Medicine The Definitive Illustrated History

Medicine has always been part of history and we should be thankful for the numerous advanced made through time that make it possible today for us to stay healthy.   DK Canada has recently published a marvelous book on medicine which could become an amazing gift for someone already practicing medicine or wishing to pursue a career in medicine in the future.  Currently in my life, I have a young man of fifteen years old who desire to study medicine in the future.  

So how better to learn more about medicine than exploring this astonishing book which present the history of one of the oldest career known to man.  The book is divided into specific era of history and present the major discoveries or techniques of medicine during these time periods.  Here’s a quick look of the table of contents so that you can see what you will read through these pages.

1. Ancient Wisdom to 700 – healers and herbalists, early surgery, shamanism, medicine in Ancient Egypt, secrets of mummies, medicine in Ancient Mesopotamia, early Chinese medicine, acupuncture, ayurveda, medicine in Ancient Greece, four humors, Hippocrates, medicine in Ancient Rome, Galen, Roman surgical tools.
2. Revival and Renaissance (700-1800) – golden age of Islamic medicine, Ibn Sina’s The Canon of Medicine, first school of medicine, Medieval medicine, anatomy restored, apothecary store, alchemy, black death, preventing plagues, alchemy, chemistry, and medicine, anatomy revolution, barber-surgeons, Ambroise Paré, repair and reconstruction, discovering the circulation, circulation revolution, cataract surgery, exchanging epidemics with the New World, Thomas Sydenham, early microscopists, evolution of microscopes, first microanatomists, scurvy, smallpox: the red plague, first vaccination, phrenology, modern hospital, homeopathy.
3. Science takes Charge (1800-1900) – first stethoscope, diagnostic instruments, resurrection men, miasma theory, cholera, John Snow, epidemiology nd public health, anaesthetics, early anaesthetics, dentistry, pregnancy and childbirth, midwivs, childbed fever, women in medicine, nursing, medical publishing, microbiology and germ theory, Louis Pasteur, cell theory, pathology and medical autopsy, first antiseptics, tuberculosis, vaccines come of age, mysteries of the brain, mental illness, horror of the asylum, viruses and how they work, fighting rabies, discovery of aspiring, x-rays, struggle against malaria, transfusion breakthrough.
4. Era of Specialization (1900-1960) – Sigmund Freud, development of the ECG, cure for syphilis, minimally invasive surgery, diabetes and insulin, war and medicine, battlefield medicine during World War II, influenza and the pandemic, discovery of penicillin, antibiotics in action, evolution of syringes, women’s health, heart disease, allergies and antihistamines, polio: a global battle, structure of DNA, inhalers and nebulizers, scanning machines, pharmaceutical industry.
5. Promises old and New (1960-Present) – the contraceptive pill, Margaret Sanger, cancers, advanced imaging, first heart transplant, implants and prostheses, artificial body parts, in vitro fertilization, HIV and aids, new discoveries for old diseases, genetic revolution, genetic testing, mental health and talking therapies, robots and telemedicine, robotic surgery, emergency medicine, antibiotics resistance and superbugs, Alzheimer’s disease and dementias, end-of-life care, nanomedicine, global medical bodies, Ebola virus disease, stem cell therapy.
6. Reference – contains all the images relating to the various systems in our body.

Through the pages of this book, the reader will learn more about medicine from trepanning and body snatching to the latest development and tools use nowadays.    Stunning photography, diagrams, and images of all sort will help the owner of the book to better visualize the development of medicine through the ages and how some sicknesses were successfully eradicated. Essentially this stunning book is a compelling blend of riveting stories, accessible information, and striking illustrations.   Medicine definitely shows and tells how medicine has evolved into the lifesaving discipline it is today.

As you can see the book will present the history of a discipline that has been present since the beginning of times by highlighting the discoveries, surgery, healing techniques as well as drugs used in a very visual and informative format.

