Medieval Medicine: 10 Cures That Were Stranger Than Fiction

Medieval medicine was a mix of superstition, religion, and early scientific observation, with treatments that seem bizarre today. Doctors used urine for diagnosis and treatment, analyzing its color, smell, and bubbles. They also performed trepanation, drilling holes in skulls to relieve pressure and treat conditions like epilepsy and headaches. Medicinal cannibalism was also practiced, with physicians consuming human remains to treat ailments like headaches and stomach ulcers. While these treatments seem extreme, some had a kernel of scientific truth, with urine containing antibacterial properties and human remains having some medicinal value.