The surprising medical remedies of the Middle Ages, from lizard oil to a sweet migraine hack
Think the Middle Ages were all about superstition and leeches? Think again.
A new study reveals that early medieval Europeans may have been way ahead of their time when it came to natural medicine and wellness. From treating migraines with crushed peach pits and rose oil to mixing up scalp-cleansing rinses, people in the so-called “Dark Ages” were experimenting with remedies that sound surprisingly familiar today.
“People in the early Middle Ages were into science, observation, and figuring out how nature could help with healing,” said Dr. Meg Leja, a history professor at Binghamton University and one of the lead researchers.
The surprising medical remedies of the Middle Ages
Nature Was Their Pharmacy
Many ancient remedies were based on herbs, oils, salts, and even animals. One 9th-century headache cure involved applying a paste made from peach pits and rose oil to the forehead. Sounds odd, right? But rose oil has actually been shown in modern studies to help relieve migraine pain — at least for a short time.
Another popular remedy from the era involved washing the scalp with a mix of herb-infused salt and vinegar to fight parasites. While we might not be battling lice daily today, vinegar rinses — especially with apple cider vinegar — are still used for dandruff and itchy scalps. Though science hasn’t fully backed up these results, they remain a go-to for many DIY haircare fans.
The Green Lizard Cure
Medieval healers also had a few head-turning beauty tricks. For luscious locks, some recommended a mixture of oils and the ashes of a burnt green lizard. No, this one hasn’t made its way to your local Sephora shelf just yet — but it shows how creative they were in their approach to self-care.
Not All Ideas Were Genius
Of course, not every ancient hack has aged well. For example, one childbirth remedy suggested tying vulture feathers to a pregnant woman’s left leg to make delivery easier. That one probably won’t get a modern endorsement anytime soon.
A Treasure Trove of Ancient Health Wisdom
These quirky and fascinating remedies come from a growing digital archive called the Corpus of Early Medieval Latin Medicine — a project led by Dr. Leja and her team. Over the last two years, they’ve nearly doubled the number of known health manuscripts from before the 11th century.
Many of these ancient notes weren’t in medical books at all — they were scribbled in the margins of texts on grammar, theology, and poetry. But they show just how curious and observant people were, even during a time many assume was “anti-science.”
“The term ‘Dark Ages’ is misleading,” said Dr. Leja. “They weren’t in the dark about health — they were trying, experimenting, and taking note of what worked.”
Today, wellness influencers on TikTok and Instagram promote rose oil, vinegar rinses, sea salt scrubs — all things medieval Europeans were already using. Maybe they were just early adopters!
Want to explore more wild medieval remedies — including one said to shrink testicles? You can dive into the full digital archive online.
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