10 Medical Treatments from the Past That Are Now Considered Unsafe
Some medical treatments that were once standard practice are now known to be dangerous.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Doctors used to swear by treatments that would shock people today. Some were painful, others were poisonous, and a few did nothing at all. Patients trusted these remedies, not knowing they were putting their health at risk. Medical science has moved forward, but looking back at these unsafe treatments shows just how much has changed.
1. Mercury as Medicine
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Mercury was once used to treat everything from syphilis to cuts despite being highly toxic. It caused severe poisoning, leading to organ failure and neurological damage. What was once a cure is now recognized as a deadly hazard.
2. Bloodletting for Almost Everything
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Doctors once believed draining blood could cure illness, but it often weakened patients instead. This practice was used for everything from fevers to infections, sometimes leading to death. Modern medicine replaced it with safer, science-backed treatments.
3. Cocaine as a Pain Reliever
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Cocaine was once a common ingredient in medicine, including toothache drops for children. While it numbed pain effectively, it also led to addiction and severe health issues. Now, its use is strictly controlled due to its dangerous effects.
4. Trepanation for Headaches
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Drilling holes in the skull to release “bad spirits” was once a treatment for headaches and mental illness. Instead of curing ailments, it often led to infections and severe brain damage. Today, neurosurgery follows strict, evidence-based practices.
5. Radium Water Vitality
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In the early 1900s, people drank radium-infused water, believing it boosted health. Instead, it led to radiation poisoning, causing bone fractures and organ damage. This glowing “miracle cure” turned into a medical disaster.
6. Arsenic Pills for Better Skin
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Arsenic was marketed as a beauty treatment, promising clear skin and a youthful glow. Instead, it caused poisoning, leading to hair loss, organ failure, and death. Today, we know better than to use deadly poisons for cosmetics.
7. Lobotomies for Mental Health
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Lobotomies were once used to treat mental illness by severing brain connections. This often left patients with severe disabilities and personality changes. Modern psychiatry replaced this brutal method with safer therapies.
8. Smoking for Lung Health
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Doctors once endorsed cigarettes as a remedy for asthma and lung issues. Instead of improving health, smoking led to lung cancer and respiratory diseases. Today, it is one of the most well-known health hazards.
9. Heroin as a Cough Syrup
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Heroin was once marketed as a non-addictive alternative to morphine and used in children’s cough syrups. It quickly became apparent that it was highly addictive and dangerous. Now, it is strictly banned outside of controlled medical use.
10. Electric Shock Therapy for Everything
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Early electroshock therapy was used for everything from depression to migraines, often without anesthesia. It caused severe side effects, including memory loss and brain damage. While modern versions exist, early practices were far from safe.