Iatrochemistry
Iatrochemistry
Iatrochemistry (pronounced: /ˌaɪ.ətroʊˈkɛmɪstri/) is a branch of both Chemistry and Medicine. It is a historical term for the medical application of Chemistry, that arose in the 16th century and was primarily pursued in the 17th century. The term "Iatrochemistry" is derived from the Greek words "iatros" meaning doctor and "chemistry".
History
Iatrochemistry was introduced by Paracelsus, a Swiss physician and alchemist, who believed that a human body is a chemical system that must be treated with chemical methods. This was a significant departure from the traditional methods of Galenic medicine, which focused on balancing the four humors: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile.
Principles
The main principle of Iatrochemistry is the belief that the human body and its functions can be explained in chemical terms. This includes the belief that health and disease are the result of chemical processes within the body, and that treatment should therefore involve chemical methods. This approach led to the development of many new medicinal treatments, including the use of chemical drugs and the practice of Chemotherapy.
Legacy
While Iatrochemistry itself is no longer practiced, it played a significant role in the development of modern medicine. It helped to shift the focus of medicine from a philosophical approach to a more empirical one, and laid the groundwork for the development of Pharmacology and Biochemistry.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Iatrochemistry
- Wikipedia's article - Iatrochemistry
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski