Definition of Hippocrates from the PharmacyDictionary.in

Hippocrates

Synonyms or meaning of Hippocrates

Greek physician known for his healing knowledge involving the “humors of the body”. Writings attributed to him are in the Hippocratic Corpus. Attributed to him as well is a medical oath, the Hippocratic Oath. Known as the “Father of Medicine”

Hippocrates was a Greek physician who is often referred to as the “Father of Medicine”. He was born around 460 BC on the island of Kos, Greece, and he is credited with being the first person to believe that diseases were caused naturally, not because of superstition and gods.

Hippocrates held the belief that the body was made up of four essential fluids, or “humors”: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. He theorized that maintaining a balance among these humors would lead to good health, while an imbalance would result in disease.

The writings attributed to Hippocrates are collected in what is known as the “Hippocratic Corpus”, a set of around 60 early medical works from ancient Greece that are associated with Hippocrates and his teachings.

One of the most known contributions of Hippocrates to medicine is the Hippocratic Oath, a code of ethical conduct for physicians, which sets out the principles of medical professionalism, respect for human life, confidentiality, and non-maleficence, among others. While the original text of the Hippocratic Oath is no longer used, modern versions of the oath are still used today in many medical schools’ graduation ceremonies.

Hippocrates’ revolutionary approach to health and disease laid the foundation for the practice of medicine as a distinct field, separate from philosophy and other sciences. His teachings continue to influence modern medicine, and his commitment to observing and documenting the course of diseases remains a fundamental practice in medical research.

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