17th century medicine

Seventeenth-century medicine was a blend of ancient practices and emerging discoveries. Influenced by Galen and Hippocrates, doctors focused on humoral theory, which posited that health depended on balancing bodily fluids. Herbal remedies, bloodletting, and surgery were common treatments, although sanitation and hygiene were poorly understood. The period also marked the beginning of anatomical studies and experimentation, leading to better understanding of the human body. Despite limited knowledge of germs, this era laid the groundwork for modern medicine, as more systematic approaches to diagnosis and treatment began to emerge, gradually changing how illness was perceived and treated.