Key facts
- Chemical analysis of surgical instruments from a Ming Dynasty tomb was conducted.
- The analysis revealed the first direct physical evidence of plant-based anesthetics used in surgery.
- This indicates ancient Chinese doctors utilized these anesthetics in the 14th century.
Chemical analysis performed on surgical instruments excavated from a Ming Dynasty tomb in East China has uncovered the first direct physical evidence indicating that ancient Chinese physicians employed plant-based anesthetics during surgical procedures. This finding suggests that such anesthetics were in use as early as the 14th century, shedding light on the sophisticated medical practices of that era.