Mythic Origins of a Medical Milestone: Revisiting the Story of Blood Transfusion

Although transfusion medicine is a relatively recent addition to everyday clinical practice, the current understanding of blood as a therapeutic compound does not solely result from a single century of research, but rather from the culmination of millennia of observations, experimentations and interpretations. Early conceptions about blood have largely been transmitted through myths and mythology where blood is deeply connected to themes such as strength, power, life, heritage, wellbeing, holiness, suffering and death. Interestingly, this perception appears to be universal, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. Most medical textbooks overlook this aspect which is crucial because these symbols and archetypes acted as a cultural substratum from which the modern understanding of transfusion gradually emerged, thereby carrying with it emotional and symbolic forces that still today shape the patient's experience and perception of blood transfusion. This review article traces the origins of transfusion medicine back to its most ancient foundations. It examines how early civilizations perceived blood, the symbols associated with it, how these ideas have influenced modern science thereby transforming ancestral beliefs associated with blood into a scientifically grounded medical practice. Tracing and recognizing this intellectual lineage underscore that medicine is not isolated from culture. Itconverts blood transfusion from a purely technical act into a humanistic gesture and provide physicians with deeper understanding why certain taboos, fears, or ethical debates persists around blood transfusion and help them to better empathize with patients who may have cultural or religious concerns about transfusion.