1.Historical Clarification and Review of Usage of Surgical Instruments in Mongolian Medicine from XVII to the XIX Century
Khaliunaa B ; Baasanjav N ; Bold Sh
Mongolian Medical Sciences 2018;185(3):125-131
History of surgical services in Mongolian medicine began at least from New Stone Ages (Neolithic
Era). However, we decided to study usage of surgical instruments in Mongolian medicine from 1578
to the XIX century. Because, the third transmission of Buddhism into Mongolia occurred during
the time of the Altan Khan of the Southern branch of Central Mongols, a descendent of Kublai
Khan, tried to revive Mongol strength and unification. After that Undur Gegeen Zanabazar was also
holding a religious service around his residence. Furthermore, in 1651 he established 7 parts of the
Monastery including Financial, Lamasery, Food service, and Personal physician’s divisions based
on his attendants, people, and lamas. The Personal physician’s division was one of the basis for the
sect of “Four Medical Tantras”. Since that time the sect of “Four Medical Tantras,” had been spread
effectively and many medical schools were established near the Buddhist temples in Mongolia. They
respected “Four Medical Tantras,” and “Shun,” as the main scripts and focused to base it on their
theory and practice.
During the research we identified that from the XVII century, Mongolian doctors and scientists
wrote many commentary books on “Four Medical Tantras” and renewed some of the content of
“Four Medical Tantras.” Especially, Agvanluvsandanbijaltsan and Jambaldorj wrote a medical and
medicinal books including surgical instruments. Also Ishbaljir wrote practical book about internal
medicine, surgical methods, and services.
The major conclusion to this study was that Mongolian nation established their own medical art,
comprehensive knowledge, and surgical methods as well as updated surgical instruments during the
XVII and XIX Century. Particularly, they could renewed surgical methods and surgical instruments,
which came from Indian Ayurveda and Tibetan medicine.
2.Investigation of the Surgical Methods in the “Secret History of the Mongols”
Khaliunaa B ; Baasanjav N ; Bold Sh
Mongolian Medical Sciences 2019;187(1):48-51
In the 13th century, a wound caused by an arrowhead was healed by scorching the surface of the injury. For instance, in the early 13th century during a battle, Ugudei Khaan was shot in the neck. One of his knights, Borokhul, sucked a blood clot from the wound and carried him on his horse. When Chinggis Khaan saw them, he grieved, wept, and ordered a fire to be made. After scorching Ugudei’s wound, he gave him something to drink and waited to fight their enemies. We came across instances of curing injuries with dairy products in the Secret History of Mongolia. In one case, when he was wounded in the neck, Chinggis Khaan traveled with difficulty and camped in a battle field at sunset.
One of Chinggis’ knights, Zelme, nursed him by sucking blood until midnight. He cared for the unconscious Khaan by himself, not trusting others. When midnight passed, Chinggis Khaan woke up and said “blood has dried and I am thirsty.” Zelme took off his hat, boots and deel (dressing-gown), leaving only underwear and entered their enemy’s camp. He searched for eseg (mare’s milk) on carriages of commoners who camped behind the military camp. However, he couldn’t find any eseg because the refugees hadn’t milked their mares. Therefore, he stole a leather sack of tarag (a drink made by fermenting the milk of sheep, goat, or cow) and carried it back to his camp.
Nobody saw Zelme, God might have blessed him. Zelme gave Chinggis Khaan the tarag mixing it with water to drink. Chinggis Khaan had the drink and said he felt relieved. At that time it was dawn.
One of the achievements of Traditional Mongolian Medicine of that time was curing wounds with the help of surgical means. In the beginning, the Mongolians got much knowledge of animal anatomy by dismembering joints and internal organs of different animals while slaughtering. Afterwards, based on their knowledge of animal anatomy, they set bones and cured wounds. Additionally, they broadened their knowledge by performing autopsies on dead bodies, etc. In 1263, during one of the battles between the Mongolian and South Sun nation troops, which the Sun lost, Zuukhar was hit by 3 arrows. The arrowhead in his left shoulder could not be removed. Hyavtsag opened the wound with the help of two men who were sentenced to death (these people were Sun nation) and examined if the arrow could possibly be removed. Finally, he was able to remove the arrow from Zuukhar’s body. Thence, the
Mongolians of that time performed autopsies as well as surgical treatment along with medical treatment.
In the mid-13th century, Traditional Mongolian curing methods were rapidly developing. The Mongolian army had special doctors to cure injured soldiers. According to some sources, in the early 13th century, there was a position of “military doctor,” among Chinggis Khaan’s army. When generals or troops got injured, the military doctor was ordered to cure them by a fixed deadline.
