A Medical Humanities Moment: The Barber's Pole

A Medical Humanities Moment: A Quick Look at the Myths, Legends and Symbols of Modern Medicine.

Even if you’ve never had a shave and a haircut at a grooming salon for men - in other words, a barber shop - you’ve certainly seen the commonplace symbol that appears outside many of these establishments: the barber’s pole. Typically around half a meter, or a foot and a half in length, these cylindrical signs feature a helix of red, white and sometimes blue bands that twist up the column, and in some case, actually rotate. There’s usually a round globe or light at the top, and sometimes a thick base at the bottom. It’s the universal barbershop symbol, telling passersby at a glance that this is the place for gents to get that new hairdo.

So what does it have to do with medicine? Turns out, much more than you might think.

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