Medicine among the ancient Maya

South Med J. 1976 Jul;69(7):938-40. doi: 10.1097/00007611-197607000-00045.

Abstract

Medicine among the ancient Mayas was a blend of religion and science. It was practiced by priests who inherited their position and received extensive education. The Mayas sutured wounds with human hair, reduced fractures, and used casts. They were skillful dental surgeons and made prostheses from jade and turquoise and filled teeth with iron pyrite. Three clinical diseases, pinta, leishmaniasis, and yellow fever, and several psychiatric syndromes were described.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Anatomy / history
  • Central America
  • General Surgery / history
  • History of Dentistry
  • History, Ancient*
  • Humans
  • Indians, South American / history*
  • Leishmaniasis / history
  • Medicine, Traditional
  • Mental Disorders / history
  • Pinta / history
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • Therapeutics / history
  • Yellow Fever / history