From Foot-Bread to Flip-Flop Circuits: What History Can Teach Us About Sleep and How to Treat It

For centuries, physicians, philosophers, and scientists have pursued the secrets of eternal youth and health. One especially colorful character was 17th century physician Tobias Venner. He was obsessed with the idea of the body ’s internal balance—how factors such as diet, exercise, and excretion affected the four humors of the body and ultimately longevity. He was particularly interested in sleep. In his book Via Recta ad Vitam Longam (The Right Way to a Long Life), he espoused his recommendations for a good night’s rest (1).
Source: Biological Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Clinical Commentary Source Type: research