In medieval times there were no antibiotics, so physicians primarily used plants, herbs and resins as medicines. They believed the body was made up of four humors: sanguine (blood), choler, phlegm and melancholia. According to this belief, illness was due to an imbalance of the humors, and they worked to diagnose which one was the cause. Once determined, they used herbal remedies or leeches to try to put things in the body right.

Respiratory Problems

According to Mostly-Medieval.com, common plants used to treat coughs, wheezing and congestion included coltsfoot, cinnamon, paste from comfrey, licorice, sage and thyme. Myrrh and oregano were often used as expectorants.

Stomach Problems

Common medicines for stomach problems, according to Mostly-Medieval.com, were fennel, elecampane, and bee and lemon balm, also known as Eau de Melisse. Chamomile and mint were given for digestive problems.

Wounds

Aloe, achillea and sage leaves were classic choices for treating wounds. For burns, doctors would prescribe blackberries and St. John's Wort. According to Medieval Life and Times, vinegar was the most common wound cleanser.

Bodily Pain

Medieval doctors used buckthorn, yarrow, lavender, and bay to treat general aches and pains. For gout, doctors commonly used blackberries; roses were often remedies for headaches. Toothaches were addressed with vervain.

Bloodletting

Doctors often used leeches in medieval times to treat a number of ailments, from fever to flu, according to the History Learning Site. The leech would feed on the patient's blood. The medicinal aspect of this practice was to draw "bad blood" from the body, thus getting rid of the sickness.

Source:

Mostly-Medieval.com

HistoryLearningSite.com

Medieval-Life-and-Times.com

More Information:

Medieval Life and Times