# Why was bloodletting so popular?

- Institution: TED
- Department: TED-Ed
- Speaker: Stephanie Honchell Smith
- Year: 2025
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Medicine and health, History, Teaching and learning
- Source: [TED](https://www.ted.com/talks/stephanie_honchell_smith_why_was_bloodletting_so_popular)
- Licence: [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) (Non-commercial use only, and no changed versions.)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

Bloodletting was a pervasive medical practice that dates as far back as ancient Greece and continued well into the 19th century. Physicians like Hippocrates believed bad health could be attributed to a fluid imbalance, and recommended bloodletting to help reset the body's balance. So, why did bloodletting stick around so long? Stephanie Honchell Smith digs into its popularity and shortcomings. \[Directed by Denys Spolitak, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu, WORKPLAYWORK\].

## Lectures

1. [Why was bloodletting so popular?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/ted/stephanie_honchell_smith_why_was_bloodletting_so_popular/9646cb3a3783), 7 min (TED's player)