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Did You Know? 12 Strange Medical Practices from History
Throughout human history, medical practitioners have employed a vast array of treatments and procedures that, by modern standards, seem bizarre, dangerous, or downright shocking. Before the advent of evidence-based medicine and rigorous scientific testing, physicians relied on theories ranging from balancing bodily humors to driving out evil spirits. While these practitioners genuinely believed they were helping their patients, many of their methods would be considered malpractice today. Here are twelve of the strangest medical practices from history that reveal just how far medicine has evolved.
1. Bloodletting and Leech Therapy
For thousands of years, bloodletting was considered a cure-all treatment for numerous ailments, from fever to headaches to mental illness. Physicians believed that removing “bad blood” would restore balance to the body’s four humors. This practice was so widespread that barbers performed it alongside haircuts, which is why the traditional barber pole features red and white stripes representing blood and bandages. Leeches were frequently employed for this purpose, with some physicians applying dozens of the parasitic creatures to patients at once. The practice persisted well into the 19th century and may have contributed to the death of George Washington, who had nearly half his blood drained while being treated for a throat infection.
2. Trepanation: Drilling Holes in Skulls
One of the oldest surgical procedures known to humanity, trepanation involved drilling, cutting, or scraping a hole into the human skull. Archaeological evidence shows this practice dates back at least 7,000 years and was performed across multiple continents. Ancient physicians believed that trepanation could cure headaches, epilepsy, and mental disorders by releasing evil spirits or relieving pressure on the brain. Remarkably, many patients survived the procedure, as evidenced by healed skull specimens, suggesting that some practitioners possessed considerable skill despite their flawed understanding of neurology.
3. Mercury as Medicine
Despite being highly toxic, mercury was used extensively in medicine from ancient times through the early 20th century. It was prescribed as a treatment for syphilis, constipation, depression, and parasitic infections. Physicians administered mercury in various forms: as ointments, vapor baths, or pills. Patients suffered severe side effects including tooth loss, neurological damage, kidney failure, and death. The phrase “mad as a hatter” originated from hat makers who developed neurological symptoms from mercury exposure during hat production. Incredibly, mercury-based treatments remained in medical use until effective antibiotics were developed.
4. Tobacco Smoke Enemas
In the 18th and early 19th centuries, blowing tobacco smoke into a patient’s rectum was considered an effective treatment for drowning victims, hernias, cholera, and various other conditions. The practice was so respected that the Royal Humane Society installed resuscitation kits containing tobacco smoke enema equipment along the Thames River. Physicians believed the smoke would warm the patient, stimulate respiration, and dry out excess moisture. The practice declined when nicotine was recognized as toxic, giving rise to the modern phrase “blowing smoke up your ass” to describe false or misleading information.
5. Arsenic Complexion Wafers
During the Victorian era, both men and women consumed arsenic in small doses to achieve a pale, translucent complexion that was fashionable at the time. These “complexion wafers” were marketed as beauty aids that would clear the skin and create a youthful appearance. Despite being a deadly poison, arsenic was also prescribed by physicians for various ailments including asthma, psoriasis, and syphilis. Users often experienced serious side effects including organ damage, neurological problems, and cancer. Some became addicted to arsenic, requiring increasingly larger doses that eventually proved fatal.
6. Radioactive Health Products
Following the discovery of radioactivity in the late 19th century and before its dangers were fully understood, radium and other radioactive substances were marketed as miracle cures. Products included radioactive water, cosmetics, suppositories, and even chocolate. The wealthy industrialist Eben Byers famously drank radium water daily until his jaw literally fell off and he died from radiation poisoning in 1932. These products were claimed to cure everything from impotence to arthritis, but instead caused cancer, radiation sickness, and genetic damage. The tragic consequences eventually led to stricter regulations on medical products.
