What are the medical practices for Puritans?

Bloodletting:

- Believed that imbalances of the four bodily humors-blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile-could cause illness and disease. Bloodletting was used to regulate these humors.

Cupping:

- Involved placing heated glass cups at specific points on the skin to help draw blood and other humors to the surface, promoting healing and relief from symptoms.

Blistering:

- Another technique to draw out harmful substances from the body involved raising blisters on the skin using boiling oils or other hot liquids.

Purging:

- Used medications to induce severe vomiting and/or diarrhea to expel any harmful substances and purify the body.

Herbal Remedies:

- Puritans had extensive knowledge about herbs and plants and used them to treat various illnesses. Some herbs commonly used included echinacea, sage, chamomile, and yarrow.

Midwifery:

- While men were the primary medical practitioners in Puritan society, midwives played an important role in assisting with childbirth and caring for women's health.

Prayer:

- Puritans viewed illnesses and diseases as God's providential acts or tests of one's faith and piety. Prayer was central to their approach to healing and seeking spiritual comfort during times of illness.