The Set and the Setting

While the specific term "placebo" didn't enter the medical lexicon until the late 18th century, ancient physicians were intimately aware of the effect. The ancient Greek, Indian, and Chinese traditions all leveraged the capacity of belief, trust, and suggestion to facilitate healing. However, with medicine’s scientific turn, the placebo has garnered a negative connotation of… Continue reading The Set and the Setting

The History and Physical

The history and physical exam are firmly established methods in the practice of medicine, with an ancient pedigree. Their origins can be traced 2500 years ago to Hippocrates, who naturalized the concept of disease and introduced the methodology of the history and physical exam. Diseases no longer needed divine explanations, but could be studied like… Continue reading The History and Physical