Episode 188: Melancholy

(Intro & piano music)

Well, I know I've said I won't be doing any medical terms but this one is an exception and has a very interesting origin. Μέλον and Μελανό (melon-melano) in both ancient and modern Greek, means 'dark coloured'. Χολή (Holi) means 'bile'. The original diagnosis for depression was attributed -among other things- to the excess production of bile within one's body. So, until the 18th century when medical practices advanced, the diagnosis for depression would be ΜΕΛΑΓΧΟΛΙΑ/MELANCHOLY

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