Elizabethan Era Medicine

Medicine in the Elizabethan Era

Science and Superstition

Methods

Apothecaries

Bloodletting or phlebotomy involved being stabbed with a two-pronged instrument (usually made of metal although nobles could use one made of ivory) and a small bowl such as a turtle shell to catch the blood. Leeches were also used – which was a more sanitary but less popular option. Because of the waning efficiency of bloodletting, the practice effectively died out during the 19th century.

Herbs were also used, normally to cure heart, liver and head ailments, with the most common herbs being lavender, sage, basil and rosemary. Some treatments, such as using liquorice and comfrey for lung problems such as pneumonia and bronchitis, can still be used today. These treatments were usually non- prescribed, as normal folk couldn’t afford proper prescribed treatments. (And even those weren't that good anyway)

Bloodletting

Bloodletting was conceived around 400BC

by a philosopher named Hippocrates. He

believed that the four basic elements of nature-

earth, water, wind, and fire, coincided with the

four main inner body fluids- blood, yellow bile,

phlegm, and black bile.

Daniel Park and Mitchell Ibarra

Continued

People who were ill were believed to have an imbalance of these four fluids. When surgeons dissected human cadavers, they were shocked, appalled- almost everyone of them had more blood than the other fluids. This "discovery" helped bloodletting leap to the forefront of medical practice.

Hierarchies

The highest form of doctor in that time was the physician. The fee for a physician was a gold coin-

which was too expensive for commoners to afford.

Surgeons were considered inferior, as they were associated with Barbers, who were only available to pull teeth and preform bloodletting.

Crystal Properties

PHYSICIANS

SURGEONS

Introduction

BARBERS

http://www.bcmj.org/premise/history-bloodletting

http://www2.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/elizabethanmedicine.html

Pictures:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcodwcSWi51rgj7rto1_500.jpg

http://www.thelisticles.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bloodletting-weirdest-medical-healing-treatments.jpg

http://wisequacks.org/wp2/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Vanuatu-154.jpg

http://englishhistory.net/tudor/monarchs/eliz1-rainbow.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NxnyMMJQDX4/T8-D464IzCI/AAAAAAAAAA0/PvzwnJ1p_xM/s1600/Aquamarine.jpg

http://astrouniversal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/e2.jpg

http://rosediamonds.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/citrine.jpg?w=470

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee194/min_fhein/plaguedoctorcostume.jpg

http://digilander.libero.it/mgtund/elizabethan_beliefs.htm

http://www.fossilmuseum.net/Fossil-Pictures/Ammonites/Ammonite-5/Ammonite-5-1024.jpg

http://www.palaminerals.com/images/mineral_news/featured_diopside.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ssw0884Ds4/TiTBwwYtmfI/AAAAAAAACMM/2Ar1zxt2olE/s1600/Pic%2B19.jpg

Amegreen - Helps make rational decisions

Ammonite - Allows people understanding

Nirvana Quartz - Instills inspiration

Diopside - Boosts learning abilities

Variscite - Provides determination

Iolite - Provides spiritual healing

Apothecaries

Herbal Remedies

Red Beets : Cure for kidney stones

Carrots : Helps with infections

Ginger: Relieve stomach pains

Mustard : Cures too much ketchup

Salt : Intestinal Worms

Tansy : Irregular menstruation

Yarrow : Colds

Onions : Warded off smallpox

Hope : Cures insomnia

The Elizabethan Era, also known as the Golden Age, lasted from 1558- 1603, under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. This time is also known as the Shakespearean Era as literature flourished and developed. However, the crowded and poorly sanitized cities were a major health issue. The highly dense cities were prone to diseases and viruses. Doctors in this time period had to rely on folk medicine, philosophy, and superstitions to treat their patients.

Here are some of the interesting medicinal treatments of the time.

Theories

Crystal Healing

Four main groups of theories existed during the

Elizabethan Era, and were all thought to be correct,

or at the very least usable.

Christian Beliefs

Humor Theory

Crystal healing was somewhat popular during the Elizabethan Era, although it would be considered pseudo(fake)-science today. For example, garnets were believed to cure depression, topaz for anger and emeralds to induce calmness. These gemstones were kept in the person's pocket or some other close place.

-centered around the idea that God gave humans

some animals for food, some for labor, and some for their medicinal properties

-some diseases were caused by evil spirits inside

a patient's body, thus an exorcism could be made

-originated from Greek philosophy

-based on the four basic elements - earth, water,

air and fire which corresponds to blood, yellow bile,

phlegm, and black bile

-being sick means having an imbalance

-too much blood was common so bloodletting was the most common medical procedure

Scientific Theories

Pagan Beliefs

Statistics

-certain minerals(crystals) have an effect on the human body

-the orientation of the stars and planets changes a person's overall well-being

-actions have metaphysical properties (ie. certain diseased could be cured by a king's touch)

-resembles modern scientific understanding of

medicine

-certain "pure" chemicals can help the human body (tobacco, mercury and sulfur were commonly used)

-something moved from person to person causing illness (viruses and bacteria were not known about at the time, could be blamed on evil spirits)

The average life expectancy in Elizabethan era was 35 years - for nobles. Commoners were expected to live for 25, and poorer people even less. Citizens often dumped their waste and trash directly onto the streets.

However available healthcare was being distributed the best it could and some cities, like Norwich, paid

for the sick person's living expenses while he was being treated. Doctors and practitioners were only paid if the patient was able to walk again.