Expert: Maria - 2/18/2006

Question
While searching online, I came across some references on a Vegetarian site that said that Hippocrates, the Ancient Greek Father of Modern Medicine,  advocated milk-exclusion diets in order to cure enfeebled children and various illnesses. It could be true, as many Ancient Greeks of the time were Vegetarians(though the site claimed that Hippocrates was an anti-dairy meat-eater) or one of the many   Vegan lies/hoaxes, but, if true, would be a very useful reference for my Palaeolithic diet site.
Can you confirm whether Hippocrates was against dairy, and, if so, can you tell me in which part of his works etc. he states any anti-milk comments?

Thanking You In Advance,
Geoff Purcell

Answer
Hello,

I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I cannot help you.
In fact,as far as I know, there is no passage where Hippocrates is specific about the problems of drinking milk and milk intolerance.
The only thing I can say is that he has passim talked about some reactions milk can determine in some living organisms. Hence the invitation not to drink it in some cases.

As for Hippocrates references on this matter, it would need to read all the works by Hippocrates, which is impossible, of course, as the Hippocratic Collection is just  a collection of sixty medical books of which however Hippocrates wrote just some.

Maybe you could look for a dietician who for his professional activity  knows the works  where Hippocrates talks about diet.

Good luck!
Maria