Chronicles of a Young Healer — The Healer's Tools: How We Still Use Medicine from 11th Century England

Illustrated Medical Treatments from: Roger Frugardi, Chirurgia.

Welcome back to the next installment of our blog series, "Chronicles of a Young Healer." If you're joining us for the first time, we're delving deep into the world of Synne, a 21-year-old healer navigating the tumultuous landscape in the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings. Today, we're taking a closer look at the medical tools and methods that Synne would have had at her disposal in 11th-century England.

The Herbalist's Arsenal

In the absence of advanced medical science, herbs were the cornerstone of healthcare during the 11th century. Healers like Synne would have a working knowledge of native plants and their properties. Plants like yarrow were used to staunch bleeding, while willow bark, rich in salicin, served as an early form of pain relief. Synne likely carried a leather pouch filled with such dried herbs, ready to be boiled into teas, pounded into poultices, or burned as aromatic treatments.

We are all familiar with the resurgence of interest in natural remedies especially as the side effects of many drugs can be worse than the illness. Herbal medicine is on the rise. The most commonly used herbal supplements in the U.S. include:

• Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea and related species)

• St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum)

• Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

• Garlic (Allium sativum)

• Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens)

• Ginseng (Panax ginseng or Asian ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius or American ginseng)

• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)

• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

• Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

• Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

• Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

• Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)

Healers then and now still take many factors into account when using herbs, including the species, habitat, storage and processing.

Herbal medicine is used now to treat conditions such as allergies, asthma, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and cancer, among others. It is best to take herbal supplements under the guidance of a trained provider.

Leechcraft

Contrary to the negative connotations of the term today, "leechcraft" in the Anglo-Saxon world referred to the craft of healing, and yes, it involved the use of leeches. These creatures were used to draw out "bad blood" from patients. For Synne, using leeches would be considered a last resort due to the risk of infection, but in cases of severe inflammation or 'bad humors,' they could prove life-saving.

This all sound diabolical, but the use of leeches is being revived in plastic and reconstructive surgery. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved leeches as a medical device to relieve congested veins and restore blood flow in compromised grafts. Leeches are also used in Britain's National Health Service (NHS) and elsewhere. 

But how does this work? When a leech bites, it slowly sucks blood and injects compounds like hirudin and calin—present in its saliva—that keep the blood from clotting. Leech saliva also contains histamine-like substances that dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow. Physicians have also used anticoagulants like heparin to prevent blood clots from forming during reconstructive surgeries. But the active sucking of blood adds a little extra bite!

Leeching can continue for three to ten days until the tissue looks less swollen, less purple, more normal. Medical staff supervise the process—replacing every engorged leech with a new starved one. Each can only be used once. They give up their lives for us.

Holy and Unholy Remedies

The spiritual and medical worlds were deeply intertwined during this era. Charms, incantations, and Christian prayers were a routine part of healing practices. For example, a healer might chant a prayer while applying a herbal remedy, seeking the favor of the divine to accelerate healing. Synne, straddling the line between faith and necessity, would have used these rituals judiciously, being ever-mindful of their power or lack thereof. She also knew about the power of belief.

The impact of belief on medical treatment has been widely studied. Research on the placebo effect, for instance, has focused on the relationship of mind and body. One of the most common theories is that the placebo effect is due to a person's expectations. If a person expects a pill to do something, then it's possible that the body's own chemistry can cause effects similar to what a medication might have caused.

In one study, people were given a placebo and told it was a stimulant. After taking the pill, their pulse rate sped up, their blood pressure increased, and their reaction speeds improved. When people were given the same pill and told it was to help them get to sleep, they experienced the opposite effects. Belief will set you free, perhaps….if you believe!

Instruments of the Trade

Medical tools were rudimentary but functional. Iron needles and bone awls were used for stitching wounds, while wooden spatulas helped in the application of ointments. Knives, though not as refined as modern surgical tools, were sterilized in boiling water or fire before being used to cut away infected tissue. Synne would maintain her kit meticulously, aware that her tools were a matter of life and death.

Modern medicine has refined the use of tools and sterilization to a high degree, which I am sure you are aware of. One question does come to mind though, what is the impact of the sterilization of our living spaces on our immune systems? How much dirt do we need to survive?

Ethical Considerations

Ethics in medicine existed, albeit in a very different form compared to today. A healer's reputation was their currency, and they would not risk using methods that were too radical or could cause harm. Synne, with her personal mission of saving her sisters, had an added layer of ethical complexity. Every patient she treated was a step towards her goal; hence, her approach to healing would be as cautious and compassionate.

Understanding the medical tools and methods of 11th-century England provides context to Synne's struggles. It shows a world where healers had to balance their limited resources while wrestling with ethical and spiritual dilemmas. Some monks and priests disagreed with healers providing these practical remedies, preferring the sick to pray and seek help from the divine. As usual, some these were also reluctant to see tithes diminishing as locals gave money to healers,

I hope this dive into the world of historical medicine has been enlightening. Join us for our next post where we explore the roles and lives of women in 1066, and how these norms and limitations impacted Synne.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.

Till the next post,

LP O’Bryan.