Medieval medicine

• What time period does medieval medicine refer to?

  Roughly the 5th to 15th century
• What were the main influences on medieval medicine?

  Ancient Greek and Roman ideas, spiritual beliefs, and folk traditions
• How did medieval doctors incorporate astrology into their practice?

  They might consult astrological charts before treating a patient
• What was the Four Humors theory in medieval medicine?

  The belief that the body contained four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile
• What was believed to be the cause of illness according to the Four Humors theory?

  An imbalance of the four humors
• What treatment would a medieval doctor recommend for a patient with an excess of phlegm?

  Inducing vomiting
• What was a common method to restore humor balance in medieval medicine?

  Bloodletting or purging
• Why was bloodletting practiced in medieval medicine?

  To remove "excess" blood believed to cause illness
• How did religion influence medieval medicine?

  Illness was often seen as a result of sin or divine punishment
• What role did monasteries play in medieval medicine?

  They served as centers for medical knowledge and care
• How were mental illnesses viewed in medieval medicine?

  Mental illnesses were often attributed to demonic possession or sin
• How did the Church's influence affect the treatment of epilepsy in medieval times?

  Epilepsy was often treated as a form of demonic possession
• Who was Hildegard of Bingen?

  A German abbess known for her writings on natural history and medicinal uses of plants
• What was Avicenna's contribution to medieval medicine?

  His "Canon of Medicine" was a standard medical text in Europe for centuries
• What did Maimonides contribute to medieval medicine?

  He wrote important medical treatises
• Who was Guy de Chauliac?

  A French surgeon who wrote influential works on surgery
• What were the common treatments and practices in medieval medicine?

  - Bloodletting: Using leeches or cutting veins - Herbal remedies: Using plants for medicinal purposes - Purging: Inducing vomiting or diarrhea - Surgery: Performed by barber-surgeons, often without anesthesia - Trepanning: Drilling holes in the skull
• What were the key beliefs about health and illness in medieval medicine?

  - Health depended on the balance of the four humors - Illness was attributed to an imbalance of humors - Treatments aimed to restore humor balance - Spiritual beliefs intertwined with medical practices
• How did the Church influence medical education and practice in the Middle Ages?

  - Controlled medical education - Integrated prayer and religious relics into treatments - Viewed illness as a result of sin or divine punishment - Encouraged caring for the sick as a Christian duty
• What was trepanning in medieval medicine?

  Drilling holes in the skull to relieve pressure or release evil spirits
• What is humoral theory in medieval medicine?

  Humoral theory is a concept that proposed the human body was filled with four basic substances called humors, responsible for health and disease.
• Who developed the humoral theory?

  Humoral theory was developed by ancient Greek physicians, particularly Hippocrates.
• How long did humoral theory dominate Western medical thinking?

  Humoral theory dominated Western medical thinking for over 2,000 years.
• What is the key idea behind humoral theory?

  The key idea is that the balance of bodily fluids affects health.
• What are the four humors identified in humoral theory?

  The four humors are blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm.
• What temperament is associated with blood in humoral theory?

  Blood is associated with a sanguine temperament.
• What is yellow bile associated with in humoral theory?

  Yellow bile is associated with the liver and a choleric temperament.
• Which humor is linked to a melancholic temperament?

  Black bile is linked to a melancholic temperament.
• What characteristics are associated with phlegm?

  Phlegm is associated with being cold and moist.
• What happens when there is an imbalance of the four humors?


  An imbalance of the four humors leads to illness.
• What factors can affect the balance of humors according to humoral theory?

  Factors include diet, environment, lifestyle, age, and seasons.
• What is the primary method of diagnosis in humoral theory?

  Diagnosis involved observing physical symptoms and examining bodily fluids.
• What treatment method involves removing excess blood?

  Bloodletting is the treatment method that involves removing excess blood.
• What is purging in the context of humoral theory treatment?


  Purging involves using laxatives or emetics to expel excess humors.
• What is the significance of balance in humoral theory?

  Health results from a perfect balance of the four humors.
• How did medieval doctors treat an excess of yellow bile?

  They might treat it with cooling foods and bloodletting.
• What cultural impact did humoral theory have?

  Humoral theory influenced language and personality theories.
• What is one lasting impact of humoral theory on modern medicine?

  It encouraged a holistic approach to health and the idea of balance in the body.
• Which medical practice is least likely to have been influenced by humoral theory?

  The development of vaccines is least likely to have been influenced by humoral theory.
• What are the four humors and their associated characteristics?

  1. Blood: warm and moist, associated with the heart and sanguine temperament 2. Yellow bile: warm and dry, associated with the liver and choleric temperament 3. Black bile: cold and dry, associated with the spleen and melancholic temperament 4. Phlegm: cold and moist, associated with the brain and phlegmatic temperament