The Western Medical Tradition

This text, written by members of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine and first published in 1995, is designed to cover the history of western medicine from classical antiquity to 1800. As one guiding thread it takes, as its title suggests, the system of medical ideas that in large part went back to the Greeks of the eighth century BC, and played a major role in the understanding and treatment of health and disease. Its influence spread from the Aegean basin to the rest of the Mediterranean region, to Europe, and then to European settlements overseas. By the nineteenth century, however, this tradition no longer carried the same force or occupied so central a position within medicine. This book charts the influence of this tradition, examining it in its social and historical context. It is essential reading as a synthesis for all students of the history of medicine.

This book, first published in 2006, is an authoritative description of the important changes in Western medicine over the past two centuries.

This book, first published in 2006, is an authoritative description of the important changes in Western medicine over the past two centuries.

The influence of Greek medical practices dating back to the fifth century B.C. has had an immeasurable impact on the development of medicine in the West over the subsequent centuries. This text is designed to cover the history of Western medicine from Classical Antiquity to 1800. As one guiding thread it takes the system of medical ideas that, in large part, went back to the Greeks of the fifth century B.C., and played a major role in the understanding and treatment of health and disease. The influence of Greek medicine spread from the Aegean basin to the rest of the Mediterranean region, to Europe, and then to European settlements overseas. By the nineteenth century, however, this tradition no longer carried the same force or occupied so central a position within medicine. This book charts the influence of this tradition through twenty centuries, examining it in its social and historical context. It is essential reading as a new synthesis for all students of the history of medicine.

An illuminating account of how early medicine in Greece and China perceived the human body Winner of the William H. Welch Medal, American Association for the History of Medicine The true structure and workings of the human body are, we casually assume, everywhere the same, a universal reality. But when we look into the past, our sense of reality wavers: accounts of the body in diverse medical traditions often seem to describe mutually alien, almost unrelated worlds. How can perceptions of something as basic and intimate as the body differ so? In this book, Shigehisa Kuriyama explores this fundamental question, elucidating the fascinating contrasts between the human body described in classical Greek medicine and the body as envisaged by physicians in ancient China. Revealing how perceptions of the body and conceptions of personhood are intimately linked, his comparative inquiry invites us, indeed compels us, to reassess our own habits of feeling and perceiving.

The Medicinal Formula of the Western Medicine Tradition is a comprehensive text for the student or practitioner of Traditional or Herbal Medicine. It contains many of the most used Herbal Formula of the Western Herbal Tradition over the past 2000 years. Each formula contains ingredients with proportions, way of preparation, dose and uses. It has been compiled over years of research and sourced from some of the most respected writers and texts of the Western Medicine Traditional. It also contains an introduction to Galenic pharmacy, pharmacology and Humoral Medicine, as well as ample appendices including glossaries, lists of substitute medicines and a list of diseases with the formulas used in their treatment. This text has been written to inspire Western Practitioners, Herbalists and Naturopaths to study and use Western Traditional Formulas, resources for which are greatly required. It is a great stand-alone text to study and incorporate Western Formulas into your clinic. It is also a great complimentary text to medicinetraditions.com.

The Healing Tradition argues that Western medicine is fundamentally flawed because it fails to provide a healing environment for both individuals and society, and indicates potential ways to correct this through an integration model of medical humanities. All health professionals and those with an interest in medical humanities will find this book valuable reading.