3.Determining the usage of bloodletting tools based on ancient medical books
Byambajargal D ; Uuganbayar N ; Baljinnyam B ; Khaliunaa B ; Bold Sh
Mongolian Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2021;19(2):71-76
Abstract
Bloodletting is a medical tradition that probably began in prehistoric times. Its rationale was based on the belief that removing blood eliminated “impure blood”. From antiquity until the beginning of the 20th century, bloodletting was considered a panacea, and it was the most common and versatile form of medical treatment. Not only was it believed to cure the sick, but also to promote vigor in the healthy. Some of the antient books of traditional medicine noted that the bloodletting tools is very importance when opening a vessel in order to bleed. Traditional medical bloodletting tools are one of the oldest archeological findings, and researchers have found many types of bloodletting tools in our country dated back thousands of years. Therefore, research on bloodletting tools an important component of bloodletting therapy, is of theoretical and practical importance. The location, indications, and tools of bloodletting therapy and bloodletting vessels are described in detail in the “Subsequent Tantra” of “Four Medical Tantras”, and its commentaries: Dar mo sman rams pa blo bzang chos grags “Dka’ phreng mun sel sgron”, Sde srid sangs rgyas rgya mtsho “Be edurya sngon po” and Luvsanchoinpil “Gces btus snying nor” so on. The first Mongolian surgical work is directly related to the historical tradition of bloodletting therapy. It is now known that the stone needles, which was discovered in the 3000th millennium BCE, may have originated from the Mongolia used to use in medicine as bloodletting tools. In the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, Mongolian medical bloodletting tools were passed down through India and Tibet medical books, and later the science of surgery and bloodletting therapy became more sophisticated and comprehensive knowledge. At the same time, it is clear that there is every reason to say that it has been enriched by the medical knowledge of the neighboring countries and improved by their own experience.
4.Research on kidney disease in the scriptures
Gunjidmaa G ; Narkhand A ; Khaliunaa S ; Oyun-Erdene B ; Tuul Kh
Mongolian Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2022;21(2):23-26
Introduction:
Kidney disease is common in our country due to the four seasons and harsh climate. This article is discussed about the kidney health, causes, pathology and kidney on the relationship of other organs in traditional medicine.
Methods:
The study was processed using analysis and synthesis methods.
Results:
1. The root nature of the five vital organs are included in the yang character organs which hot nature qualities in five elements. However, some of the five vital organs will be under the influence of that place, as they will be located in the place of the “badgan”, in the place of the “mkhris”, and in the place of the “rlung”.
2. Kidney disease is usually caused by falling from a height, hit and injured, lifting heavy things, jogging and twisting your back uncomfortably, sit for a long time in a damp place, water events excess, eating too sweets that are heavy and cold qualities. In medical practice, kidney disease is accompanied by heart disease and liver disease.
Conclusion
In according to traditional medicine main theory, kidneys are a solid vital organ that generates heat and warms the lower body because of the high blood flow through its, on the other hand they are cold character which are in the place of the “rlung”. The kidneys are functionally closely related to other organs therefore, to get sick the effects of disease on other organs.
5.Surgical treatment and survival rate from colorectal cancer in Mongolia
Ganbaatar R ; Chinzorig M ; Tuvshin B ; Erdene-Ochir Ya ; Jargalsaikhan D ; Erkhembayar E ; Bat-Оrgil Ch ; Khaliunaa B ; Batzorig B ; Ulziisaikhan B
Mongolian Medical Sciences 2021;197(3):59-63
Introduction:
In 2018, the overall colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence rate was 3.6%, according to the
National Cancer Center of Mongolia (NCCM), and the incidence of colorectal cancer has increased
slightly in recent years. According to cancer stages, late stage cancer has a 5-year survival rate of
51%, while early stage cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 79%. The overall survival rate of colorectal
cancer in Mongolia has not been studied in precisely. In Asia, the 5-year survival rate for colorectal
cancer was 60%. Therefore, this study investigated the colorectal cancer survival rate and prognostic
factors at NCCM.
Methods:
A total of 108 patients diagnosed with CRC at NCCM’s General Surgery Department from
2013 to 2015 were used in this retrospective cohort study. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to
develop the survival graphs, which were then compared using the Log-rank test.
Results:
The median survival time was 42 months, with a 95% CI (38.55-45.66). A 5-year period,
the overall survival rate for CRC was 61.2%. Survival rates at the I, II, III, and IV stages were 100%,
75%, 65.4%, and 13.5%, respectively. There was a significant difference in CRC survival rates across
all stages (p=0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference in determining the relationship
between adjuvant chemotherapy and survival rate (p=0.0003).
Conclusion
The outcome of the surgery is determined by the CRC stage. The postoperative survival
rate (61.2%) is directly related to tumor stage, peripheral glandular metastasis, distant metastasis,
and chemotherapy effects.