12 Ridiculous Medical Treatments People Actually Tried in the Past
People once believed that everything from leeches to crushed mummies could cure diseases, and yes, it’s as wild as it sounds.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Medicine has come a long way, thankfully. Back in the day, people trusted some truly bizarre treatments to treat their health problems. From drinking gold to drilling holes in skulls, the past was full of strange ideas that now seem completely absurd.
1. Bloodletting With Leeches
Fæ on Wikimedia Commons
Doctors thought draining your blood could cure anything, from fevers to headaches. They used knives or leeches, believing illness came from “bad blood.” People would just lie there while leeches sucked away, hoping to feel better. Spoiler: it rarely worked.
2. Trepanation, Also Known As Drilling A Hole In Your Skull
Zde on Wikimedia Commons
If you had a headache or seizure or acted “strangely,” someone might drill into your head. They believed this would let out evil spirits or pressure. It sounds terrifying, but some people actually survived it. There was no anesthesia, just a whole lot of bravery or desperation.
3. Mercury As Medicine
Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart on Wikimedia Commons
Yes, the shiny toxic metal. People once used mercury to treat everything from skin problems to syphilis. They rubbed it on their skin or drank it, thinking it would flush out disease. Instead, it caused kidney failure, tooth loss, and death.
4. Smoking As A Health Cure
René Burri on Wikimedia Commons
Doctors once told people to smoke tobacco to help with asthma, digestion, and even bad breath. It was marketed as relaxing and medicinal. Some hospitals even had “smoking rooms” for patients. Now, we know it causes way more harm than good.
5. Mummy Powder For Healing Wounds
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Crushed-up mummies were sold as medicine in Europe. People believed this ancient “dust” had healing powers. They used it for cuts and bruises and even as a general health booster. Grave robbing became a booming business for this bizarre trend.
6. Heroin As A Cough Remedy
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In the early 1900s, heroin was sold in pharmacies as a cure for coughs and chest pain. It worked fast but was highly addictive. Back then, they didn’t know how dangerous it was. It took years to ban it after people started getting hooked.
7. Urine Therapy
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Some believed drinking or applying urine could treat acne, infections, or even serious illnesses. It was thought to be cleansing and “natural.” People rubbed it on their skin or drank it like tea. Science says no, but some still try it today.
8. Electric Shock For Everything
Kenneth Allen on Wikimedia Commons
Early inventors created electric belts and chairs that claimed to cure anxiety, impotence, and more. People thought jolts of electricity could reset the body. Some patients actually felt better, but it was mostly placebo. Sometimes, it caused burns or worse.
9. Animal Dung As Medicine
Alchemist-hp on Wikimedia Commons
Yes, animal poop. From crocodile dung for contraception to pig manure for sore throats, people tried it all. It was often mixed with honey or oils to hide the smell. The idea was that nature had a cure for everything—even if it was gross.
10. Tobacco Smoke Enemas
Alberto Ferrero on Wikimedia Commons
Doctors used to blow tobacco smoke into people’s rectums to revive them from drowning or unconsciousness. They believed the smoke stimulated breathing. These kits were even kept along rivers for emergencies. Today, it sounds like a bad joke, but it was once serious science.
11. Radium Water For Energy
Roger McLassus on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1920s, people drank water with radium to boost energy and cure aches. It was sold as “liquid sunshine.” At first, it made people feel great, but long-term use caused deadly radiation poisoning. It took a few tragic deaths to ban it.
12. Vibrators For “Hysteria” In Women
Memot15 on Wikimedia Commons
Doctors once believed that women had a condition called hysteria, which they treated by using early vibrators. The goal was to calm their nerves and emotions. This strange “medical” treatment became surprisingly popular. Eventually, people caught on to what it really was.