The History of Phlebotomy

Phlebotomy is the practice of drawing blood. A phlebotomist is a person who has taken phlebotomy classes in a location like Westminster, Calif. and is trained to draw blood from a client for clinical or medical testing, donations or research. The role of a phlebotomist also includes interpreting tests. In order to help individuals further understand phlebotomy, below is a brief history of the practice. 

Originally called “bloodletting” in about 2000 BC, phlebotomy was used more for therapy than for diagnostic purposes. The actual date this practice started is still unknown, but the importance of blood and veins in the body was discovered a very long time ago in China. During that time, it is believed that Hwang-Ti, a Chinese emperor, convinced medical practitioners that blood was intrinsically connected to one’s health. 

Over time, different phlebotomy techniques have been discovered due to the continued use and popularity of drawing blood. In fact, leeches were used in the early years as a natural tool to remove a patient’s blood. Overall, leeches were extremely important in early nineteenth century medicine. As odd as it contemporarily seems, in about 1830, the French imported around forty million leeches for medical purposes. Fortunately, individuals who take phlebotomy classes in Westminster, Calif. don’t have to practice this outdated form of phlebotomy. 

Historically, phlebotomy has been used to fight a very wide range of diseases. Early medical texts even recommended bloodletting for things like acne, asthma, cancer, the plague and insanity. It was later discovered that bloodletting is not beneficial for most diseases and in some situations, can make the patient’s symptoms worse. Furthermore, before individuals understood sanitization, a topic that is largely taught in phlebotomy classes in Westminster, Calif., many even became sick from bloodletting treatments. 

Over the years, the practice of bloodletting has grown in popularity. These increases in popularity eventually lead to the first phlebotomy school, which began in 1908. This school was an important step in phlebotomy history and many phlebotomy schools even discuss its founding and story with their students.

Today, there are several programs and schools in Westminster, Calif. that offer phlebotomy classes. Fortunately, phlebotomy is now more advanced than ever before and individuals that pursue a career in this field are trained to work with the most sophisticated blood drawing technologies available. Furthermore, this career is appealing because phlebotomists are in high demand. Individuals that practice phlebotomy also experience a career where they can interact and help other individuals on a daily basis, which can be an extremely rewarding activity. 

Vincent Otiede is a health writer. Information provided by Phlebotomy Training Specialists, a phlebotomy training school with locations in Westminster, California and elsewhere. Vincent writes for Fusion 360, an advertising agency in Utah. Find him on Google+.