Why a fabled Chinese surgeon’s tomb may help rewrite history of anaesthetic use
A recent archaeological discovery in China provides the first physical evidence of ancient herbal anesthetics used in surgery. Previously, historical texts mentioned such practices, but concrete proof was lacking. This finding, published in the journal Antiquity, suggests that Chinese surgeons in the 14th century may have used plant-based anesthetics, potentially predating or paralleling Western developments in anesthesia. AI
