Medieval medicine

• The Hippocratic Oath is still used today, although it has been modified to reflect modern medical practices.
• Galen believed that health depended on balance between four humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile) and advocated bloodletting as treatment.
• Galen was an ancient Greek physician who lived during the Roman Empire.
• Hippocrates' teachings were influential in the development of Western medicine.
• Humoral theory dominated medicine until the Renaissance.
• Hippocrates rejected supernatural explanations for disease and focused on natural causes.
• Hippocrates developed the concept of "humoral theory," which stated that diseases are caused by imbalances in bodily fluids called humors.
• The church supported Galen’s work because he thought that humans were too intricate and perfect to not be created by god
• Physicians had little training or certification, leading to quackery and charlatanism.
• Medicine was often practiced by non-physician healers such as midwives, barbers, and apothecaries.
• Barber surgeons performed surgery and bloodletting, while apothecaries sold medicines and herbs.
• Barber surgeons performed surgery but also shaved hair and cut nails.
• Apothecaries sold medicines and herbs but did not prescribe them.
• Wise women in the community, took care of people with things such as herbal remedies and helped with childbirth, (they learnt these skills from their own mothers)
• The Church played an important role in medieval medicine, providing hospitals and caring for the sick.
• The Black Death killed 40% of the population of Europe and 60% of England
• Prevention methods suggested for The Black Death were praying, self-flaggelation, smelling sweet smelling things etc
• People believed that the Black Death was caused by astrology, god, miasma or four humours
• The church could hinder the spread of new ideas because they controlled the publishing of books and the teaching of medicine.
• The treatment suggested for the Black Death was bleeding, praying and fasting