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Painting by Paul Dominique Philippoteaux via Wikimedia Commons |
Introduction:
Imagine walking into a pharmacy and seeing powdered human remains for sale. While this sounds like something from a horror movie, for centuries in Europe, it was a common practice. This bizarre and gruesome chapter in history, known as medical cannibalism, saw the elite and the poor alike consuming mummies, blood, and bones in the belief that these substances could cure a variety of ailments.
From the 12th century through the 18th century, mummy medicine was a popular and widely accepted remedy. But how did this macabre practice begin, and what led to its eventual end?
A Simple Mistake That Created a Bizarre Remedy
The origins of mummy eating can be traced back to a series of simple misunderstandings and mistranslations. Ancient Arabic texts referenced a medicinal substance called mūmiā, a natural tar or bitumen believed to have healing powers. When European doctors translated these texts, they confused this mineral with the black, resinous substance used in the mummification of Egyptian bodies. They concluded that if the mineral was a cure, then the mummies themselves must be the ultimate remedy.
From Powdered Skulls to Human Fat: The "Cures"
The belief that human remains held curative powers was widespread and fueled by the principle of "like cures like." If a person had a head injury, powdered skull was the prescribed treatment. If you suffered from a sprained ankle, a poultice made from human fat might be recommended.
Here's a look at some of the most sought-after human ingredients and what they were used for:
- Powdered Mummy: Believed to cure internal bleeding, coughs, and fevers.
- Crushed Human Skull: A popular remedy for ailments of the head, including migraines and epilepsy.
- Human Fat: Applied topically to soothe aches and pains, and to treat bruises and wounds.
- Warm Blood: Considered a potent cure for epilepsy, often consumed fresh from the bodies of executed criminals.
The demand for these remedies created a booming black market. Grave robbers plundered Egyptian tombs, and when the supply of authentic mummies ran low, unscrupulous merchants began to sell fake ones—often the recently-deceased bodies of paupers—to fill the demand.
The End of the Macabre Era
By the late 16th century, some physicians began to question the ethics and effectiveness of corpse medicine. The most famous critic was the French surgeon Ambrose Paré, who called the practice a "wicked kind of drugge."
As the scientific revolution gained momentum, a new era of evidence-based medicine began to take hold. Doctors started to rely on empirical observation rather than ancient, often misunderstood texts. The once-revered practice of medical cannibalism began to lose its credibility. By the 18th century, it was largely abandoned as doctors and the public alike came to see mummies as historical artifacts rather than medical ingredients.
The history of mummy medicine is a fascinating and grim reminder of how far medical science has come. It shows us that even the most bizarre beliefs can take hold in the absence of scientific knowledge.
What’s the most shocking historical cure you've ever heard of? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Source: The gory history of Europeans eating mummies for health
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