Author: Abikenova Ayazhan
Translated by: Uspanova Ainura
Many are familiar with the schools of ancient Greek philosophy. Epicurus, Galen, Herophilus - these are the philosophers who founded natural philosophy and materialism, but little is heard about the philosopher Asclepiades.
Asclepiad is a native of the city of Prusa in Asia Minor, an ancient Greek philosopher with medical views based on the teachings of Epicurus and Lucretius. According to his visions, the human body consists of atoms formed from the air in the lungs, from food in the stomach, which, entering the blood, nourish the tissues of each organ. And as long as the atoms are distributed correctly and move in the right direction, the person is healthy. He was a supporter, as it has become fashionable these days, healthy lifestyle. He called everyone to a physical asset: if extra atoms are released through sweat while walking or running, then the disease will not occur; if it is rational and healthy to eat, then the atoms circulating through the blood will be of high quality. He is one of those who developed preventive measures. His principle is to heal safely, quickly and pleasantly, he avoided the treatment with vomiting, laxatives and bloodletting, and more adhered to an active lifestyle, maintaining water balance, hygiene of the body and home, here he believed: it is better to drink clean water than poison the body is poisonous, and abstained from any medicinal substances. We can say that his reasoning was the first for the application of diet and physiotherapy.
Asclepiades refuted the notion that illness is the fate or decision of God, and it should only end in death. He promoted the idea of “you can and should resist any ailment” and believed in the higher powers of medicine. He is even credited with creating a tracheotomy (emergency: cutting the throat to allow air to enter the lungs).
The philosopher founded his own school, which has a medical direction with a materialistic course. Asclepiades fell under the condemnation of Celsius and Galen, since his visions were the complete opposite of the idealistic views of the Roman Empire at that time.
