Psora
/ˈsoʊ.rə/noun
A medical term for scabies or an itchy skin condition, especially in historical or homeopathic usage.
Did you know?In the nineteenth century, Samuel Hahnemann treated psora as a fundamental invisible disease-origin, transforming an ancient word for itching into a centerpiece of homeopathic theory.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ψώρα (psṓra)
“Itch, scabies, or an itchy skin eruption”
Classical Greek
Greek
ψώω (psṓō)
“To scratch or rub”
17th Century
Medical Latin
psora
“Scabies or an itching skin disease”
17th Century
English
psora
“A term for scabies or a pruritic skin disorder”
19th Century
English
psora
“A major chronic disease concept in Hahnemannian homeopathy”
Modern English
English
psora
“A historical medical or homeopathic term for scabies, itch, or a related skin condition”