The Church and religious beliefs had a great influence over medicine during this period, leading to a continuation of ideas about cause, preventions and treatments
Medieval England was a religious society. The majority of people followed the teachings of the Catholic Church and attended services regularly
The cause of disease and illness was unknown due to the lack of scientific knowledge
The majority of people in medieval England could not read or write and would learn from what they heard in church about the causes of illness and disease
The Church controlled education and the universities, where physicians were trained
Supernatural explanation
Astrology, the alignment of the planets and stars, was used when diagnosing illness
Religious explanations
The Church taught that people's sins were to blame for their illnesses and that illness and disease were sent as a punishment from God
When people recovered, the Church declared that this was thanks to the patient's prayers
The Church also taught that disease was sent by God to cleanse the soul of sin or to test your faith
Rational explanations
Theory of the FourHumours
The Theory of the Four Humours was developed in Ancient Greece by Hippocrates and continued to influencemedicalideas in medieval England
This theory suggested that the body was made up of four liquids (humours) - blood, phlegm, black and yellow bile- and an imbalance of these substances caused illness and disease
It was believed that an equal balance of the humours led to good health
Miasma Theory
Bad air that was believed to be harmful
In medieval England it was believed that bad air and smells contained poisonousfumes that caused disease and illness
Medieval beliefs suggested that any rotting matter could transmit disease
Galen
A physician in Ancient Rome who extended the Theory of the Four Humours by suggesting that the humours should be rebalanced by using the Theory of Opposites
Galen also believed in the idea of the soul, which fitted with the teachings of the Church. This led to the Church promoting the ideas of Galen, and doctors widely using the Theory of the Four Humours, throughout the period c.1250-c.1500
Diagnosis
Identifying the nature of an illness after considering the different symptoms
Miasma
Smells from decomposing material were believed to cause disease
Physician
A person qualified to practise medicine
Rational
An idea based on logic
Supernatural
Ideas unable to be explained by science or the laws of nature
Galen
A doctor in Ancient Rome. Galen had his ideasrecorded in more than 350 books
Hippocrates
A leading physician from Ancient Greece. Hippocrates created the Theory of the Four Humours after carefully observing and recording the symptoms of his patients
Approaches to prevention and treatment
Supernatural and religious
Rational
Supernatural and religious approaches
Healing prayers
Fasting
Lighting candles in church
Flagellation
Going on pilgrimages
Star charts
Used to prescribe treatments
Consulted at everystage of a patient's treatment
Rational approaches
Bloodletting
Purging
Herbal remedies
Bloodletting
1. Cutting the vein
2. Placing leeches on the skin
3. Cupping
The Church
It was very influential during the Middle Ages and religion was used to explain the causes of illness
Purging
Given something to make them vomit (an emetic)
Given a laxative to clear out the body
Emetics
Aniseed
Parsley
Laxatives
Linseeds
Herbal remedies
Aloe vera
Mint
Camomile
Prevention of illness
Exercising
Sleeping
Keeping clean
Breathing clean air
Avoiding stress
Regimen sanitatis
A set of instructions provided by physicians to help a patient look after their health and avoidillness
Purifying the air
Spreading sweet herbs
Carrying flowers (a posy)
Physician
Attended a university for at least seven years to gain a medical degree
Diagnosed illness and suggested a treatment
Studied a patient's blood and urine and consulted star charts to diagnose illness