7. Urine Therapy
The consumption and topical application of human urine as medicine has been documented across numerous cultures throughout history. Ancient Romans used urine as a teeth whitener and antiseptic, while Chinese and Indian traditional medicine included urine therapy for various conditions. European physicians prescribed drinking one’s own urine or applying it to wounds well into the 17th century. While urine is sterile when it leaves a healthy bladder, it contains waste products that the body is trying to eliminate, making its consumption medically counterproductive and potentially harmful, especially if the person has an infection or disease.
8. Mummy Powder
From the 12th through the 17th centuries, ground-up Egyptian mummies were highly prized as medicine throughout Europe. Known as “mumia,” this powder was believed to cure everything from bruises to plague. The demand became so high that a black market emerged, with some unscrupulous dealers creating fake mummies from recently deceased bodies. Physicians prescribed mummy powder both internally and externally, despite there being no logical medical reason for its effectiveness. The practice declined when people began to find it morally objectionable and when alternative medicines became available.
9. Lobotomies for Mental Illness
The prefrontal lobotomy, developed in the 1930s, involved severing connections in the brain’s prefrontal cortex to treat mental illness. The procedure was performed on tens of thousands of patients, often with minimal consent, to treat conditions ranging from schizophrenia to depression to chronic pain. The “ice pick lobotomy,” which involved inserting an instrument through the eye socket into the brain, could be performed in minutes without anesthesia. While its inventor won the Nobel Prize in 1949, the procedure often left patients with severe cognitive impairment, personality changes, or in vegetative states. It was largely abandoned by the 1960s when antipsychotic medications became available.
10. Heroin for Children’s Cough
The Bayer pharmaceutical company marketed heroin as a non-addictive cough suppressant and pain reliever from 1898 to 1910, specifically advertising it as safe for children. The drug was recommended for treating coughs, colds, and respiratory ailments, with special emphasis on its supposed safety compared to morphine. Parents were encouraged to give heroin syrup to children suffering from common coughs. Doctors soon discovered that heroin was actually more addictive than morphine, and countless patients, including children, became dependent on the medication meant to help them. The drug was eventually removed from over-the-counter sales and later banned entirely.
11. Animal Dung Treatments
Ancient Egyptian medical texts prescribed animal excrement for numerous conditions. Crocodile dung was used as a contraceptive, while various types of manure were applied to wounds, taken internally for digestive issues, or used in poultices for infections. Ancient Greek physicians also recommended pigeon droppings for baldness and other conditions. While this seems utterly absurd, some researchers have noted that animal dung contains bacteria that produce antimicrobial compounds, potentially explaining why some patients may have experienced improvement. However, the risk of dangerous infections far outweighed any minimal benefits.
12. Vibrators for Female Hysteria
For centuries, physicians diagnosed countless women with “hysteria,” a catch-all condition blamed for symptoms including anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and sexual desire. The standard treatment involved manual pelvic massage by physicians to induce “hysterical paroxysm”—essentially medically induced orgasm. As this treatment was time-consuming and physically tiring for doctors, electromechanical vibrators were invented in the 1880s as medical instruments to make the treatment more efficient. These devices became one of the first electric appliances marketed for home use. The diagnosis of hysteria persisted until it was finally removed from medical literature in the 1950s, recognized as a manifestation of sexism rather than a legitimate medical condition.
Conclusion
These twelve strange medical practices serve as humbling reminders of how much medical science has progressed and how our current understanding of health and disease is based on centuries of trial, error, and scientific advancement. What seemed logical to physicians of the past—balancing humors, purging toxins, or releasing evil spirits—now appears dangerously misguided. Yet these practitioners were generally attempting to help their patients with the limited knowledge available to them. As we look back with a mixture of horror and fascination, we should remember that future generations may well view some of our current medical practices with similar disbelief. The evolution of medicine continues, driven by research, technology, and an ever-deepening understanding of human biology. These historical practices remind us to approach medical claims with healthy skepticism, demand evidence-based treatments, and appreciate the rigorous scientific method that protects patients today.
