Simbología en medicina y ciencias de la salud / Symbology in medicine and health sciences

La inclusión curricular de la historia de la medicina se hace cada vez más importante, y dentro de la misma el estudio de la simbología en medicina es un tema muy interesante y a veces polémico. Los símbolos asociados a la medicina usualmente presentan serpientes asociadas a los mismos, siendo los más reconocidos el bastón de Asclepio/Esculapio y el caduceo de Hermes/Mercurio. Las serpientes se encuentran asociadas a consideraciones positivas y negativas en las diferentes culturas del mundo. En el Antiguo Egipto eran símbolos de sabiduría y poder. En la Biblia tenían un rol dual y una participación en al menos un evento relacionado a curaciones masivas. La mitología griega nos provee de elementos que conectan a serpientes enrolladas en torno a una rama o vara directamente con la medicina. El tratamiento de la dracunculiasis nos otorga otra vía de conexión entre esta imagen y la medicina. El bastón de Asclepio/Esculapio se reconoce como símbolo de la medicina y las ciencias de la salud en general, mientras que el caduceo se asocia a otras profesiones no médicas.

The curricular inclusion of the history of medicine is becoming more and more important, and within it the study of symbology in medicine is a very interesting and sometimes controversial subject. The symbols associated with medicine usually present snakes associated with them, the most recognized being the rod of Asclepius/ Aesculapius and the Hermes/Mercury caduceus. Snakes are associated with positive and negative considerations in the different cultures of the world. In Ancient Egypt they were symbols of wisdom and power. In the Bible they had a dual role and a participation in at least one event related to massive healings. Greek mythology provides us with elements that connect snakes coiled around a branch or rod directly to medicine. The treatment of dracunculiasis gives us another way of connection between this image and medicine. The rod of Asclepius/ Aesculapius is recognized as a symbol of medicine and health sciences in general, while the caduceus is associated with other non-medical professions

En defensa de la identidad médica cubana / Defending the Cuban medical identity

Sobre el origen de los emblemas que tienen que ver con la medicina mucho se escribe pero poco se conoce, es por ello que aún se aprecia el uso incorrecto del Caduceo de Mercurio en instituciones de salud, y quizás por facilismo o por ignorancia se han adoptado símbolos que no son los que caracterizan a la medicina en Cuba. El propósito que persigue este trabajo es reflexionar sobre este tema por la necesidad del uso adecuado de los símbolos que identifican a los trabajadores de la salud pública cubana. Se revisaron artículos científicos y se exploraron sitios Web, por lo que se pudo demostrar que el emblema que identifica al sistema de salud cubano dignamente es el Caduceo de Esculapio, al que se le atribuyen dotes para calmar o apaciguar. Esta imagen del bastón con la serpiente es la que ha quedado como un atributo del dios curativo y ha llegado hasta la actualidad como símbolo de la medicina

Much has been written, but little is known about the origin of the symbols that have to do with medicine. This is the reason why we still notice the inadequate use of the caduceus of Mercury in health institutions, and the adoption of symbols that are not characteristic of medicine in Cuba. This paper was aimed at clarifying some concepts and pieces of information on this topic, which will allow properly using the symbols that should identify the Cuban health care workers. Several scientific articles were reviewed and a number of websites were visited to demonstrate that the identity symbol of the Cuban health system is the Rod of Asclepius, which is considered to have properties of calming down or pacifying people. The staff with the serpent entwined around it is the image which has remained as an attribute of the healer god and as a symbol of medicine at present

A History of Korean Medical Association's Emblem : the Caduceus of Asklepios and Hermes / 의사학

An emblem represents the identity of an organization. Through the emblem of an organization, they differentiate the members from others and reinforce the membership, homogeneity, and pride. It is also a tool that an organization officially publicizes its mission and values. The symbol designed by Cho, Byungduk was announced as the first emblem of Korean Medical Association(KMA) on October 31st 1947. His design work has the caduceus with the Taeguk sign on the top, the symbol of Korea, and the Red Cross in the background including the name, 'KMA'. Since then, the emblem was revised three times: in 1964, 1973, and 1995. The current symbol is based on the design of the first one. Although Asklepian, the single serpent-entwined staff of Asklepios, is the one known as the symbol of medicine, this emblem takes the caduceus of Hermes who is the patron god of merchants, thieves, and travelers. The mistake comes from the unawareness of the distinction between the caduceus of Asklepios and Hermes. Moreover, it proves that U. S. Army Medical Corps(USAMC) heavily influenced the reconstruction of Korean health care system including KMA. The USAMC has used the symbol of caduceus since 1902. In 1947, the year that the first emblem of KMA was established, Southern part of Korea was governed by the United States Military Government(USMG, 1945-1948). The current emblem of KMA brings up a question whether we should continue to use the symbol that was taken from USMAC in the historical period of USMG governance. Celebrating 100th anniversary year of KMA, KMA needs to re-evaluate the appropriateness of the KMA symbol.

El caduceo de la Medicina, símbolo distintivo y emblema oficial de la Salud Pública cubana / The caduceus of Medicine, a distinctive symbol and official emblem of Cuban Public Helath

Se analiza el desArrollo histórico de los símbolos utilizados para representar la Medicina en su práctica social. Se hace referencia a los 2 símbolos utilizados: el de Mercurio y el de Esculapio. Se justifica la pertinencia del símbolo de Esculapio para representar el carácter social de la Medicina cubana

The historical development of the symbols used to represent Medicine in its social practice is analyzed. Reference is made to 2 symbols used: Mercury and Aesculapius. The relevancy of the Aesculapius symbol to represent the social character of the Cuban Medicine is proved.

Origen y evolución del símbolo de la Medicina / Origin and evolution of the symbol of Medicine

El símbolo de la Medicina es un elemento de indispensable conocimiento para los profesionales de la salud; sin embargo muchos desconocen su significado o no lo identifican adecuadamente. Este símbolo llamado también el bastón de Esculapio representa la profesión médica como relación desinteresada con los pacientes. Sus elementos son: una vara fina con un nudo en el extremo superior, rematado por un espejo; una serpiente enroscada en la vara, cuya cabeza queda mirando hacia la izquierda frente al espejo; también está adornado por una rama de laurel a la izquierda y una de roble a la derecha. Esculapio fue un médico notable en la antigua Grecia y después de su muerte fue inmortalizado en la mitología. Además de este símbolo, y tan antiguo como él, aparece otro caduceo con elementos similares, que representa a Mercurio o Hermes, personaje mitológico que los romanos consideraban el dios del comercio y era adorado por comerciantes y mercaderes por ser el protector de los cambios, el tráfico y el comercio en general; también se le atribuía la invención de los pesos y las medidas

The symbol of Medicine is an indispensable element of knowledge for health professionals; however, many of them do not know its meaning or are not able to identify it adequately. This symbol also called Aesculapius' baton represents the medical profession as an uninterested relationship with the patients. Its elements are: a fine cane with a knot in the upper extreme, terminated with a mirror, and a snake twisted in the cane, looking at the left in front of the mirror. It is also adorned with a branch of laurel on the left and a branch of oak on the right. Aesculapius was an outstanding doctor in old Greece and after his death he was inmortalized in mythology. In addition to this symbol and as old as it, there is another caduceus with similar elements representing Mercury or Hermes, a mythological character considered by the Romans as the God of Commerce and that was adored by traders and merchants for being the protector of changes, traffic and commerce in general. The invention of weights and measures was also attributed to him.