The surprising medical remedies of the Middle Ages, from lizard oil to a sweet migraine hack
Researchers have unearthed a trove of medical remedies dating back over a thousand years, revealing that early medieval Europeans were far more health-savvy than historians once believed.
'People in the early Middle Ages were quite into science, into observation, into figuring out the utility of different natural substances, and trying to identify patterns and make predictions,' Dr. Meg Leja, an associate professor of history at Binghamton University who helped led the effort, told Science Daily.
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3 New research suggests that ancient healers developed treatments rooted in natural remedies, keen observation and practical know-how.
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Turns out, they might have been onto something — and today's wellness gurus are just catching up.
'A lot of things that you see in these manuscripts are actually being promoted online currently as alternative medicine, but they have been around for thousands of years,' Leja explained.
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Got a headache? Forget Ibuprofen. A thousand years ago, the go-to remedy was a mixture of crushed peach pit and rose oil slathered on the forehead.
While it might sound more witchcraft than wellness, modern science suggests they weren't entirely off-base: A 2017 study found rose oil may offer short-term relief from migraine pain — though the crushed peach pit is a bit more questionable.
Another 9th-century manuscript's advice for improving hair health begins with a practical step: Cleanse the scalp using herbal-infused salt and vinegar to ward off parasites.
Even today, vinegar rinses — especially with apple cider vinegar — are used as a home remedy for scalp issues like dandruff and eczema. Though vinegar definitely has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, the scientific evidence that it can combat a flaking scalp is thin.
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3 Many ancient remedies drew on plants and animals to treat human ailments.
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Sea salt scalp scrubs, meanwhile, are on the shelves of stores like Sephora and Ulta.
But for truly luscious locks, medieval healers didn't stop there — they recommended topping it off with a a salve of oils blended with the 'ashes of a burnt green lizard' to unlock the full benefits.
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While the internet isn't shy about embracing DIY beauty trends, the jury is still out on whether scorched reptile will become the next viral hair mask.
From detox potions to botanical balms, many of the era's health hacks wouldn't feel out of place on TikTok's For You Page. But not all would hold up by today's standards.
Case in point: One labor and delivery remedy advised pregnant women to tie vulture feathers to their left leg to ensure a smoother birth. Even Goop hasn't gone that far — yet.
3 Some early healing methods share striking similarities with practices in modern alternative medicine.
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The surprising insights come from the Corpus of Early Medieval Latin Medicine, a digital collection compiled over the course of more than two years by Leja and her colleagues.
This project has nearly doubled the number of known health manuscripts from before the 11th century. Many were found scribbled in the margins of unrelated books on topics like grammar, theology and poetry.
'It's true that we do lack a lot of sources for the period. In that sense, it is 'dark.' But not in terms of any kind of 'anti-science' attitudes,' Leja said.
'They were concerned about cures, they wanted to observe the natural world and jot down bits of information wherever they could in this period known as the 'Dark Ages,'' she added.
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The collection continues to grow with new discoveries and translations added regularly. So, if you're curious to explore medieval wellness firsthand, the full catalogue is available online here.
Bonus points if you can track down the 9th-century remedy for shrinking testicles.
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