« La femme semble estre monstrueuse, en ce qu’elle est menstrueuse » : La femme et ses fleurs dans l’ancienne

<jats:p>“Woman seems to be monstrous, in that she is menstruating”: Woman and her Menstrual Blood in Ancient Medicine Summary: Our article aims to explore the medical discourse of the 16th and 17th centuries, which described menstruating women as repugnant and monstrous. Through the works of a dozen authors, we first examined the origins of this construction, tracing it back to Hippocrates but primarily to Pliny the Elder. We then addressed the beliefs and superstitions that menstruation, perceived as a form of defilement, had given rise to, and which physicians themselves perpetuated through their teachings. Next, we analyzed how this traditionally stigmatizing discourse was integrated within Galenic medicine, alongside scientific and interpretative discourse, to develop a coherent theory aligned with the principles of flourishing and generation. Finally, we reviewed medical literature intended to guide women during menstruation, comprising advice, diets, and various treatments. Keywords: Ancient Medicine, Menstruation, Beliefs and Superstitions, Flourishing, Generation</jats:p>