Ancient Egyptian Medicine

If you had to be ill in ancient times, the best place to do so would probably have been Egypt. Not that it would have been much fun. Unlike the injuries received through accidents or fighting which were dealt with by the zwn.w (sunu) [37], or scorpion stings and snake bites for which the xrp srqt (kherep serqet) [37], the exorcist of Serqet, knew the appropriate spells and remedies, illnesses and their causes were mysterious. The Egyptians explained them as the work of the gods, caused by the presence of evil spirits or their poisons, and cleansing the body was the way to rid the body of their influence. Incantations, prayers to the gods - above all to Sekhmet [9] the goddess of healing, curses, and threats, often accompanied by the injection of nasty smelling and tasting medicines into the various bodily orifices, were hoped to prove effective.