The book is a jewel in itself because of all the beautiful presentation surrounding a specific subject or theme.   Each page will unlock a part of the history of medicine you might have not realized happened.   It is a great reference to own and to explore whether on your own or with your children.

Medicine would make a wonderful gift for someone in your life who has a desire to learn more about this discipline, for a youth who desire to study in medicine, a student currently in university in medicine or for a loved one who is working in the field.  

If Medicine is not the kind of gift book you would get to someone you know, swing by the DK Gift Boutique to discover numerous other ideas like Birds of North America, The DC Comics Encyclopedia, Star Wars Complete Locations, or even 365 Things to do with LEGO bricks.  These are just a few titles available on this special boutique.

Medicine The Definitive Illustrated History is available at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for allowing me to promote this book. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Home Herbal

Home Herbal – the ultimate guide to cooking, brewing, and blending your own herbs
Published at DK Canada

About the book

Recommending herbs for both well-being and minor ailments, featuring an A-Z directory of 100 key herbs, and with information on how to grow, harvest, prepare, and use them, Home Herbal offers a wealth of practical advice on the medicinal, cleaning, and consumptive uses of herbs, with the emphasis on what anyone can achieve in their garden and kitchen.

My Thoughts

This is book definitively very interesting if you have a garden and you grow herbs.    I was interested in the fact that I could prepare some medicinal products out of herbs when I requested this book.   But let me tell you that I got more than I would have expected from it.

The book is divided in three main sections; A-Z of Herbs where you get all the information you need to know about specific herbs like garlic, celery seeds, fennel, hyssop to name a few, Use Herbs which contains recipes to heal you from the inside and other ones to heal you from the outside, and Source Herbs which contains information on how to grow your own herb garden.

In the first section you get specific information on herbs used in recipes.   Take the Lavender for example. You will get a picture of the plant, it’s growth habit, the main constituents as well as it’s actions.   Lavender is widely recognized for it’s relaxant ability but did you know it can be used for antispasmodic, a tonic for the nervous system, circulatory stimulant, antibacterial, analgesic, carminative, cholagogue, anti-depressant and anti-emetic?  In this page of information, you will also discover how to use the plant with infusion, tincture, massage oil, hair rinse and essential oil.   And you will learn on how to growth it, forage it as well as harvest it.

In the Use Herbs section, you can go through a recipe chooser depending of your….  Healthy skin and hair, digestion, circulation, women’s health, men’s health, coughs and colds, first aid, muscles and joints, mind and emotion, as well as  pregnancy and childbirth, .   Some recipes are accompanied with stunning pictures and a clear step-by-step method.  Other recipes only contains the how to make instructions.   Each recipe also has icons indicating what it will help in your body.  For example, the Sour Cherry and Raw Cocoa Smoothie indicates that it will help you regulate your sleep.  Before giving the recipe a little text indicates the benefits of it for you.   The Sour Cherry and Raw Cocoa Smoothie is apparently ideal for before or after exercising and for long-distance runners, as the anti-inflammatory properties of cherries aid quicker muscle recovery and pain relief.   Sour cherries are also a source of natural melatonin, a potent antioxidant with immune system-modulating properties.   If eaten regularly, they may even help to regulate the body’s natural sleep patterns.  

The recipes you will find in this book can be for juices, smoothies, teas, cordials, syrups, tinctures, soups, salads, and bars.  You can also find instructions to bake face and body creams, body scrubs, body oils, body spritzes, body powders, soaps, cleansers, toners, face masks, balms, bath bombs, bath infusions, as well as hair and scalp treatments.   I am wondering where I could find some of the ingredients.  I suspect that I could easily find them in a health store.    My only problem now is that I don’t have a garden at this moment.   Eventually I would love to have one but the play structure that I designed and that my father-in-law built with the help of my oldest son and my husband is taking much of the area in the backyard. 

I know that many would find this book interesting.  If you are into making your own bath products or simply want to get healthier using herbs, Home Herbal is for you!

Home Herbal is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.