10 Medical Practices That Sound Unreal Now
Medicine has come a long way, and that progress becomes crystal clear when you look back at some of the treatments once considered standard care. Many old practices now seem shocking, bizarre, or downright dangerous by today’s standards.
- Tricia Quitales
- 4 min read
Throughout history, doctors and healers used methods that might seem outrageous today, yet were once accepted as legitimate medical treatments. Whether rooted in superstition, lack of knowledge, or experimental curiosity, these practices highlight how far medical science has evolved. From drilling holes in skulls to drinking toxic substances, many of these treatments did more harm than good. Their stories serve as both cautionary tales and reminders of humanity’s constant search for healing.
1. Bloodletting
Bulent Kaya, Orhan Bat, Nuriye Esen Bulut, Hasan Altun and Kemal Memisoglu on Wikimedia
For centuries, bloodletting was used to treat everything from fever to headaches and even the common cold. Physicians believed that illness came from imbalances in bodily fluids, particularly blood. Leeches or knives were used to remove blood from the patient. Unfortunately, this often weakened people further or led to death from excessive blood loss.
2. Trepanation
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Trepanation involved drilling or cutting a hole into the skull to treat conditions like seizures or mental illness. Ancient cultures believed this allowed evil spirits or pressure to escape the brain. While some survived the procedure, many did not. It was a dangerous practice with little medical benefit. Today, it’s only referenced in history books and archaeological findings.
3. Mercury Treatments
Mraček F on Wikimedia
Mercury, now known to be highly toxic, was once used to treat diseases like syphilis. Patients were given mercury ointments, pills, or vapors to inhale. While it may have had some effect on symptoms, the side effects were severe and included brain damage and death. At the time, the long-term toxicity of mercury was not understood. Modern medicine now avoids it entirely.
4. Lobotomy
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Developed in the 1930s, the lobotomy involved severing connections in the brain’s frontal lobe to treat mental disorders. Doctors often used an ice pick-like tool inserted through the eye socket. While some patients showed reduced symptoms, many were left permanently disabled or emotionally blunted. The procedure gained popularity before eventually falling out of favor due to its risks.
5. Heroin as Cough Medicine
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In the early 20th century, heroin was marketed by pharmaceutical companies as a non-addictive substitute for morphine. It was commonly prescribed to treat coughs, colds, and pain. The drug turned out to be highly addictive and far more dangerous than initially believed. Its use was quickly banned once the consequences became clear.
6. Arsenic Prescriptions
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Arsenic, a well-known poison, was once used in small doses to treat conditions like syphilis, asthma, and even acne. Doctors believed that with proper control, it could stimulate healing. In reality, prolonged exposure often led to poisoning, organ failure, or cancer. The risks eventually outweighed the supposed benefits.
7. Cigarettes for Asthma
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Astonishingly, some early 20th-century doctors recommended tobacco products to help asthma sufferers breathe easier. Special “asthma cigarettes” were marketed as a way to open airways and reduce symptoms. Of course, we now know smoking aggravates asthma and causes serious lung damage. The medical endorsement of tobacco has since been thoroughly debunked.
8. Radium Water
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In the early 1900s, radium was hailed as a miracle element and added to drinking water, toothpaste, and cosmetics. People believed it boosted energy and vitality. However, radium is radioactive and prolonged exposure caused devastating health problems, including radiation sickness and cancer. Some victims even had their jaws deteriorate from the inside.
9. Snake Oil Remedies
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Snake oil became a popular cure-all in the 19th century, sold by traveling salesmen who promised it could fix anything from joint pain to depression. Most of these concoctions had no medicinal value and often contained alcohol or narcotics. The term “snake oil” has since become synonymous with medical fraud. Regulatory agencies eventually cracked down on these false claims.
10. Electric Shock for Everything
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Electrotherapy was once considered a miracle cure for nearly every illness, including insomnia, depression, arthritis, and even indigestion. Crude electrical devices were sold for home use and often caused burns or worse. While modern electroconvulsive therapy exists for specific psychiatric conditions, the older methods were unregulated and dangerous. They were based more on trend than science.