From urine toothpaste to arsenic cures: the bizarre history of medicine

Medical treatments have evolved dramatically over the centuries. Practices once considered cutting-edge are now seen as bizarre or even dangerous. Some historical remedies involved extreme or unusual methods to address health issues. In ancient times, unconventional substances were often used for healing. Elephant bile was believed to freshen breath in China, while animal bile treated conditions like external genital ulcers. The Romans turned to urine to whiten their teeth, and snails were applied to remove warts, according to the University of Oxford.

More invasive techniques were also common. Trepanning, the practice of drilling holes into the skull, was used to relieve cranial pressure. Medieval surgeons treated severe haemorrhoids by burning them with a cautery iron. For centuries, arsenic was prescribed for fevers, headaches, and syphilis.

The 1920s saw both progress and controversy. Austrian physician Julius Wagner-Jauregg discovered that inducing malaria fevers could treat syphilis. At the same time, Bayer marketed heroin as a cough remedy for children. Today, medicine has advanced to include lab-grown body parts, surgical robots, and laser treatments. Historical medical practices often relied on limited knowledge and available resources. Many past treatments are now obsolete, replaced by safer and more effective modern techniques. Advances in technology and science have transformed how illnesses and conditions are managed.