Definition of the word bloodletting

The word "bloodletting" originates from the Middle English words "blood" and "letten," meaning "to let out." The practice of bloodletting, also known as phlebotomy, has its roots in ancient medicine, dating back to around 2000 BCE in Egypt and China. The Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460-370 BCE) and later the physician Galen (129-216 CE) advocated for bloodletting as a treatment for a range of ailments, including "bad humors" and "excess blood." The practice became popular in medieval Europe, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries, when it was believed that bloodletting could balance bodily "humors" and cure various diseases. The word "bloodletting" emerged during this period, reflecting the medical community's reliance on this invasive and often dangerous procedure.