As the population in the Middle Ages increased, hygienic
conditions worsened, leading to many health problems. There wasnt many people in the Middle Ages with medical experience, despite the efforts of medical practionioners and public and religious institute regulations, medieval Europe did not have an adequate health care system. The medieval towns werent introduced to antibiotics until the 1800s and curing a disease was nearly impossible without it. |
Myths and superstitions about health and hygiene were common in the Middle Ages, as is today. People believed that
disease was spread by bad odors. It was also assumed that diseases of the body resulted from sins of the soul. Many people sought relief from their ills through meditation, prayer, pilgramages, and oyjer nonmedical methods. |
Myths and superstitions about health and hygiene were common in the Middle Ages, as is today. People believed that
disease was spread by bad odors. It was also assumed that diseases of the body resulted from sins of the soul. Many people sought relief from their ills through meditation, prayer, pilgramages, and oyjer nonmedical methods. The body was viewed as a part of the universe, a concept derived form the Greeks and Romans, Four body fluids were directly related to the four elements: fire=yellow bile or choler; water=phlegm; earth=black cile; air=blood.Those four elements had to be balanced. Too much of one was thought to cause a change in personality, |
Soap was invented in the Orient and brought to the West early in the
Middle Ages. This was a soft soap without much detergent powder. It was generally made in the manorial workshops, of mutton fat, wood ash or patash, and a natural soda.
Shaving was difficult, painful, and
infrequent, since the soap was inefficient and razors, which looked like carving knives, were likely to be old and dull. Even haircutting was disagreeable. Scissors were one of the one-piece squeeze type, similar to grass trimming shears. Although by the 13th century a few arisocrats had tooth burhses, the toilet of the teeth was generally accomplished by rubbing with a green hazel twig and wiping with woolen cloth.
Middle Ages. This was a soft soap without much detergent powder. It was generally made in the manorial workshops, of mutton fat, wood ash or patash, and a natural soda.
Shaving was difficult, painful, and
infrequent, since the soap was inefficient and razors, which looked like carving knives, were likely to be old and dull. Even haircutting was disagreeable. Scissors were one of the one-piece squeeze type, similar to grass trimming shears. Although by the 13th century a few arisocrats had tooth burhses, the toilet of the teeth was generally accomplished by rubbing with a green hazel twig and wiping with woolen cloth.