Comments on: 10 Excruciating Medical Treatments from the Middle Ages http://www.neatorama.com/2009/03/30/10-excruciating-medical-treatments-from-the-middle-ages/ The Neat Side of the Web Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:11:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Seventh http://www.neatorama.com/2009/03/30/10-excruciating-medical-treatments-from-the-middle-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-1607091 Seventh Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:54:07 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=23560#comment-1607091 I'm currently taking a History of Medicine course so this is pretty interesting, though there are a lot of simplifications! For example, bloodletting wasn't just performed as a cure for disease, but was undertaken regularly a couple of times a year by healthy people, in order to stave off illness. And it wasn't just plague victims who were encouraged to confess to cure themselves. EVERYONE was. It was thought that all disease was a direct punishment from God, so to cure ANYTHING, you had to cleanse your soul. Your body would not heal if your soul was still poisoned. Ancient Greek theories of medicine were the strongest ideas in the field right up to the 18th century and beyond. They placed a huge emphasis on the importance of diet, lifestyle and exercise, environment, excretions, and even your emotional state. I’m currently taking a History of Medicine course so this is pretty interesting, though there are a lot of simplifications!

For example, bloodletting wasn’t just performed as a cure for disease, but was undertaken regularly a couple of times a year by healthy people, in order to stave off illness.

And it wasn’t just plague victims who were encouraged to confess to cure themselves. EVERYONE was. It was thought that all disease was a direct punishment from God, so to cure ANYTHING, you had to cleanse your soul. Your body would not heal if your soul was still poisoned.

Ancient Greek theories of medicine were the strongest ideas in the field right up to the 18th century and beyond. They placed a huge emphasis on the importance of diet, lifestyle and exercise, environment, excretions, and even your emotional state.

]]> By: Kalel http://www.neatorama.com/2009/03/30/10-excruciating-medical-treatments-from-the-middle-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-1606752 Kalel Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:17:03 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=23560#comment-1606752 The farmer will see you now. The farmer will see you now.

]]> By: Evilbeagle http://www.neatorama.com/2009/03/30/10-excruciating-medical-treatments-from-the-middle-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-1606578 Evilbeagle Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:49:14 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=23560#comment-1606578 I love reading about this stuff. Great post! I love reading about this stuff. Great post!

]]> By: Gauldar http://www.neatorama.com/2009/03/30/10-excruciating-medical-treatments-from-the-middle-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-1606519 Gauldar Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:19:54 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=23560#comment-1606519 I've read about the various unorthadox medical practices which took place back then, and I'll have to see the link later at home. Unfortunatly it's being blocked by the network at work being tagged as "entertainment". I’ve read about the various unorthadox medical practices which took place back then, and I’ll have to see the link later at home. Unfortunatly it’s being blocked by the network at work being tagged as “entertainment”.

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