Understanding Medical Symbols and Their Meanings

Hey Doc, what is that thing?

That thing pisses me off every time I see it, and here's why.

So people look at it and they think, oh, that must mean some kind of, like, symbol of medicine

or healthcare or something.

That rod with the two snakes going around it and the wings at the top, right?

Rod!

But they're thinking of is the rod of Asclepius, which is a single snake going around a rod.

No wings, no other snake.

And that was the staff that was carried by Asclepius, who's the Greek god of health and

healing.

That thing, the staff with the two snakes going around it and the wings at the top,

that is a caduceus.

A caduceus was carried by Hermes, who's the Greek god of commerce and lying and deceit.

And it's actually the symbol that's been adopted by insurance companies and many other for-profit

organizations within the dysfunctional American healthcare system.

So actually, it's a pretty appropriate symbol for those things, if you ask me.

So remember, one snake going around, you can trust them.

That's good.

Two snakes going around, bad.

Don't trust them.

Thanks, Doc.