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Black Plague Folk Cures

The bubonic plague, more commonly known as the Black Death or black plague, is a disease that killed millions of people in Europe from the 6th century through the 17th century. The plague was carried by rats whose fleas spread the disease to humans through bites. The plague was extremely contagious and could also be transmitted through breathing the same air as a person infected with the plague.

  1. Symptoms of Black Plague

    • Symptoms of the black plague were black spots on the skin and swelling of the lymph glands, commonly in the neck, armpit and groin. High fever would develop accompanied by vomiting, severe stomach pain and coughing up blood. As the disease progressed, the infected person would lose their mental faculties and in the final stages would become very sleepy. Once the person went to sleep they would not awaken. What was then classified as "going to sleep" would now be called going into a coma from which they would not awaken.

    Folk Cures

    • A common folk cure to ward off bad luck and disease was to nail a horseshoe above your door. This folk cure carried over into the 19th century. Vinegar was used heavily because of its ability to fight off infections and to sanitize items such as coins and clothing. In Scotland in the 14th century, loaves of bread were hung on poles and left until they became moldy, after which they would be burned. It was thought the bread had collected the germs carrying infection. Cutting open veins, more commonly known as bloodletting, was one of the most common practices until the 19th century. Physicians thought that opening veins close to the infected area would remove the infection from the body, and practiced this regularly.

    Herbs

    • Garlic was consumed heavily for many ailments, and this seemed to help ward off the black plague. Other folk cures were lavender, sage and bay for headaches, wormwood and mint to relieve stomach pains and licorice for lung congestion. Ninety-five percent of the people infected with black plague did not survive, so these offered just temporary relief.

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