The Mexica physicians, called ticitl, were trained in the calmecac schools and in special institutions attached to the major temples, and they had a wide range of skills, including diagnosis, surgery, herbalism, and ritual healing. The Mexica physicians treated a remarkable variety of ailments, including fevers, coughs, diarrhea, dysentery, headaches, toothaches, rheumatism, and skin diseases. The Mexica physicians also treated more serious conditions, including wounds, fractures, tumors, and infections.
Fevers and Respiratory Ailments
The Mexica physicians treated a wide range of fevers and respiratory ailments, and they used a variety of herbal remedies for these conditions. The most common remedies for fevers included infusions of tlapatl and other plants, and the remedies for respiratory ailments included infusions of tzompitzahuac and other plants. The Mexica physicians also used sweating treatments, which involved wrapping the patient in blankets and inducing sweating to reduce the fever.
The Mexica physicians also treated coughs, colds, and other respiratory ailments, and they used a variety of remedies, including infusions, inhalations, and poultices. The Mexica physicians had a particular skill in the treatment of respiratory ailments, and they were able to use a wide range of remedies to treat these conditions.
Wounds and Fractures
The Mexica physicians were particularly skilled in the treatment of wounds and fractures, which were common in the military context. The Mexica physicians used a variety of techniques for the treatment of wounds, including the cleaning of the wound, the application of poultices, and the suturing of the wound. The Mexica physicians also used a variety of plants with antiseptic properties, and they had a sophisticated understanding of the prevention of infection.
The Mexica physicians were also skilled in the treatment of fractures, and they used a variety of techniques, including the setting of the bones, the application of splints, and the use of bandages. The Mexica physicians had a particular skill in the treatment of fractures of the long bones, and they were able to use a variety of techniques to ensure that the bones healed properly.
Digestive Ailments
The Mexica physicians treated a wide range of digestive ailments, including diarrhea, dysentery, and stomachaches. The Mexica physicians used a variety of herbal remedies for these conditions, including infusions of chapulistle and other plants. The Mexica physicians also used dietary changes, and they prescribed specific foods and beverages to treat the digestive ailments.
The Mexica physicians had a particular skill in the treatment of dysentery, which was a common and often fatal disease in the pre-conquest period. The Mexica physicians used a variety of remedies, including astringent plants, and they had a sophisticated understanding of the prevention and the treatment of the disease.
Skin Diseases
The Mexica physicians treated a wide range of skin diseases, including rashes, sores, and infections. The Mexica physicians used a variety of herbal remedies for these conditions, including poultices, salves, and washes. The Mexica physicians also used the ahuehuete tree, which had antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, and they used the tree for a wide range of skin conditions.
The Mexica physicians had a particular skill in the treatment of skin diseases, and they used a wide range of remedies that are still in use in the modern Mexican folk medicine. The persistence of the Mexica skin remedies in the modern folk medicine is evidence of the effectiveness of the remedies.
Other Ailments
In addition to the ailments mentioned above, the Mexica physicians treated a wide range of other conditions, including eye diseases, ear diseases, and dental problems. The Mexica physicians were also skilled in the treatment of mental illness, and they used a variety of techniques, including herbal remedies, ritual healing, and counseling.
The Mexica physicians had a sophisticated understanding of the human body and of the causes of illness, and they developed a wide range of remedies for a wide range of ailments. The Mexica medical tradition has been the subject of much scholarly analysis, and it is now recognized as one of the most sophisticated medical traditions of any pre-modern culture.
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