The Medical Knowledge of the Aztecs

That the Aztecs practiced medicine is not debatable. That the Aztecs were proficient in combating indigenous diseases is well established. The primary question left when examining Aztec practitioners of medical arts may be whether they were closer to physicians as they are known today by most people, or new age healers whom many others are turning for an alternative health treatment. The Aztecs certainly included a healthy dose of mysticism in the way in which they treated healing and, in fact, many alternative health treatments use the very same herbal foundations, even if they don't necessarily engage in the same kind of superstitious incantations.

Aztec medicine, not unlike much modern day medicine, relied greatly upon the use of indigenous herbs. Just as many pharmaceuticals today are derived from herbs and just as an increasing number of people are engaging in alternative health practices that focus upon natural and organic substitutions for synthetic medications, so did the Aztecs realize that many ailments could be cured by the use of local plants. In fact, when the Spanish conquistadors arrived and fell ill, they were amazed to discover how much more effective were the Aztec methods. Word soon reached back to Spain of these apparently miraculous cures and the emperor sent scientists to learn these practices.