Magic and Medicines #16: Leech Books and Early Medical Texts

On this week's Bonus Episode, Eleanor leads us through the libraries of early medical history to guide us through Leech Books and early medical texts!

We start off talking about the book generally thought to be the oldest 'English' medical text, Bald's Leech Book, discussing how the Medieval mind perceived of ailments - namely as issues interlinked with spiritual and supernatural problems, not just physical ones.

We then leap back to discuss Ancient Chinese medicine, its roots in the work of the mythical 'Yellow Emperor,' and how Classical writers like Hippocrates and Galen developed and refined concepts like Humorism.

From the works of fundamentally important Medieval writers such as Ibn Sina and Hildegard of Bingen to the advent of Protestant medicine, as practiced by the likes of Andreas Vesalius and William Harvey, it's a slightly squishy and bizarre journey through mankind's understanding of the body, from ancient times to today.

Yet, considering that some of the remedies proposed by these writers are still in use today, it's a bit simplistic to suggest that they were just 'wrong' about medicine and how the body worked.

So, let's raise our scalpels and peel back the layers of what they got right and wrong and why, and open up questions about what modern physicians might perhaps benefit from learning if they look back towards the half-forgotten past...

Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast

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