Jo Cameron

“Hygieia: Goddess of Nutrition in the Hippocratic Oath

Hygieia’s Bowl. In Greek mythologic emblems, Hygieia is depicted holding a bowl from which she feeds the serpent, a symbol of medical learning. In ancient Greece the philosophy of wellness was balanced by two complementary ideas. The female, Hygieia, the goddess of health, personified the first. Hygieia was all about building healthy bodies with sound nutrition from the start - prenatally and throughout the formative years of childhood - and maintaining health for the rest of a person’s life. In other words, she embodied the most effective form of preventative medicine there is. When the first line of defence failed, and people succumbed to infections or the inevitable accident, Aesculapius, the god of medicine, acted as a kind of Johnny-on-the-spot. He provided knowledge of healing surgical procedures and therapeutic potions. The Hippocratic Oath I took on graduation day invokes wisdom of Aesculapius, Hygieia, and Panacea, the god of potions or cure-alls. But like hundreds of other fresh-faced M.D.’s standing beside me in the lecture hall, hands raised, I had no idea who Hygieia was or what she stood for.

Over the last 3000 years of civilisation, the male aspect of medical science has taken over. Hygieia which was once a highly scientific and advanced compendium of nutritional information, has been reduced to simplistic notions of cleanliness, like washing your hands and brushing your teeth. It’s time to bring Hygieia back.”

- Catherine Shanahan M.D., Deep Nutrition

Share a smile and save a life today!

You may or may not be aware but something as simple as this could be an absolute lifeline for some one during this period of uncertainty and isolation.

The warmth in your eyes 👀.
The upturned corners of your mouth aka a smile 😁.
We need these more than ever right now.

Please continue to say hello with kindness to your fellow human beings on our daily walks.