As in the Middle Ages treated for A Love Song for Bobby Long

In the Middle Ages, the expression "A Love Song for Bobby Long" meant not a figure of speech, but a very real disease, for the treatment of medical techniques which existed.

Love can really hurt. Although we often romanticize love of suffering, the harsh reality is that almost every one of us experienced the unrequited passion caused by unpleasant symptoms. Dizziness, feeling of hopelessness, rapid heartbeat, loss of appetite, insomnia, tearfulness mood - sounds familiar?

Thanks to advances in biochemistry, modern scientists know how the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and serotonin act on the brain in love man, sometimes causing unpleasant symptoms. However, the relationship between love and the physical condition of the person has been noticed long ago. In medieval medicine believes that the body and soul are inseparably intertwined, and the body can reflect a state of mind.

The humoral imbalance

Medical ideas of the Middle Ages was based on the doctrine of the four bodily fluids, or humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black. It was believed that a healthy person all four liquid are in equilibrium, and the imbalance causes the disease.

The description and image of bodily fluids according to Galen. Illustration to a manuscript, 1420

The basis of these ideas lay the theory of the ancient scientist Galen, who developed a system of communication between the human temperament and dominant in his body fluid. For example, a melancholic temperament corresponded to an excess of black bile, informs the body dry and cold. In medieval times it was believed that people with a melancholy warehouse is most prone to love suffering. The doctor and the 11th-century monk Constantine the African translated a treatise on melancholy, popular in medieval Europe. He clearly outlined the link between excess body in black bile and melancholy tendency to love suffering:

"Love, also called Eros - a disease that affects the brain. Sometimes the cause of this love becomes the natural need to get rid of excess bodily fluids ... this disease causes thinking and anxiety, while the patient is looking for ways to find the object of their desires. "

Treatment of unrequited love

Whatever the object of desire - as in the Middle Ages, religious, for many women it becomes the Christ - inaccessibility or loss of objects brought suffering upon which the medieval melancholic was difficult to get rid of.

But since the state of melancholy love having considered such deep roots medical treatment there for him. The patient is recommended to more light and fresh air, rest and tranquility, inhalations, warm bath with a moisturizing skin plants (such as water lilies and violets). Should eat the meat of lamb, lettuce, eggs, fish, ripe fruit. Since the time of Hippocrates used as the root of hellebore. An excess of black bile melancholic were treated with laxatives and bloodletting to restore the balance of bodily fluids.

Rend. Illustration to a manuscript Aldobrandino di Siena "Flesh charter", France, late 13th century,

Stories of suffering

It is not surprising that the literature of medieval European history thorny love and love of suffering often include medical reference. Sick of sorrow character is very common figure. Such, for example, the Black Knight of the works of Chaucer's "The Book of the Duchess", or two lovers from a poem by Mary French, secret love which is described as "a heavy meal."

Lover, and the priest. Illustrations to the "Confession in love," the beginning of the 15th century

The plot of the poem of the 14th century "Confessions of love with" John Gower revolves around the melancholy young man who is sick with love so that desires death, and asks a cure for his illness, Venus and Cupid. Taking pity on the unfortunate, Venus creates a cooling balm and puts on his "wounded heart", whiskey and kidneys. With this drug it unbearable pain finally passed.

A look at love from a medical point of view there is to this day. In 1621, Robert Burton published a voluminous work entitled "Anatomy of Melancholy". Sigmund Freud developed similar ideas in the book "Mourning and Melancholia" at the beginning of the 20th century. The problem obviously suffering heart has deep roots. So if your heart pierces love flour, you can try one of these medieval recipes.