ABSTRACT
This chapter explores some of the concepts of Ancient Egyptian medicine and obstetrics and gynecology and also describes the materia medica for women’s disorders in that era. Many of the foods used in day to day cooking were also in use as medications. Cereals were the main crops grown in Ancient Egypt: emmer wheat was pounded to make flour for bread (as was the lotus plant fruit), and barley was brewed for beer. The medical papyri of Ancient Egypt are the oldest-known form of medical literature, containing the earliest writings on anatomy, surgery, gynecology and drug therapy. The papyri contain references to aphrodisiacs, sterility, impotence, contraception, miscarriage, labor, and remedies to protect the newborn and to promote the supply of breast milk. The Ancient Egyptian scribes were experts in hieroglyphic writing, an elaborate form of picture-writing using about 700 signs. This form of writing was used on temples, monuments, tombs and religious papyri.
