10 Cruel Medieval Medical Practices That Are Still In Use Today
Daniel Bonfiglio
Published
Yesterday
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We might think of modern medicine as clean and refined in comparison to the barbaric practices of past, but that isn't always the case. Like a broken clock, ancient doctors were right about a few things, and many modern medical procedures are much older than you might think; especially when natural remedies are involved.
Here are 10 cruel medical practices that are still in use today.
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1. Transsphenoidal Techniques
You might think of brain surgery as a modern medical practice, and it is, but getting to the brain through the nose isn’t. Even the ancient Egyptians knew that the easiest path to the brain was through the nose… they just didn't have the ability to use that information effectively. -
2. Cow Bile
Ancient doctors loved experimenting with odd substances, often unsuccessfully. Shockingly however, cow bile kills MRSA very effectively when cooked with garlic. The substance is still used today. -
3. C-Section
The modern cesarean section has greatly improved mother and infant mortality rates, but the procedure itself has been around since 320 BC. Back then however, it was only used in extreme circumstances, and was hardly an ideal option for any party involved. -
4. Leech Therapy
Old medicine loves messing around with blood, but surprisingly, leech therapy actually helps promote blood flow and prevent clotting. Still, it was gross in 800 BC, and it’s gross now. -
5. Waste Transplants
Ancient doctors loved messing around with feces, but it turns out transplants are effective at curing Clostridium difficile infection. Unfortunately, people of the past were left to perform the procedure without modern colonoscopy technology. -
6. Trepanation
Drilling a hole in someone’s head to fix a headache sounds like an archaic practice, but it does help relieve pressure for patients who have experienced severe brain trauma. Ancient peoples might have been a bit too liberal with their applications however. -
7. Maggot Therapy
Maggots eat dead flesh. That’s gross. It’s also very helpful when it comes to cleaning wounds, especially after surgery. So as long as the host is live, this technique is surprisingly sanitary. Just don’t let me see them please. -
8. Stitches
Sewing is a well known ancient practice, so it makes sense that sewing wounds shut would be one as well. The earliest known stitches were found on a mummy from 1100 BC. -
9. Acupuncture
Who knew that sticking a bunch of needles in someone could actually make them feel… better? But millions of people still swear on the over 3,000-year-old practice. (As long as the needles are small and clean.) -
10. Cupping Therapy
Fairly recently, athletes have brought the practice of “cupping” back into the spotlight. But while the silly-looking purple welts on Michael Phelps’s back might not look familiar, they are actually part of a revival of a 3,500-year-old ancient Egyptian practice.
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- 10 Cruel Medieval Medical Practices That Are Still In Use Today
Transsphenoidal Techniques
You might think of brain surgery as a modern medical practice, and it is, but getting to the brain through the nose isn’t. Even the ancient Egyptians knew that the easiest path to the brain was through the nose… they just didn't have the ability to use that information effectively.
You might think of brain surgery as a modern medical practice, and it is, but getting to the brain through the nose isn’t. Even the ancient Egyptians knew that the easiest path to the brain was through the nose… they just didn't have the ability to use that information effectively.
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