The ancient practice of bloodletting, which involved the removal of blood from a patient to prevent or cure illness, may seem like a distant echo of the past. However, it shares a surprising resonance with a modern practice that saves millions of lives each year and offers health benefits to the donor: blood donation.
Bloodletting, with a history that spans thousands of years, was based on the belief that illnesses stemmed from an overabundance of blood12. This practice was prevalent in ancient Egypt and Greece and later expanded by Galen of Pergamum, who built upon Hippocrates’ theory of the four “humors”—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile2. In medieval Europe, bloodletting became a standard treatment for various conditions, from the plague and smallpox to epilepsy and gout2. Practitioners would nick veins or arteries in the forearm or neck, sometimes using a special tool known as a fleam2. Barbers began offering a range of services that included bloodletting, cupping, tooth extractions, lancing, and even amputations, along with trims and shaves2.
Fast forward to the present day, and we have the practice of blood donation, a voluntary procedure that can help save the lives of others. Unlike bloodletting, which was based on the belief that removing blood from the body could cure or prevent disease, blood donation is based on the understanding that the human body can replace the donated blood within a short period, and the donated blood can be used to save the lives of others.
There are several types of blood donation, such as whole blood donation, platelet donation, and plasma donation. The donated blood is used in a variety of medical treatments and procedures, including surgeries, cancer treatment, and treatment for sickle cell disease.
Interestingly, while the health benefits of bloodletting have been largely discredited, blood donation has been found to have several health benefits for the donor, including stimulating the production of new blood cells and helping in maintaining iron levels in the body3. These benefits, in a way, mirror the expected benefits of bloodletting in ancient times.
In conclusion, while bloodletting and blood donation both involve the removal of blood from the body, they are fundamentally different practices with different purposes and effects. However, the health benefits of blood donation might be seen as a modern validation of the ancient practice of bloodletting. So, the next time you roll up your sleeve to donate blood, remember that you’re not just saving lives—you’re also participating in a practice that carries with it a sense of history and the continuous evolution of medical understanding.