Here are some unbelievably weird and unusual things people used as medicines to treat serious medical conditions in the past
I personally have always had an attraction for learning about history and unusual things that happened in the past and unusual things that are still happening: meaning, I love to learn about unusual and weird stuff. I spend most of my time on the internet searching and reading those kinds of things, and recently I have come across some very interesting information about the weird and unusual things that people from the past days used as components to treat and heal serious medical conditions. Today, I’m going to share that knowledge with you.
I’ve put together a list of things that were a little grotesque in the old days, things you really will not believe people used as medicines. Some of those are banned today, consuming them can lead you to jail, and trading some of those is punishable by death in many countries!
Leeches
Now imagine the components of a certain treatment are living creatures that suck blood? Leeches were an alternative form of bleeding that became a very preferred method in Europe in the early 19th century. Although it is much less painful than being cut by a knife, the leeches were completely ineffective as a medicine.
Mercury
Using mercury in medicine is a practice dating back to Ancient Greece. Mercury was ment for the skin as treatment of certain diseases. However, in some cases, it was even ingested. Surprisingly, most US pharmacies have sold unregulated mercury as medicine in the 1920s. That went on until the 1950s, when mercury poisoning was discovered.
Cocaine
Cocaine began to be used as an analgesic and a cure for everything that afflicted a person. Freud himself prescribed cocaine for his patients, however, the doctors soon realized just how addictive the substance really was, and it got stopped from being used as a medicine.
Urine
Oh yes, you’ve read it right! - Urine therapy is derived from medicament of the ancient India, which encouraged the patients to drink urine as a medicine as well as massaging the skin with urine to treat milder illnesses, animal and bug stings, and even some kinds of cancers! Medical professionals believed that filtered and purified urine was the "blood gold" rather than a residual product coming out of the body. Shockingly, it was quite popular until the early 19th century!
Chloroform
When we hear the word chloroform, the first thing that comes into mind is ‘kidnapping’ – and it is not entirely the mind’s fault, it mostly used in kidnapping indeed. However, from the early 18th century to the mid 19th – it was used as a common medical tool. In the year 1831, doctors first used chloroform for anesthesia, and very rapidly it had become the most popular anesthetic for childbirth and surgeries. The patients smelled a cloth soaked in chloroform so as not to feel the pain of a surgery, soon after the doctors created a mask, where they put a dose of chloroform for patients to remain unconscious during the entire surgery.
In essence, it was a good practice, for formerly going through a surgery was practically being victim of a brutal torture, however, eventually it was found out that the practice was actually leading to many unwanted complications and a high fatality rate. So, in 1950, the doctors stopped using chloroform when new and more safer anesthetics had been discovered.
Heroin
The ‘queen of drugs’ Heroin began its journey depicting itself as a medicine as a cough suppressor marketed by Bayer Corporation. Soon, the drug was used to treat all kinds of respiratory problems, but shortly thereafter, morphine was discovered. After that the heroin was quickly banned from being used as a medicine.
Arsenic
First of all, let's make one thing clear to you; arsenic is practically a poison- a most lethal one out there. Still, this did not stop many ancient societies from using it as a form of treatment serious diseases like psoriasis and syphilis. Even today, an special form of this substance is used to treat a rare kind of blood cancer called ‘acute promyelocytic leukemia’!
Emetic
It is more likely than not that you’ve never heard of this one before, and trust me, it is nothing you’d become a fan of unless you’re a psychopath who enjoys hurting people for no reason. After being known about this, you’ll thank the almighty for not bringing you in this world in the time when emetic was in use by doctors (early 18th to early 20th century). Emetic was a toxic substance that induces vomiting. Back in those days, people used to think that the body would get rid of harmful content responsible for illness; however, the truth is, instead of improving the conditions of the patients, this disgusting ‘medicine’ would kill them more than often!
I must say something in response. Being a physician I will admit that we STILL use leeches, mecury and cocaine in medicine today.
didn't know that - thanks for enlighting me