Purgation is a common medical technique in classical and medieval
remedies, evidenced in the frequent use of herbs and other ingredients
known to have that effect (such as castor oil), as well as in theory
(e.g., balancing the humors). Purgation takes many forms--bloodletting,
spitting, vomiting, laxatives, and also "smoking" the patient (see my
elf charms book). Such methods are used for internal ailments of
various kinds, worms, poisons, and demonic afflictions.
Some places to look for references (with a bias toward England!):
M.L. Cameron, Anglo-Saxon Medicine
Grattan and Singer, Anglo-Saxon Magic and Medicine
Tony Hunt, Popular Medicine in Thirteenth-Century England
Nancy Siraisi, Medieval and Early Renaissance Medicine
Minta Collins, Medieval Herbals: The Illustrative Traditions
Superstition and Popular Medicine in Anglo-Saxon England, ed. D. G.
Scragg
Medicine in Early Medieval England, ed. Marilyn Deegan and D. G. Scragg
Rubin, Stanley, Medieval English Medicine
Enjoy!
Karen
--
Dr. Karen Jolly
Associate Professor, History
University of Hawai`i at Manoa
[log in to unmask]
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kjolly
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