In 2012, more than 6 million botulinum toxin‑A injections were administered worldwide—one of the most common cosmetic procedures. Yet, looking back, many of today’s standard treatments can feel as astonishing as the use of lethal toxins to restore youth. This mirrors how cigarette smoking once served as an asthma remedy.
We view these practices through a modern lens and often cannot grasp why they were once accepted. Ancient cultures, from Egyptians to Greeks, had rudimentary understandings of anatomy and physiology. Even Hippocrates, hailed as the father of medicine, held misconceptions such as the “wandering womb.” Here we spotlight ten historical treatments that once seemed reasonable but are now regarded as bizarre or harmful.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, physicians sometimes administered tobacco smoke enemas to patients believed to be near death. A device known as a “resuscitator kit”—comprising a rubber rectal tube and bellows—delivered nicotine vapors into the rectum. The rationale was that nicotine’s stimulant effect would trigger adrenal release of adrenaline, potentially reviving a dying patient. Although initially used on drowning victims, the practice spread to treat colds, headaches, hernias, typhoid, cholera, and even death itself. By 1811, scientists recognized nicotine’s cardiotoxicity, and the technique was abandoned.
Mercury was a common antiseptic and skin‑disease remedy, featured in everyday products such as saline solutions and cosmetics. Before penicillin’s introduction in the 1940s, doctors prescribed mercurial ointments, pills, and potions to treat syphilis. While mercury had some antimicrobial effects, its use led to tooth loss, organ failure, and death.
The 19th century saw a shift away from chaining and confining mentally ill patients toward “humane” therapies, including ice baths, purgatives, and insulin coma therapy. Whirling chairs—chairs fitted with a spring‑lever system—spun patients until they lost consciousness. Practitioners believed the rapid rotation could “reset” the brain and cure conditions such as schizophrenia. The method was discredited for its lack of efficacy and danger to patients.
In the early 20th century, radioactive water was marketed as a cure for mental illness and a fountain of youth. It was also sold in chocolates, toothpaste, and suppositories. While radium was thought to stimulate cell activity, exposure ultimately increased cancer risk, including bone cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma. The U.S. Surgeon General once endorsed radium water for diarrhea and malaria, but modern science has condemned the practice.
Historically, drinking urine or applying it as a poultice was believed to treat conditions ranging from acne to migraines. Though urine contains antimicrobial urea, no evidence supports therapeutic benefits. Today, urine recycling is used in space missions for water production, not for medical treatment. Urine therapy remains unproven and is not recommended.
In the late 19th century, physicians believed women suffered from hysteria—a diagnosis rooted in the myth that women’s orgasms could harm them. Pelvic massage and electric vibrators were used to induce a “hysterical paroxysm,” the medical term for orgasm. These treatments, once common, were later abandoned as understanding of female sexuality advanced. Modern sexual health now recognizes the importance of consent and evidence‑based practices.
Bloodletting, practiced for millennia, aimed to balance the four humors—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. In Victorian England, leeches replaced lancets for many conditions, including pneumonia and fevers. Today, leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) are used sparingly in reconstructive surgery for their anticoagulant properties, while phlebotomy treats iron overload in hemochromatosis. The historical practice taught early physicians about hemodynamics and infection control.
Since the 19th century, morphine and other opiates have been staples for pain relief. In 1900, products such as laudanum, cocaine, and even patent medicines were sold over the counter. Though morphine remains essential for acute pain, its addictive potential and side effects—constipation, itching, nausea—necessitate careful prescribing. Modern guidelines emphasize opioid stewardship and multimodal pain management.
Trepanation—the surgical removal of a skull fragment—dates back to the Mesolithic era (~10 000 BCE). Ancient practitioners performed it to relieve headaches, treat seizures, and supposedly expel evil spirits. The procedure survived through antiquity into the 19th century, often without anesthesia. Modern neurosurgery now uses craniotomies for brain surgery, but trepanation’s historical record informs the evolution of skull‑opening techniques.
Before the 18th century, some cultures used human remains—mummy powder, ground skulls, or blood—in medicine. Egyptians believed crushed mummies could cure headaches; Romans used gladiator blood for epilepsy. These practices reflected beliefs that the donor’s spirit could transfer healing power. Modern medicine rejects such approaches, favoring evidence‑based pharmacology and surgery.
Limited scientific knowledge, prevailing cultural beliefs, and the absence of rigorous research led to many now‑obsolete therapies.
While most are discredited, studying their effects has advanced modern principles, such as understanding drug toxicity and the importance of evidence‑based practice.
