“Pain is one of God’s punishments for the wicked and purifying trials for the good” – because of this popular belief in middle Ages patients died of pain shock in surgeries and physicians who tried to apply anesthesia were convicted to execution. But at the same time the search for pain killers was conducted.

Almost every tissue of the body is equipped by free nerve endings – special receptors for pain (“nociceptors”). As a respond to some type of stimulus they generate electric signal which transmits through spinal cord to brain after what animal feels pain. Rene Descartes was the first who had pointed to this link between peripheral sensation and the brain in the 17th century although people had learned to break it two centuries earlier.

Already in 15th century surgery employed so-called soporific sponge. A sponge was imbued with a mixture of opium, juice of unripe mulberry, henbane, and hemlock, mandragora, climbing ivy, lettuce seed and seed of the dock; and applied to the nostrils until patient falls asleep. For awaking after operation was used another sponge soaked in vinegar.

For the centuries alcohol and opium-based compounds were the only methods to alleviate pain. Right up to 1860 laudanum (tincture of opium) was the best of the medicine for relieving pain, wherever situated.

19th century brought anesthesia revolution. In the early 1840s first experiments with ether as surgical anesthetic were performed. Soon chloroform was found as an efficacious and reasonably safe alternative to ether. Later nitrous oxide was firstly applied as soporific gas.

1899 – Introduction of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) by the Bayer Company. Extracted from willow tree bark and meadow grasses ASA under the trade name “aspirin” became the best selling medication in the world. Aspirin inhibits enzyme responsible for inflammatory processes in the body. Symptomatic treatment became accompanied with causative; firstly appeared classifications of pain and painkillers.

Unlike methods of predominantly symptomatic Western medicine described above Eastern tradition employed more natural and less harmful ways for relieving pain. Ayurvedic physicians considered symptoms of some disease as a result of spiritual illness. To treat symptoms means to drive the disease back to the body. The renewal of harmony between soul and nature is the most efficient painkiller. Water, air, herbs and acupunctural massage – are still universal remedies.

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After hundreds of years spent in medical, biological and chemical laboratories humanity today can say with confidence that conducted investigations made a hitch in pain relief direction. The tincture of opium was substituted by dozens of chemicals. Symptomatic treatment of pain – a lovely method over the world – brings pharmacologists good money by involving patients into vicious circle of side effects. In our drugstore you always can find a remedy from a complications caused by another remedy. Did you see a line near the building with bright sign board: “Only today! Buy two packs of pills in our chemist’s shop and the third you’ll get for free!”? Think about preventive medicine today not to be in this line tomorrow...

Yulia

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