⏱️ 6 min read
Medieval medicine was a fascinating blend of ancient wisdom, religious beliefs, and questionable practices that often seem bizarre by modern standards. From the 5th to the 15th century, physicians and healers relied on methods that ranged from surprisingly logical to utterly absurd. While some treatments laid the groundwork for modern medical practices, others reveal just how little was understood about human anatomy and disease. These strange facts illuminate a time when medicine was as much art and superstition as it was science.
Unusual Treatments and Practices from the Middle Ages
1. Urine as a Diagnostic Wonder Tool
Medieval physicians placed extraordinary faith in uroscopy—the examination of urine for diagnostic purposes. Doctors would inspect a patient’s urine color, consistency, smell, and even taste to diagnose ailments. They used special glass flasks called matulas and compared the urine against elaborate charts showing up to 20 different colors, each supposedly indicating specific diseases. Some practitioners claimed they could diagnose everything from diabetes to lovesickness simply by examining urine. This practice became so prestigious that carrying a matula became the symbol of a learned physician, much like a stethoscope today.
2. Bloodletting for Nearly Every Ailment
Bloodletting was the medieval medical profession’s answer to almost every health problem. Based on the ancient theory of the four humors—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile—physicians believed that illness resulted from an imbalance of these bodily fluids. They would cut veins, apply leeches, or use heated cups to draw out “excess” blood. Barbers performed this procedure so frequently that the red and white striped barber pole symbolized blood and bandages. Ironically, bloodletting likely killed more patients than it cured, including historical figures like King Charles II and George Washington.
3. Trepanation to Release Evil Spirits
Medieval surgeons practiced trepanation—drilling holes into the skull—to treat everything from migraines to mental illness. They believed this procedure would release evil spirits, demons, or pressure causing the patient’s symptoms. Remarkably, some patients survived this procedure, as evidenced by archaeological findings showing healed skull bones. The surgery was performed with specialized tools while patients were conscious, sometimes with only alcohol or herbal concoctions for pain relief. This practice dated back to prehistoric times but remained popular throughout the medieval period.
4. Animal Dung as Medicinal Treatment
Medieval pharmacopeias included various animal feces as legitimate remedies. Pigeon droppings were applied to baldness, crocodile dung was used as a contraceptive, and mouse droppings were mixed into pastes for various ailments. Physicians recommended these treatments in complete seriousness, often combining them with other ingredients to create poultices or drinks. The logic behind these treatments was based on the doctrine of signatures—the belief that substances resembling certain body parts or conditions could treat related ailments—or simply on ancient authorities who had recommended them centuries earlier.
5. The Bizarre “Weapon Salve” Theory
Rather than treating wounds directly, some medieval healers applied medicine to the weapon that caused the injury. This “weapon salve” or “powder of sympathy” supposedly worked through supernatural connections between the weapon and the wound. Practitioners would clean and bandage the actual wound simply, then apply elaborate ointments containing everything from moss grown on a human skull to powdered mummy to the offending blade. Interestingly, patients sometimes healed better under this regimen—likely because leaving the wound alone prevented the infection that typically resulted from medieval wound treatments.
6. Dead Mouse Paste for Dental Problems
Toothaches plagued medieval populations, and the recommended cure was particularly revolting. Healers would create a paste from dead mice, mix it with various ingredients, and apply it directly to the affected tooth or have patients swallow it. Some recipes called for the mice to be specifically prepared—skinned, crushed, and mixed with herbs. Another variant involved cutting a mouse in half and applying it to warts or other skin conditions. These treatments persisted for centuries despite their obvious ineffectiveness and the risk of infection they posed.
7. Drinking Liquid Gold and Powdered Gemstones
The wealthy suffered from medieval medicine in unique ways, as physicians prescribed expensive and useless remedies like liquid gold and powdered precious stones. Gold was thought to have purifying properties and could cure everything from heart problems to the plague. Emeralds were ground into powder to improve eyesight, sapphires treated ulcers, and rubies supposedly prevented poison. These “remedies” were not only ineffective but potentially dangerous, as the sharp edges of powdered gems could damage the digestive system. The practice reflected medieval beliefs that valuable substances must possess powerful healing properties.
8. The “Doctrine of Signatures” Plant Selection
Medieval herbalists selected plants based on their resemblance to body parts or symptoms rather than actual medicinal properties. Walnuts, which look like tiny brains, were used to treat head ailments. Lungwort, with leaves resembling lung tissue, was prescribed for respiratory problems. Yellow flowers treated jaundice because of their color. This doctrine, formalized by various medical authorities, meant that appearance determined use rather than observation or experimentation. Ironically, some plants selected this way did have legitimate medicinal properties, but purely by coincidence rather than any logical connection between appearance and effect.
9. Bezoar Stones as Universal Antidotes
Bezoars—solid masses found in animal digestive systems—were among the most prized medical substances in medieval Europe. These stones, formed from undigested material in the stomachs of goats, deer, or other animals, were believed to be universal antidotes to poison. Wealthy individuals would own bezoar stones and either touch them to their drinks or have shavings added to suspected poisoned food. Some were set in elaborate gold or silver mountings. Bezoars commanded astronomical prices and were even listed in royal inventories alongside crowns and jewels. The belief in their power persisted into the 17th century.
10. Eye Surgery with Needles and Spit
Couching, a procedure for treating cataracts, involved inserting a needle or sharp instrument into the eye to push the clouded lens out of the field of vision. Medieval surgeons performed this delicate operation without anesthesia or proper sterilization. Some practitioners recommended mixing the procedure with applications of human saliva, believed to have healing properties. While the technique did sometimes restore limited vision, it frequently led to infection, pain, or complete blindness. Despite these risks, couching remained one of the few surgical treatments available for vision problems throughout the medieval period.
Legacy of Medieval Medical Practices
These strange facts reveal a medical era driven by tradition, religious belief, and misunderstood ancient texts rather than scientific observation. Medieval practitioners genuinely sought to heal their patients but lacked the knowledge of anatomy, germ theory, and proper hygiene that modern medicine takes for granted. Some practices, like herbal remedies and certain surgical techniques, did contain kernels of valid medical insight. However, most treatments were ineffective at best and actively harmful at worst. Understanding these bizarre practices helps us appreciate how far medicine has advanced while reminding us that future generations may view some of our current practices with similar bewilderment.
