History of Anesthesia and Pain in Old Iranian Texts

Abstract

There are many references in ancient Iranian literature on anesthesia, analgesia and pain. Various cultural changes have occurred due to political, cultural and civil factors, one key example being the bilateral interactions between Iranian culture and other cultures with regards to many issues, involving medicine and medical sciences, a process that has been part of the dialogue between civilizations. Some aspects of ancient Iranian culture have been cited in Iranian literature, often involving Iranian physicians. Iranian scientists of earlier times possessed a great wealth of knowledge in the fields of medicine, phi losophy, literature, astrology, etc. and they recorded their experiences for posterity. Ancient Iranian culture cites the writings of many famous and great scientists and poets. Two main cultural eras are defined in Iranian culture: pre-Islamic and Islamic. In this manuscript, the recorded histories of anesthesia, analgesia and pain are followed according to this historical classification. Throughout the manuscript pain is frequently mentioned, because pain is one of the key issues often mentioned in Iranian literature, especially by the romantic poets, mainly as a sign of ‘love’ from the ‘lover’ expressed towards the ‘beloved one’. Lover in Farsi is A'ashegh and the beloved one is Ma'shough; two terms that will be mentioned throughout this manuscript.

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