Ancient Health Remedies with a Modern Twist
Historians have recently discovered various “health hacks” that date back to the Middle Ages, and some of them could almost be from a TikTok video.
A database called the Corpus of Early Medieval Latin Medicine uncovers how individuals in that so-called “dark age” approached health and medicine. Binghamton University announced this database in July.
Meg Leja, an associate professor at the university, shared that it contains hundreds of medieval medical texts, focusing specifically on Latin manuscripts up to the year 1000.
“It covers much of continental Europe, although not England, where many early medieval medical writings were in vernacular English,” she explained.
“Very few manuscripts have survived from before the year 600, so the effective date range is between 600 and 1,000.”
Some of the treatments revealed might resonate with today’s wellness trends. Here are six that stood out:
1. Original Juice Cleansing
One interesting find is a detox plan that spans a full year involving drinks made from herbs like cinnamon, sage, ginger, and fennel. This concoction was believed to remove accumulated mucus and “unwanted substances,” much like today’s juice cleanses.
2. Vinegar Mask for Radiant Skin
A recipe in the database suggested using vinegar as a treatment to enhance facial radiance. “Fry flour with vinegar and apply this as a plaster mixed with oil,” the instructions recommend.
3. Barley Water for Digestion
Interestingly, barley water, which makes its rounds on TikTok as a “natural remedy,” was also recognized centuries ago by medieval writers who touted its benefits. A text from before 1000 AD asserted that combining barley with hot wine aids digestion.
4. Treatment with Dead Vultures
This is where things get a bit grim. One text from before 1250 speaks about using a dead vulture as a cure for various ailments. The instructions include rather unsettling practices, like decapitating the bird while invoking specific incantations. The skull is said to alleviate migraines, while its eyes are meant to ease eye pain. There’s even a notion that tying vulture feathers around a pregnant woman’s legs could help hasten labor.
5. Lizard Hair Help
An advice piece from the late 9th century suggests that green lizard ash might enhance hair. To achieve luscious locks, one should cover their hair with fresh-flavored salt and vinegar, then scrub it with burnt green lizard ash mixed with oil.
6. Goat Feces Treatment
From an 11th century text, one of the more revolting remedies includes dissolving goat feces in water, straining it, and consuming it to alleviate chest pain. While the process supposedly offers quick relief, it isn’t exactly pleasant.
Experts’ Perspective
Dr. J. Matthew Knight, a certified dermatologist, cautions against trying these treatments. He noted that while ingredients like barley, cinnamon, and fennel could potentially provide minor digestive benefits, the notion of a year-long detox lacks scientific backing.
“There is little or no scientific basis for these trends, whether from TikTok or medieval times,” he stated.
Dr. Knight highlighted that vinegar face masks might provoke skin irritation, even though vinegar does have antibacterial properties. Regarding the more extreme suggestions, such as consuming goat feces for chest pain, he strongly advised against it, urging that anyone with chest pain should seek immediate medical help.
While acknowledging the novelty of the medieval health remedies, Knight pointed out that they lie somewhere between intriguing and completely ineffective. He remarked, “These ideas predate modern medical understanding, relying on ancient beliefs about illness as reflections of cosmic or moral imbalances rather than infections.”
