Medieval Treatments

Question 1

How would you become a doctor in the Medieval period? (3)

Answer 1

1. Study at university through lectures and books without ever seeing a patient
2. Doctors were very expensive b/c they weren’t many of them so only rich could afford to see them
3. Poor ppl would go to see wise women or barber surgeons instead.

Question 2

What are the Four Humours? (1)

Answer 2

black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm

Question 3

Describe and explain the Theory of Opposites. (3)

Answer 3

1. Galen theorized that if illness was caused by the imbalance of the four humours, then rebalancing them would cure it
2. EX. Bloodletting - Excess blood was removed by bleeding into a bowl or with leeches
3. EX. Purging - excess bile was removed with ingesting mustard water, which induced vomiting

Question 4

What three things did people in the Medieval period believed caused illness? (3)

Answer 4

1. God - illness is divine punishment for sins and a plague is to punish society.
2. Supernatural - Illness was caused by a witch’s curse or demons
3. Astrology - the movement of the planets affected ppl’s health

Question 5

What treatments were based on God? (2)

Answer 5

1. Belief in the Doctrine of Signatures (God created illness and the right herbs to treat them)
2. E.g. Doctors and wise women would use herbs like chickweed to treat illnesses

Question 6

What treatments were based on astrology? (2)

Answer 6

1. The Zodiac Man - doctors would carry a pic of the Zodiac Man which showed parts of the body labelled with their corresponding star sign
2. E.g If Aries was in the sky, they would avoid operating on the head.