For over two thousand years, bloodletting was considered a foundation of medicine. From ancient Egypt to 19th-century Europe, doctors believed that many illnesses from fevers to headaches, were caused by an imbalance of bodily “humors.” The solution? Drain some blood and balance would be restored.
Origins:
The practice dates back to 3,000 BCE in Egypt. Later, Greek physicians like Hippocrates and Galen formalized it, linking health to the balance of blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile. Bloodletting became a way to correct excess blood or other humors.
In medieval and Renaissance Europe, barbers often doubled as surgeons, performing bloodletting with leeches, lancets or cupping. It wasn’t just for the sick, people used it preventively, believing it could boost vitality and prevent disease.
Why It Lasted So Long:
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Lack of alternatives:Before germ theory and modern diagnostics, bloodletting seemed logical.
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Authority and tradition: Ancient texts and the reputation of medical giants like Galen kept the practice entrenched.
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Visual feedback:Seeing blood leave the body gave the impression of “healing” even if it didn’t work.
The Decline:
By the 19th century, evidence showed bloodletting often did more harm than good. Conditions like pneumonia, anemia or infections worsened after excessive bleeding. Advances in physiology, germ theory and clinical trials finally ended its dominance, but not before centuries of patients had experienced it.
Bloodletting reminds us that even widespread medical practices can be wrong and the evolution of science relies on questioning tradition, observing outcomes and embracing evidence.
MBH/PS