User:Lcharney/sandbox

=Asclepiades of Bithynia=

About Asclepiades
Family lineage of Asclepiades is not well known. It is assumed that his father was a doctor due to ancient physicians coming from medical families. He received the names Philosophicus due to his knowledge of philosophy and Pharmacion for his knowledge of medicinal herbs. Antiochus of Ascalon said about Asclepiades, "second to none in the art of medicine and acquainted with philosophy too."

Medicine Background
Asclepiades was influenced by Epicurean philosophy, which in turn caused him to believe that “Nature does not look after living organisms”. He also challenged the idea that matter is continuous. He believed that without the proper care, the physical condition of patients would regress and they would become weak and frail. Even though Asclepiades would use medicines to help heal his patients, he believed that many natural techniques would rejuvenate a persons’ health. Exercise, healthy dieting, and sunlight are just a few things that he favored. Along with the physical treatment of patients, Asclepiades was known for his bedside manner. He would treat all his patients fairly and not discriminate based upon gender or mental illness. He believed treating his patients kindly and amicably was a staple to being a good physician. Cito tuto jucunde meaning to treat his patients "swiftly, safely, and sweetly" was a motto that he followed. Many physicians during his era had a tendency to be uncaring and have a lack of sympathy towards their patients.

Asclepiades believed that a reason for diseases was the result of pores being becoming clogged. Pores were considered to be small openings between atoms that would constitute the body. Different diseases were caused by differences in different parts of the body. However, he still believed that other mild disease were caused by a disruption in bodily fluids and pneuma. He separated illnesses into three separate categories: status strictus(too tightly held), status laxus(too loosely held), and status mixtus(a bit of each). He also believes that there are no critical days of diseases, meaning that illnesses do not end at a definite time.

Drug Theory
Digestion was a primary factor in Asclepiades' drug theory. Particles of food are seen as a main cause of indigestion. If the particles of food were small, digestion would follow its normal course. However, if the particles were too big, indigestion would occur. If an illness were to occur, he believed that drugs were not the solution. His prescribed treatment was food and wine (given in appropriate amounts) superseded by an enema. This procedure would remove the cause of illness. Asclepiades believed that the use of drugs for cleansing was of no use - "all the substances were produced by the drugs themselves".

Music Therapy
Asclepiades used music therapy to treat mentally ill patients in order to maintain "psychogenic equilibrium". While Asclepiades was not the first to use music therapy, he used it to treat mental illness along with other ailments including viper bites, scorpion stings, etcs. Gentle music was recommended to those in a flippant state, while those in a somber state were encouraged with music using the Phrygian mode. He did not recommend the use of a flute in any treatments because it was considered to be too energetic and would not be have a calming effect on patients. He believed that the part of the body that was affected would dance to the music and expel the pain from the body.