10 Bizarre Ancient Medical Practices That Will Make You Grateful for Modern Medicine

Modern medicine has come a long way, but the path to today's healthcare was paved with some truly strange practices. Many ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, Mesopotamians, and indigenous cultures across Africa and the Americas, used methods that would shock a modern patient. Whether these methods were based on religious beliefs, limited anatomical understanding, or early philosophical theories about the body, they shaped the early foundations of healing practices. While some of these techniques accidentally led to medical advancements, others were nothing short of dangerous, misguided, or even deadly. Understanding these bizarre methods helps us appreciate the progress of medical science and the safety standards we often take for granted today. In this article, we explore ten of the strangest and most unsettling ancient medical practices that have (thankfully) disappeared over time.

1. Trepanation: Drilling Holes in the Skull

Trepanation, or the act of drilling holes into the human skull, dates back to prehistoric times. Skulls found in Peru, Europe, and Africa show evidence of this practice being widespread. Ancient healers believed trepanation could cure neurological disorders, headaches, and even possession by spirits. Surprisingly, it wasn't always fatal—some skulls show signs of bone healing, suggesting the patient survived. While the idea of boring into someone’s head with flint tools seems horrifying, it was a widely respected method in many early cultures. Trepanation is even practiced today by a small fringe of people who claim it enhances consciousness, though modern science dismisses these claims due to the lack of evidence supporting any cognitive benefits.

2. Bloodletting with Leeches

The ancient Greeks introduced the concept of 'humors,' or four bodily fluids, that needed balance. This theory persisted well into the 19th century. Leeches became a popular tool for bloodletting because they were easy to apply and considered a gentler option compared to lancets. Doctors believed removing blood from a feverish or inflamed patient would reduce symptoms. In some extreme cases, so much blood was removed that the patient fainted or died. Today, while bloodletting is obsolete for most cases, leeches are used in microsurgery to help restore blood flow in reattached limbs and skin grafts—an odd modern twist on an ancient remedy. This shift demonstrates how even outdated practices can evolve and find new, beneficial uses.

3. Mummy Powder as Medicine

The use of powdered mummy—known as 'mumia'—reached peak popularity during the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe. The practice involved grinding the remains of Egyptian mummies and ingesting them as a supposed cure for internal bleeding, epilepsy, and bruising. Even royalty participated in this bizarre trend, believing that the preserved essence of ancient kings and priests carried magical healing properties. Apothecaries openly sold mummy powder across Europe. The demand was so high that tomb raiding became a profitable business, leading to the destruction of invaluable archaeological sites. Eventually, scientific rationalism and ethical awareness led to the practice's decline.

4. Mercury for Syphilis

Syphilis was a widespread and terrifying disease in Renaissance Europe. In the absence of antibiotics, physicians relied on mercury to treat it. Mercury was applied topically, consumed, or vaporized and inhaled. Despite the known toxic effects of mercury, physicians continued using it in the desperate hope of curing syphilis. The famous quote, "A night with Venus, a lifetime with Mercury," reflects the tragic irony of this treatment. Victims often suffered from mouth ulcers, hair loss, kidney damage, and death. Ironically, mercury remained the standard treatment for over 400 years until penicillin emerged in the 20th century, which finally provided a safe and effective cure.

5. Animal Dung Ointments

From the banks of the Nile to ancient Indian temples, animal dung was a common component in folk medicine. Ancient Egyptians used crocodile dung as a contraceptive, often mixed with sour milk and honey. The Greeks used ox dung in poultices for wound treatment. Animal waste was considered to have sacred or purifying properties. However, it more likely introduced dangerous bacteria into the body. While these treatments occasionally worked by accident—thanks to fermentation producing mild antibiotics—the risks of tetanus and infection far outweighed any potential benefit. This practice highlights how ancient medicine often confused symbolism with science, illustrating a time when medical knowledge was deeply intertwined with superstition.

6. Urine Therapy

Urine was seen as a natural medicine by multiple cultures, from ancient Egypt to medieval Europe. It was used to treat everything from acne and fungal infections to snake bites and ear infections. Some physicians collected the urine of young, healthy individuals for their treatments, believing it was 'cleaner' and more potent. Indian Ayurvedic medicine also regarded urine as a powerful detoxifier. Although urine is sterile in most cases, modern medicine has shown that these practices can be more harmful than helpful. Today, urine therapy still has followers who believe in its curative powers, despite a complete lack of scientific validation.

7. Smoking for Asthma

Inhaling smoke to treat breathing problems sounds counterintuitive today, but it was widely practiced in the 18th and 19th centuries. Herbal cigarettes containing belladonna, stramonium, or lobelia were prescribed to asthmatics. The idea was to relax the bronchial tubes, and patients often reported short-term relief. However, this came at the cost of long-term lung damage. Some companies even produced branded asthma cigarettes. As medical research showed that smoke inhalation causes long-term lung damage and worsens respiratory conditions, the practice was finally discarded, leaving behind a cautionary tale about trusting untested remedies.

8. Lobotomies for Mental Illness

Lobotomies were once hailed as revolutionary treatments for mental illness. Introduced by Portuguese neurologist António Egas Moniz, the procedure earned him a Nobel Prize in 1949. American psychiatrist Walter Freeman popularized the transorbital lobotomy in the U.S., which involved inserting an ice pick-like tool through the eye socket to sever connections in the frontal lobe. While some patients became more docile, others were permanently impaired. The rise of psychiatric medication eventually rendered lobotomies obsolete, but not before thousands suffered irreversible harm. While lobotomies were seen as a breakthrough at the time, they also sparked significant ethical debates due to the irreversible damage caused to many patients.

9. Tooth Extraction for Headaches

Without a modern understanding of neurology, ancient doctors often attributed chronic pain to visible issues—like rotting teeth. Patients suffering from migraines or seizures were routinely sent to have multiple teeth pulled in hopes of relief. Some believed tooth worms caused pain by burrowing into the jaw. While dental health does influence overall well-being, extracting healthy teeth rarely cured headaches. This method reflects the desperate lengths people went to when faced with persistent pain and no viable treatments, a stark contrast to today's advanced neurological treatments.

10. Cannibalistic Cures

Perhaps the most unsettling of all ancient medical practices was the use of human flesh and fluids in healing. Cannibalistic cures were common in Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries. Physicians prescribed ground human skull for epilepsy, human blood for vitality, and even fat for healing bruises. Public executions were viewed as medical opportunities, with fresh blood being gathered for immediate consumption by physicians and even the nobility. Ironically, these treatments were often endorsed by the Church and practiced by nobles. This gruesome legacy serves as a disturbing reminder that even in the most advanced societies, medical practices were once shaped by superstition and power dynamics.