Bloodletting is counted among the oldest healing procedures. It involves a significant withdrawal of blood.
What is bloodletting?
Bloodletting is especially valued in natural wedge medicine as well as alternative medicine, where it belongs to the deriving treatments. With the help of bloodletting, the self-healing powers of the organism should be strengthened. In earlier times, phlebotomy was one of the most common therapeutic procedures, used in numerous treatments. It was widely used as a remedy until the 19th century. In modern times, phlebotomy, in which a large amount of blood is taken from patients, is considered beneficial only in a few cases. For this reason, it is rarely used nowadays. In common parlance, blood sampling for the purpose of blood collection or blood donation is also considered bloodletting. In earlier times, bloodletting was considered an all-purpose remedy. Thus, blood collection was used for a wide variety of diseases, which, however, not infrequently resulted in damage to the patients. In the process, some sick people sometimes bled outright. George Washington (1732-1799) was one of the most prominent patients of bloodletting. He was treated for a severe laryngitis by bloodletting, which was carried out several times. The enormous blood loss of the first American president was considered a possible reason for his demise. Bloodletting can be traced back to early Indian medicine. Even today, bloodletting is performed in Ayurveda. In Europe, treatments were given by the Greek physician Hippocrates (460 to 370 BC). At that time, physicians assumed that diseases were mostly caused by an excess of blood. The same applied to an imbalance in the bodily fluids. It was believed that the blood accumulated in the limbs and spoiled. Therefore, the removal of the bad blood was considered useful. In 1628, the Englishman William Harvey (1578-1657) discovered the circulation of blood and thus disproved the bloodletting principles. Nevertheless, bloodletting remained in use as a treatment method. Thus, the therapeutic method was still recommended until the 19th century.
Function, effect and goals
Although bloodletting is rarely used nowadays, there are definitely various diseases that can be effectively treated with it. Especially in natural wedge medicine as well as alternative medicine bloodletting is appreciated, where it belongs to the deriving treatments. With the help of bloodletting, the self-healing powers of the organism should be strengthened. The body creates new blood cells that replace missing cells. The new cells work better than the previous blood cells. The positive properties of bloodletting are considered to be the increased absorption of oxygen, the improved flow properties of the blood, the more efficient work of the immune system and the stimulation of detoxification. As a supportive therapeutic method, bloodletting is recommended by alternative medicine for the treatment or prevention of diabetes mellitus (diabetes), inflammation, circulatory disorders, hypertension, gout and obesity. However, there are hardly any scientific studies that confirm the health-promoting effect of bloodletting. Thus the few studies turned out differently. Among other things, the decrease in blood pressure, which fell by 16 mmHg, was considered positive. But also in the school medicine the bloodletting comes quite to the employment, even if only rarely. These include rare diseases such as polyglobulia, in which the number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) increases, polycythaemia vera (PV), which is associated with high hemocrit levels, and the iron storage disease hemochromatosis, in which the intestine absorbs excessive amounts of iron. This in turn leads to an overload of the heart and liver. To perform phlebotomy, blood is usually drawn through the arm vein within the crook of the elbow. Depending on the patient’s condition, the doctor either takes a small amount of blood, between 50 and 150 milliliters, or a large amount, which can be up to 500 milliliters. The patient’s blood is transferred via a tube to a collection vessel, which is usually a vacuum glass bottle. Apart from a small prick, the patient does not feel any pain. In total, the procedure takes no longer than five minutes. The doctor also checks the patient’s blood pressure regularly.A special variant is Japanese bloodletting, also known as Shirako or microveinletting. In this procedure, the therapist pricks varicose veins on the lower leg with a lancet or knife. In this way, blood stasis related to dilatation of blood vessels is treated. Another form is bloodletting according to Hildegard von Bingen, which is offered by various alternative practitioners. This is to rid the body of “bad blood” or toxins.
Risks, side effects and dangers
In principle, bloodletting is not considered risky, provided that it is performed professionally. Thus, thorough examinations are important in advance, as well as the determination of laboratory values such as blood count. In some cases, however, health problems can still occur. If the blood pressure is too high or too much blood is taken, there is a risk of dizziness, circulatory problems and fainting. By puncturing the skin, it is again possible for harmful bacteria to enter the body and cause inflammation. However, this side effect can usually be avoided by careful hygiene. If too much blood is withdrawn, there is a risk of iron deficiency. There are also some contraindications, in the presence of which bloodletting must not be performed. These are acute diarrhea, anemia (anemia), abnormally low blood pressure, and dehydration. In children and the elderly, attention should be paid to general physical weakness.
