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Introduction
Theconceptsofhealthandillnesshavebeendefinedandunderstoodin
anumberofwaysinpopularandscientificdiscourses.Exploredinmany
differentcontexts,theyhavebeensubjectofscientificinquiriesformillennia.
Theseissues,relatingtothehumanexistenceinitsphysical,spiritual,
psychologicalandsocialdimensions,havegeneratedaplethoraofmedical
literatureoverhundredsofyearsandhaveaffectedthecognitive,mentaland
symbolicspheres.Throughitspracticaldimension,medicinewasdefining
theplaceofhumankindintheworldandintheaxiologicalsphere.
Thecivilisationalprogressofsocietieshasinfluencedthewaysof
reflectingonandperceivinghealthanddiseases,aswellasmethodsof
treatmentandtherapy.Inahistoricalandculturalcontext,theseconcepts
werepredicatedupontheunderstandingoftheworldandofaman,imposing
aframeworkofscientificobservations.Understandinghealthpresented
numerousdifficultiesdependingonhowitwasdefinedandonthepractices
associatedwithit.Medicalknowledgeofagivenhistoricalperiod,influenced
bysocialandculturalfactors,manifesteditselfintheprevailingdoctrines
andtheoriesrelatingtothehumanbody,descriptionsofdiseasesandways
ofmanagingthesick.
Theconceptofhealthhasalwaysexistedintwodistinctyetintertwined
spheres.Thefirstonewasandiscreatedbyspecialists,whoareprofessionally
engagedinhealthissues,whereasthesecondonewasformedbyeveryday
life,throughthesubjectivesphereofsensationsandactionsofcommon
people.Forthemajorpartofhumanhistory,untilthe1940s,healthwas
perceivedinnegativeterms,asitsdeficiency,illness,disease,deviationfrom
thenorm,painorthreatofdeath.
