Gone Medieval Lizard Shampoo, Potions & Remedies
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Nov 11, 2025 Join Professor James Palmer, a medievalist from the University of St. Andrews, as he reveals fascinating findings on medieval health practices. Discover unique remedies like lizard shampoo and the healing powers of vultures' eyes wrapped in fox pelts. Learn about the significance of leeches, seasonal wellness regimens, and the surprising blend of astrology in medicine. Delve into how monks contributed to healthcare and the cultural exchanges that shaped medical knowledge in the medieval era.
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Numbers, Moon Phases And Prognosis
- Prognostic tools like the Sphere of Pythagoras used letters, numbers, and moon phases to predict survival.
- Medieval practitioners accepted doubtful methods if they might yield helpful probabilities.
Authority Legitimized Remedies
- Authority mattered: anonymous remedies were weaker until paired with named authorities like Hippocrates.
- Monastic compilations mixed theory, ethics, and recipes to legitimize practical care.
The Lizard Shampoo Recipe
- A British Library calendar prescribes covering the head with summer savory, salt, vinegar and rubbing ashes of a burnt green lizard mixed with oil for flowing hair.
- The recipe amused researchers and shows odd but concrete medieval beauty practices.