What are the medical tools used in medieval times?
Cupping: Cupping therapy involved the application of heated glass cups to the skin, creating a vacuum that drew out blood and other fluids. It was used to treat a variety of ailments, including pain, inflammation, and respiratory problems.
Bloodletting: Bloodletting was a common practice in medieval medicine, based on the belief that an excess of blood could cause illness. Blood was drawn from a vein, usually in the arm, using a lancet or a leech.
Leeches: Leeches were used to draw blood from the body, often in conjunction with bloodletting. They were applied to the skin and allowed to feed until they fell off.
Cauterization: Cauterization involved burning the skin with a hot iron or other instrument to stop bleeding, seal wounds, or remove diseased tissue.
Trephination: Trephination was a surgical procedure in which a hole was drilled into the skull to relieve pressure on the brain. It was performed to treat head injuries, epilepsy, and other neurological conditions.
Pessaries: Pessaries were devices inserted into the vagina to treat conditions such as prolapse of the uterus, incontinence, and infertility. They were often made of wood, metal, or wax.
Surgical instruments: Medieval surgeons used a variety of instruments for operations, including scalpels, forceps, saws, and needles. These instruments were often crude and lacked the precision of modern surgical tools.
Herbal remedies: Herbal medicine was a major component of medieval medicine, with many plants used to treat a variety of illnesses. Common herbs included chamomile, lavender, rosemary, and thyme.