Herbal medicines:

Often contained ingredients like honey and a concoction of plants that helped cure infections
Sometimes remedies were written in books called 'herbals'
This books gave specific details of the quantities and mixing process of these remedies
There were details of when to pick herbs too e.g. on the night of a full moon
These remedies were often closely kept family secrets

Bleeding:

This was the most favoured way of fighting illness and restore the four humours into balance
Bloodletting (or blood-letting) is the withdrawal of blood from a patient to cure or prevent illness and disease
It was done by either 'cupping' or utilising leeches
Illness was said to be caused by the body creating too much blood
Monks sometimes bled themselves eight times per year

Urine in diagnosis and prescription:

Zodiac Chart:

These charts would indicate which parts of the body are linked to an astrological sign
This would then dictate the cure for a patient
The chart might also indicate the best time to carry out treatment or pick herbs for a remedy

Alchemy:

Often little difference between scientists and alchemists in medieval and early modern times
Alchemists were generally secretive about their own work, and many searched for the 'Elixir of Life'
This new medicine made from repeatedly distilling vinegar was meant to remove all impurities from the body
Sometimes medicines were made with strong poisons to make a patient violently sick, thus being seen to prevent disease
Gullible people were prepared to pay large sums of money to alchemists in order to achieve longer life

Soothsayers:

With very few qualified doctors in medieval England people often depended on a local 'wise woman'
These women would build up knowledge over generations regarding sickness and disease
They would collect plants, herbs, special stones and anything that might help to protect against evil
At the time, most people believed illness and disease was caused by evil

Medieval Prevention and Treatment