Misinterpreting Hippocrates: The Use of “Let Food Be Thy Medicine” in Modern Holistic Medicine

Misinterpreting Hippocrates: The Use of “Let Food Be Thy Medicine” in Modern Holistic Medicine

Presenter(s)

Laiba Lohani

Comments

9:00-10:15, Kennedy Union Ballroom

Description

This study looks at how modern holistic medicine misinterprets Hippocratic ideas, particularly through the popular phrase "Let food be thy medicine," which is often attributed to him despite its absence from his writings. While this phrase is frequently used by holistic practitioners to emphasize the role of diet in health, its historical accuracy and alignment with Hippocrates' teachings are questionable. The study explores how the misquotation of this phrase influences the promotion of food-based therapies and its broader implications for complementary and alternative medicine. Drawing on secondary sources, including scholarly works on Hippocratic medicine and research on holistic health trends, this study analyzes how Hippocrates' legacy is invoked in contemporary health discourse. Early findings suggest that modern practitioners use Hippocrates as a symbol of whole-body healing, despite the complexity and limitations of ancient Greek medicine. This pattern reflects a broader tendency to appropriate history to validate current health practices. Understanding these misinterpretations is crucial for recognizing how historical medical ideas are reshaped to support modern wellness narratives.

Publication Date

4-23-2025

Project Designation

Course Project - HST 304 H1

Primary Advisor

Dorian Borbonus

Primary Advisor's Department

History

Keywords

Stander Symposium, College of Arts and Sciences

Institutional Learning Goals

Scholarship; Traditions; Critical Evaluation of Our Times

Misinterpreting Hippocrates: The Use of “Let Food Be Thy Medicine” in Modern Holistic Medicine

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