25/07/2026
5 Decades in Midwifery Love
The decline of ancient Egyptian medicine and its implications for modern midwifery
Magda Helmi Ob/gyn Consultant
Civilizations rise and fall, and their knowledge and achievements wax and wane. This is true of medicine as well. Ancient Egypt had a sophisticated medical system that was well-advance, but this knowledge was largely lost over the centuries.
As a midwife with over 50 years of experience, I have been interested in this history for many years. I have wondered why ancient Egyptian medicine disappeared, and what we can learn from it today.
I believe that there are several factors that contributed to the decline of ancient Egyptian medicine.
Another factor was the decline of the Egyptian empire. As the empire became weaker, it lost control of its territory and its trade routes. This made it more difficult to obtain the raw materials and medicines that were needed for medical treatment.
Despite the decline of ancient Egyptian medicine, some of its knowledge survived. This knowledge was preserved in papyrus scrolls, and it was eventually rediscovered by European scholars in the 19th century.
Today, we are seeing a resurgence of interest in ancient Egyptian medicine. This is due in part to the growing popularity of complementary and alternative medicine. Many people believe that ancient Egyptian medicine can offer us effective treatments for a variety of health conditions.
I believe that it is important to study the history of ancient Egyptian medicine. This knowledge can help us to understand how our own medical system has developed, and it can also provide us with new insights into the treatment of disease.
In particular, I am interested in the golden era of ancient Egyptian midwifery. This was a time when midwives were highly respected and skilled, and they were able to provide women with the best possible care during childbirth. I believe that we can learn a great deal from this era, and that it can help us to improve the quality of midwifery care today.
However, I am also concerned about the future of midwifery. Our knowledge of midwifery nowadays seems to be progressing to the level of knowledge that was written in the papyrus (Kahon papyrus). This is a worrying trend, as it suggests that we are about to lose the knowledge and skills necessary for providing safe and effective care to women during childbirth.
I believe that it is worth studying history to protect the future. By understanding the past, we can better understand the present and the future. This is especially true in the field of medicine, where knowledge can be lost and forgotten over time. By studying the history of ancient Egyptian medicine, we can learn from the past and improve the quality of medicine in the future.
Keywords: civilization curves, ancient medicine, Egypt, midwifery, history, future
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