Blood-Letting
Definition
Blood-letting is an old medical practice where blood is drawn from a patient to cure or prevent illness and disease. It was believed that removing blood would balance the humors and promote health.
Analogy
Think of blood-letting like draining oil from a car engine. Just as you might drain old, dirty oil to keep the engine running smoothly, doctors used to believe that draining 'bad' blood could help maintain good health.
Related terms
Leeching: A method of blood-letting where leeches are applied to the skin to suck out 'bad' blood.
Phlebotomy: The practice of drawing blood for therapeutic purposes or medical testing.
Venesection: A type of blood-letting that involves cutting a vein, often with a lancet.
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