medieval prevention of disease

• Supernatural


  Beyond nature, spiritual or religious, relying on faith or belief in spirits
• Natural


  Based on observation of the real world or common sense, more scientific
• Religious prevention methods


  • Prayer
  • Confessing sins
  • Indulgences
  • Tithes
• Religious prevention - Flagellants


  • People who whipped themselves publicly to show God their suffering and avoid punishment like the plague
• Spiritual prevention methods


  • Charms and amulets
  • Witch's marks
  • Astrology
• Miasma


  Bad air believed to cause disease
• Humors


  Bodily fluids that needed to be kept in balance
• Natural prevention - Balancing humors


  1. Bloodletting

  2. Use of opposites
• Natural prevention - Avoiding miasma


  • Carrying flowers or herbs
  • Smoke from fires
• Natural prevention - Hygiene


  • Fines for littering
  • Keeping floors swept
  • Bathing and sweating
• Regimen sanitatis - Rules for healthy living


  • Moderate exercise
  • Moderate eating
  • Enough sleep
  • Avoiding stress
  • Regular bathing
  • Breathing clean air
  • Avoiding animals
  • Avoiding extreme temperatures
  • Staying on friendly terms
  • Avoiding excessive sex
• Medieval understanding of disease causes divided between supernatural and natural
• Prevention methods followed the same supernatural and natural logic