Favorite medieval cure?

[Mobius]

Poll question: Favorite medieval cure?

figured this would be a good followup

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. Bleeding, or "blooding". Sort of part of leeches, but done without them

as well. Carried out until at least the 1700's. Actually could be of use in people with congestive heart failure (lasix and other diuretics fulfill this function now, without wasting the red blood cells).

[GreenPartyVoter]

25. Also known as "cupping" I believe?

-------------------------------------
Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[GreenPartyVoter]

26. Dupe--delete

[Placebo]

2. Leeches are growing in popularity again!

I can't remember where I read something about it, but they are indeed in vogue yet again.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. Salvage of partial facial soft tissue avulsions with medicinal leeches.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15577793

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Dec;131(6) : 934-9.

Salvage of partial facial soft tissue avulsions with medicinal leeches.

Frodel JL, Barth P, Wagner J.

Background Medicinal leeches have been demonstrated to be extremely useful and safe in the salvage of venous outflow compromised tissue, particularly in digit replants and various forms of flaps. Objective To demonstrate the utility of medicinal leeches in the salvage of venous outflow-compromised traumatic soft tissue avulsions in key facial structures. Methods A retrospective review of 4 cases involving the external ear, nose, lip, and scalp in which apparent venous outflow compromise was present. Medicinal leeches were applied acutely in each of these 4 cases, salvaging each of the partially avulsed soft tissue segments. Results Complete or near complete salvage of each soft tissue segment after using medicinal leeches. Conclusions Although it is unusual for a partial soft tissue avulsion of the face to require medicinal leech therapy, situations may occur in which there is adequate arterial inflow but inadequate venous outflow. In such cases, medicinal leeches may play a very important role in salvaging the soft tissue segment. This is particularly important in vital structures such as the ear, nose, lip, and eyelid in which acute or secondary reconstruction is complex. EBM rating: C.

PMID: 15577793

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

3. Leeches are still of medical use today, are used to siphon off excess

blood when tissue flaps placed surgically are in danger of dying because of inadequate venous drainage.

[American Tragedy]

33. Gross!

I'm sorry, but even in the interest of medical science I can't imagine letting one of those things latch onto me and suck my blood.

[datasuspect]

4. trepanning to release the foul humours n/t

[Liberal Veteran]

5. I was going to mention balancing humors as well.

:)

[Mobius]

9. good one!

i cant believe I forgot trepanation! :dunce:

[arcane1]

6. I'm rather fond of dunking, actually

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. I don't know that dunking was thought to "cure" anything. Quite enjoyable

for the dunkers, though. Not so much for the dunkees.

[arcane1]

15. true, but I still dig it

:silly:

[politicat]

7. cupping.

Glass cups, heated, applied to skin, usually on the back, to bring the bad humors to the surface. Caused burns, massive suction bruises (aka hickies) and pain.

Does not seem to have done a bit of good.

PCat

[Inland]

14. Nope. Cupping is big in Hollywood now.

[chaska]

16. I walked into an Asian owned auto parts place and...

one of the guys had those glass cup things on the back of another guy. Kinda weird, but hey.... :shrug:

[Inland]

21. My wife remembers her dad doing it.

Immigrants.

[politicat]

17. For WHAT?? And what WON'T Hollywood do?

Good grief... a "therapy" that causes burns and contusions?

Maybe it is time to saw Southern California off.... or at least quarantine Hollywood so the madness doesn't spread.

Pcat

[Inland]

22. Don't know what they are trying to cure, but it is probably the

same disease that colonics cure. By the way, saw a practioner of Birkam Yoga claim that his practices squeeze the internal organs and wring out toxins. No shit. He thinks he is wringing out his liver like a sponge.

[politicat]

23. EEEEWWWW..... and a good way to damage your liver.

The poor thing's resilient, but not perfect.

Hmmm... hot glasses raising hickies on my back or several gallons of water introduced to my lower intestine.... :scared:

Pcat

[chenGOD]

31. I've had it done...

If done properly, it will leave of course suction bruises, but it shouldn't leave any burns and the pain is negligible. It also cured the neck/shoulder pains I'd been having.

[datasuspect]

11. applying a cow urine/herbal/moldy cheese poultice

[mcscajun]

12. Bleeding to release the foul 'humours' in your system.

Ugh.

http://www.collectmedicalantiques.com/bloodletting.html

[GingerSnaps]

13. Maggots and blood letting

:scared: :puke:

[politicat]

18. Maggots get used in gangrene cases even now.

Because they will eat the putrid flesh, but don't go after the healthy flesh.

It's also in the Army survival guide under what to do when you're fucked and out in the wilderness alone.

Pcat

[youthere]

19. These are all good

But nothin beats a good leech.

[Padraig18]

20. Blistering.

Gotta love the curative power of a good half-meter square blister on the chest...

;)

[MsAnthropy]

24. Drawing and quartering

four horses in opposite directions--what fun!

[obreaslan]

28. It didn't really cure anything though....

did it? Maybe a deterrent :)

[DelawareValleyDem]

29. A little bloodletting and some boar's vomit, and he'll be fine

Theodoric of York, Medieval Barber

[amazona]

27. garlic NT

/

[WMliberal]

30. Ether as an anesthetic.

and if it's a big guy, give him a LOT!

[chenGOD]

32. Am i the only one who thought of Theodoric of York?

Drunkard: I was at the festival of the vernal equinox, and I guess I had a little too much mead.. and I darted out in front of an oxcart. It all happened so fast. They couldn't stop in time.

Theodoric of York: Well, you'll a lot better after a good bleeding.

Drunkard: But I'm bleeding already!

Theodoric of York: Say, whos the barber here?


http://snltranscripts.jt.org/77/77rtheodoric.phtml