The View and Study of Blood through History and its Impact on Blood Donation and Transfusion Medicine

Blood has established itself throughout history as a symbol of life and death. For many cultures around the world, it has a deep mystical meaning. For many, it is a divine fluid that represents a continuous bond with personal identity, ancestors, customs, and traditions. In ancient times, people were also aware of the great importance of blood in life. This is the period in which philosophical schools emerged, where one of the world’s greatest thinkers questioned, pondered, debated, and delved into the mysteries of man and the universe in an endless search for a higher meaning in life. One of the secrets they tried to unravel was the importance of blood for existence. Some ancient civilizations were not content with mere theoretical deepening but viewed the blood as a miraculous liquid, and as different sources referenced it, they practiced with it in various ways. Scientific theoretical debates from the sixteenth century and acceptance of the scientific explanation of systemic blood circulation in the seventeenth century slowly encouraged experts to practice blood transfusions for human patients in need, with many trials and challenges. Also, other discoveries in hematology and medical practices were important for later understanding the importance of blood donation and blood transfusion medicine.