While certain ancient remedies have received quite a bad rap in the modern era, it appears that some beliefs related to the healing properties of copper may have been spot on.
Copper’s use in medicine was initially recorded within the ancient Egyptian Smith Papyrus , written around 3000 BC, within which copper was described as having disinfectant powers. Within the Ebers Papyrus , from about 1500 BC, copper in multiple formats was recommended for a range of ailments from burn wounds to headaches.
But the use of copper for healing was not unique to Egypt. Drinking water from copper vessels was believed to prevent infections and purify water—thus avoiding diarrhea—in a range of cultures, including the ancient Greeks, Chinese and within Ayurvedic practices of India. The Phoenicians even used shavings from their bronze swords—rich in copper—to prevent infection in battle wounds.
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Greek physician Dioscorides recorded using a green pigment created by exposing metallic copper to vinegar vapor in eye treatments, the Hippocratic Collection recommended copper to treat leg ulcers and Pliny described its use in treatments for intestinal worms, mouth ulcers and ear problems. The Aztecs reportedly prescribed gargling with a copper mixture to heal sore throats, while Mongolian tribes treated venereal ulcers with copper sulfate.
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