Turns out, the Dark Ages weren\u2019t so dim when it came to wellness.<\/p>\n
Researchers have unearthed a trove of medical remedies dating back over a thousand years, revealing that early medieval Europeans were far more health-savvy than historians once believed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople in the early Middle Ages were quite into science, into observation, into figuring out the utility of different natural substances, and trying to identify patterns and make predictions,\u201d Dr. Meg Leja<\/a>, an associate professor of history at Binghamton University who helped lead the effort, told Science Daily<\/a>.<\/p>\n New research suggests that ancient healers developed treatments rooted in natural remedies, keen observation and practical know-how. DM7 \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Turns out, they might have been onto something \u2014 and today\u2019s wellness gurus are just catching up.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of things that you see in these manuscripts are actually being promoted online currently as alternative medicine, but they have been around for thousands of years,\u201d Leja explained. <\/p>\n Got a headache? Forget ibuprofen. A thousand years ago, the go-to remedy was a mixture of crushed peach pit and rose oil slathered on the forehead.<\/p>\n While it might sound more witchcraft than wellness, modern science suggests they weren\u2019t entirely off-base: A 2017 study<\/a> found rose oil may offer short-term relief from migraine pain<\/a> \u2014 though the crushed peach pit is a bit more questionable.<\/p>\n Another 9th-century manuscript\u2019s advice for improving hair health begins with a practical step: Cleanse the scalp using herb-infused salt and vinegar to ward off parasites.<\/p>\n Even today, vinegar rinses \u2014 especially with apple cider vinegar \u2014 are used as a home remedy for scalp issues like dandruff and eczema. Though vinegar definitely has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, the scientific evidence that it can combat a flaking scalp is thin.<\/p>\n Many ancient remedies drew on plants and animals to treat human ailments. Esther Hildebrandt \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Sea salt scalp scrubs, meanwhile, are on the shelves of stores like Sephora and Ulta.<\/p>\n But for truly luscious locks, medieval healers didn\u2019t stop there \u2014 they recommended topping it off with a salve of oils blended with the \u201cashes of a burnt green lizard<\/a>\u201d to unlock the full benefits.<\/p>\n While the internet isn\u2019t shy about embracing DIY beauty trends<\/a>, the jury is still out on whether scorched reptile will become the next viral hair mask.<\/p>\n From detox potions to botanical balms, many of the era\u2019s health hacks wouldn\u2019t feel out of place on TikTok\u2019s For You Page. But not all would hold up by today\u2019s standards.<\/p>\n