Introduction

Ancient Egypt is famous for its iconic pyramids, mythology, mummies and Pharos. However, less discussed are the numerous medical innovations of Ancient Egypt society which have played a key role in the development of modern medicine as we know it today. This article will explore the contributions of Ancient Egypt to contemporary medicine through considering the ancient civilisation’s unexpected medicinal use of mouldy food and animal dung and relating it to medicine in the present-day.

The Wonders of Mouldy Bread

When it came to treating injuries, the Ancient Egyptians were known to apply mouldy bread to infected wounds as a common form of treatment. Unappealing as this sounds, this treatment was surprisingly effective in serving as an antiseptic. This anticipated our present-day use of Penicillin as an antibiotic in modern medicine. Penicillin is, after all, derived from a type of mould. Centuries after the Ancient Egyptians’ innovative medicinal use of mouldy bread, Scottish biologist Alexander Fleming discovered the antibiotic properties of Penicillin having observed the formation of mould in petri dishes in 1928. Fleming’s discovery is praised as a cornerstone of modern medicine, yet few attribute the discovery of the antiseptic potential of mould to Ancient Egypt.

Crocodile Dung as Birth Control

In the absence of modern-day forms of contraception, the Ancient Egyptian women would make barrier contraception from mixing crocodile dung with honey (a natural antiseptic and antimicrobial agent) and other substances into paste. This was certainly an effective contraceptive, but not due to the smell as one might think. The alkaline pH of the dung gave it the ability to chemically neutralise any sperm it came into contact with and also act as a physical barrier. Whilst this method has not held up to today, it is certainly an impressive example of ancient innovation and an imaginative precursor to contemporary spermicides.

Conclusion

To conclude, when discussing influences and contributions to modern medicine, it is important to consider the essential role of Ancient Egyptian remedies and methods. Ancient Egyptian medicinal practises – even as unexpected as mouldy treatments and dung pastes – reveal an advanced and innovative understanding of natural remedies which have laid the foundations for future medicinal discoveries.

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