The Most Insane Medical Practices in History

5. Chronic diseases were treated with physical exercise and holy water.

In the times of Hippocrates (460-370 BC), they believed that epilepsy was caused by God’s will. He was convinced that the reasons for this disease were wind, cold, and sun. In the middle ages, people with epilepsy were believed to be possessed by demons and were treated with prayers and holy water. Ancient doctors treated diabetes with physical exercises and healing herbs, but this didn’t bring any positive results, and the patients usually died. Skin diseases, like psoriasis, were considered incurable. Patients had to wear a bell as a warning to others to stay away.