

One of the reasons causing diseases was food. They considered that food was useless and bad. Tibetan doctors were gifted specialists. During the examination of the patients they used different senses: vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch.

To diagnose the disease they differentiated between 400 different hues of pulse and it was felt by the doctor on the patient's both arms.

The chief postulate of Tibetan medicine was: "Everything that surrounds us may be used as a medicine". Tibetans made medicines from raw plants, animals and mineral materials. They used precious metals and stones. The doctors took gold, silver, emerald, pearls and others. They also used insects and molluscs. They burned the animals and used ash from their inner organs as a medicine for the patients. They considered that such as ash could contain useful substances, necessary for the patient. Their medicines were not toxic for the patients. They used various medical herbs for treating.

Tibetan medicine has helped the modern medicine in treating dif­ferent diseases. At present our doctors often use medical herbs as medicine.

The modern medicine has the same commandment as the Tibetan medicine. It is "Do not harm".

Lesson 11

Hippocrates — the Father of Medicine

1. Pre-reading activity

1.1 Read and memorize the words:

contemporary – сучасник physician – лікар

to spread - розповсюджувати procedure – процедура

experience – досвід superstition - забобони

punishment – покарання to set – вправляти

to trephine – проводити трепанацію

2. Match the words-combinations:

honoured names шановане ім’я

spread his teaching гарний хірург

the author of books приділяв значну увагу

created medicine вправляв переломи

to combat the disease поширював вчення

paid much attention автор книжок

good surgeon створив медицину

set fractures подолати хворобу

2. Reading activities

2.1 Read and translate the text:

Hippocrates — the Father of Medicine

One of the most honoured names in medicine is the name of the Hippocrates. He is often called the Father of Medicine. He was born in 460 or 459 B. C. (before Christ) on a small island of Cos near Greece. He studied and lived for a long period in Athens.

His contemporaries considered him the wisest and the greatest physician. Hippocrates was the head of the most flourishing medical school of his age. He had many pupils and spread his teaching throughout the Greek world and even beyond.

Hippocrates was the author of hundred or more books in which he described his ideas, methods and medical procedures.

Hippocrates taught his pupils to examine the patient very attentively and to give him quick help. He created medicine on the basis of experience. Hippocrates freed medicine from superstition. He hated the idea that a disease was the punishment of gods. The aim of Hippocratic therapy was to begin treatment at the right moment, to assist the human organism to increase its energy and to combat the disease. Hippocrates paid much attention to diet, gymnastics, massage and sea-bathing in tratment. He knew the use of many drugs and was also a good surgeon. Hippocrates set fractures and even trephined the skull. Aristotle, the famous philosopher, called him Hippocrates the Great.

3. Post-reading activities

3.1 Suggest the Ukrainian equivalents:

one of the most honoured names; the wisest and the greatest physician; the head of the most flourishing medical school; described his ideas, methods and medical procedures; on the basis of experience; the punishment of gods; paid much attention.

3.2 Suggest the English equivalents:

автор сотні або більше книжок; оглядати хворого дуже уважно; створив медицину; звільнив медицину від забобонів; мета терапії Гіппократа; допомогти організму людини; використання багатьох ліків; проводив трепанацію черепа.

3.3 Answer the following questions using given words and word-combinations:

1. What is Hippocrates?

to be the famous physician and scientist; to live before Christ in Greece; to be the head of the most flourishing medical school; to have many pupils; to spread his teaching through the Greek world and even beyond; to be the author of hundred and more medical books.

2. How is Hippocrates often called?

the Father of Medicine.

3. What kind of physician did his contemporaries consider Hippocrates?

the wisest and the greatest physician.

4. What did he advise for the treatment?

to use the proper diet, gymnastics, massage and sea-bathing.

5. What is the aim of Hippocratic therapy?

to begin treatment at the right moment; to assist the human organism to increase its energy; to use proper diet.

3.4 Say if it is true or false:

1. Hippocrates was born in 460 or 459 A. D. on a small island of Cos near Greece.

2. He studied and lived for a long period in Athens.

3. Hippocrates was the head of the most flourishing medical school of his age.

4. Hippocrates taught his pupils to give the patient quick help.

5. Hippocrates freed medicine from superstition.

6. He knew the use of many drugs and was also a good pharmacist.

7. Aristotle, the famous philosopher, called him Hippocrates the Great.