6 Strange Health Trends from History
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From drinking mercury to wearing dead animals as poultices, history is packed with health fads that are — in hindsight — bizarre, terrifying, or just downright weird. But every strange health trend reveals something about what people believed, feared, or hoped for in the name of wellness.
Medical science wasn’t always, well… scientific. Before modern research, trial-and-error (with heavy doses of superstition) guided how people treated illness. And while some of these trends make us cringe today, others planted seeds for future breakthroughs. Here are six of the strangest health fads history ever saw — and the curious logic behind them.
6 Strange Health Trends from History
Let’s take a journey through time and explore some of the wildest ideas humans have pursued in the name of health:
- Bloodletting (Ancient Greece to 19th Century)
The belief: Too much blood caused disease. The solution? Drain it out. Using leeches, lancets, or cupping devices, doctors removed blood to “balance the humors.” Even George Washington was famously bled by doctors — possibly contributing to his death. - Radioactive Water (Early 1900s)
Radium was once believed to boost energy and vitality. Entrepreneurs bottled radioactive spring water and sold it as a health tonic. One wealthy American, Eben Byers, drank so much that his bones literally crumbled. His death led to tighter health regulations. - Mummy Powder (16th–18th Century Europe)
Yes, real mummies. Europeans believed that ground-up ancient Egyptian mummies had healing powers — especially for treating bruises and epilepsy. Apothecaries sold “mumia” in powdered form, fueling demand for desecrated tombs. - Snake Oil Sales (Wild West Era)
Originally based on Chinese remedies made with real snake fat, “snake oil” became a generic term for cure-all elixirs. Traveling salesmen hawked tonics that claimed to fix everything from baldness to back pain — often containing alcohol, opium, or nothing at all. - Smoking for Asthma (Early 20th Century)
In a strange twist, some doctors recommended tobacco or herbal smoke as a treatment for asthma and bronchitis. Special “asthma cigarettes” were even sold over-the-counter. Unsurprisingly, they didn’t help. - Animal Baths and Organ Therapy (Victorian Era)
At elite European spas, patients bathed in blood, milk, or animal parts to “absorb vitality.” Some clinics even implanted animal testicles or ovaries into humans, believing it would restore youth or virility. None of it worked — but the demand was real.
Behind the Scenes
Why were these practices so common? In many cases, they reflected limited understanding of the human body and disease. Before microscopes and germ theory, illness was often explained through religion, astrology, or the idea of “imbalance.” People were desperate for relief — and open to any hope, no matter how strange.
In some cases, there was a kernel of truth. Bloodletting sometimes reduced fevers (temporarily). Snake fat has anti-inflammatory properties. But without scientific testing or controls, it was hard to know what worked and what was just folklore.
From Experts & Explorers
Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris, medical historian and author of The Butchering Art, says: “People weren’t stupid — they were working with the best information they had. But history shows that without rigorous science, medicine becomes a mix of hope, fear, and marketing.”
She adds that many strange trends were spread by charismatic figures or well-designed advertising. “It’s not so different from today — except now it’s influencers and algorithms instead of salesmen and posters.”
Why It’s So Intriguing
These trends are fascinating because they reflect timeless human needs: to heal, to control the uncontrollable, and to find meaning in suffering. They also remind us how far we’ve come — and how easily even smart people can believe strange things when desperate.
And let’s be honest — they’re also just wildly entertaining. Who wouldn’t raise an eyebrow at mummy powder or goat testicle implants?
Did You Know?
- Victorian doctors used electric belts and vibrating chairs to “stimulate” organs and nerves — a predecessor to modern physical therapy devices (sort of).
- Snake oil was so abused that it gave rise to the term “snake oil salesman” — still used today to describe scammy products.
- Radioactive toothpaste and makeup were once sold for “glow and youth” before regulators stepped in.
- Bloodletting kits were common in many homes — like a first aid kit — until the mid-1800s.
Bonus Fact
The 19th-century “Vinegar and Brown Paper” treatment for headaches (made famous in the nursery rhyme about Jack and Jill) was a real folk remedy — believed to cool the forehead and reduce inflammation.
Takeaway
Medicine has come a long way, but the path has been anything but straight. Strange health trends from history teach us to question, to research, and to be cautious about miracle cures — especially when they sound too good to be true.
So next time you see a trendy new wellness hack online, remember the people who once smoked for asthma or drank radioactive water. It might make you think twice — and reach for something with a little more science behind it.
