Hippocrates

[Guest guest]

Ever heard of Hippocrates - doctors swear by it - well he was a naturopath.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocrates

Hippocratic theory

 

 

 

" It is thus with regard to the disease called Sacred [epilepsy]: it appears to me to be nowise more divine nor more sacred than other diseases, but has a natural cause from the originates like other affections. Men regard its nature and cause as divine from ignorance and wonder... "

On the Sacred Disease[12]

Hippocrates is credited with being the first physician to reject superstitions and beliefs that credited supernatural or divine forces with causing illness. Hippocrates was credited by the disciples of Pythagoras of allying philosophy and medicine.[13] He separated the discipline of medicine from religion, believing and arguing that disease was not a punishment inflicted by the gods but rather the product of environmental factors, diet and living habits. Indeed there is not a single mention of a mystical illness in the entirety of the Hippocratic Corpus

 

 

Hippocratic therapy

 

 

Hippocratic medicine was humble and passive. The therapeutic approach was based on " the healing power of nature " ( " vis medicatrix naturae " in Latin). According to this doctrine, the body contains within itself the power to re-balance the four humours and heal itself (physis).[21] Hippocratic therapy focused on simply easing this natural process. To this end, Hippocrates believed " rest and immobilization [were] of capital importance " .[24] In general, the Hippocratic medicine was very kind to the patient; treatment was gentle, and emphasized keeping the patient clean and sterile.