Before Aspirin - Sources of Pain Relief

Before Aspirin

This set of readings is designed to show the students what pain relief was like before modern painkillers were invented. The material is intended to provide a backdrop for the story of aspirin's invention. The readings introduce the students to a variety of traditional pain-relief methods that may or may not have had real value, and where possible an attempt is made to explain any underlying scientific principles. Some of these methods are still practiced today as alternative medicine. The appropriateness of these methods is not an issue taken up in these readings (though you may choose to have your students debate this question). For example, instead of pondering the effectiveness of acupuncture, the difficulties involved in studying this practice scientifically are used to illustrate how any therapy must be tested before it can be judged as effective. In addition, the readings are written to stress connections between ancient remedies and modern practice. For example, the use of willow bark as a remedy led directly to the invention of aspirin.

The Readings

Before Aspirin
Endorphins
Plants
Animals
Acupuncture

Relevant National Science Education Standards

Science and Technology - Explores the technology of pain-relief during centuries long past, before modern technologies became available.
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives - The readings tell an important part of the early history of health care.
History and Nature of Science - The readings explore the history of pain relief, and the reading on acupuncture explores the nature of scientific knowledge with regard to the difficulties of designing good experiments for exploring acupuncture scientifically.

Relevant New Jersey State Science Curriculum Standards

5.1 The reading on acupuncture discusses the importance of comparing an experimental therapy to a placebo in order to determine effectiveness.

5.2 The ancient methods of pain relief discussed come from many cultures around the world, and some have led to modern medications. Some examples include the old Chinese use of opium as a painkiller, which has led to modern drugs like morphine and codeine; and the ancient Aztec use of chili peppers to treat pain, which has led to modern experimental therapies using capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers.

5.5 The old folk remedies discussed involved a variety of amazing plants and animals, from electric fish to pain-relieving chili peppers.

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5.1	The reading on acupuncture discusses the importance of comparing an experimental therapy to a placebo in order to determine effectiveness.
5.2	The ancient methods of pain relief discussed come from many cultures around the world, and some have led to modern medications. Some examples include the old Chinese use of opium as a painkiller, which has led to modern drugs like morphine and codeine; and the ancient Aztec use of chili peppers to treat pain, which has led to modern experimental therapies using capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers.
5.5	The old folk remedies discussed involved a variety of amazing plants and animals, from electric fish to pain-relieving chili peppers.