Volume 115, Issue 6, December 2012, Pages 1437-1441
Department of Anesthesiology, Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
Abstract
Initial attempts at
surgical anesthesia began many centuries ago, with the plants of
antiquity. The mandragora, or mandrake, was used as a sedative and to
induce pain relief for surgical procedures. It has been depicted in
tablets and friezes since the 16th century before the common era (BCE)
and used for its sedative effects by Hannibal (second century BCE)
against his enemies. The Romans used the mandrake for surgery. The Arabs
translated the scientific work of the Ancients and expanded on their
knowledge. They developed the Spongia Somnifera, which contained the
juice of the mandrake plant. After the fall of the Islamic cities of
Europe to the Christians, scientific work was translated into Latin and
the Spongia Somnifera was used in Europe until the discovery of the use
of ether for surgical anesthesia. Copyright © 2012 International
Anesthesia Research Society.
Indexed keywords
EMTREE medical terms: analgesia; anesthesia; Antiquity;
article; human; Mandragora; Mandragora officinarum; medicinal plant;
priority journal; sedation; Spongia somnifera; anesthesiology; Arab;
chemistry; general surgery; herbal medicine; history; phytotherapy; plant root; review
EMTREE drug terms: hypnotic sedative agent
MeSH: Anesthesiology; Arabs; General Surgery; Herbal Medicine; History, 19th Century; History, Ancient; History, Medieval; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Mandragora; Phytotherapy; Plant Roots
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.
Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: Hypnotics and Sedatives
ISSN: 00032999
CODEN: AACRASource Type: Journal
Original language: English
Chidiac, E.J.; Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University, Harper
University Hospital, 3990 John R, Detroit, MI 48201, United States;
email:echidiac@med.wayne.edu
© Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
© Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
