Cocaine to the rescue 

The sensation of drugs coursing through one's veins and immediately reaching the "stress-reliever" part of the brain can feel almost heavenly. However, the harm it causes to the body is often overlooked. Despite this, it was once considered an effective medical treatment for various ailments and disorders.

In the nineteenth century, people were too preoccupied or lazy to perform even the simplest tasks, such as applying a balm for headaches or tending to bodily functions. Mothers of that era, in particular, struggled to manage their children and resorted to a new solution created for such problems. Syrup containing soothing ingredients was used to quickly put babies to sleep, alleviating many issues. Unfortunately, these syrups often contained high levels of narcotics, leading to fatal consequences in some cases. The long-term effects of these drugs were unknown at the time, but it was later discovered that the syrups contained morphine sulphate, chloroform, powdered opium, heroin, and other now-illegal substances. Many deaths were attributed to the ingestion of these substances, leading to the eventual abandonment of this dangerous practice. It is now considered an outdated and harmful medical treatment.

Maggot debridement therapy

This treatment is unique compared to the various therapies used in the past. It is a well-known fact that maggots consume dead and decaying matter. In the past, this method was utilized to treat open wounds and blisters. This treatment, also known as larva therapy, involves the application of maggots to the unhealed wound. The maggots are then covered with a special dressing and left undisturbed for a few days. This prevents external infection and the migration of the larvae. Over time, the larvae consume the dead skin cells surrounding the wound, preventing further infection and promoting faster healing. Although it may cause a tingling sensation, the treatment is not very painful. However, many individuals find the idea of live maggots consuming their wounds to be disgusting and would prefer alternative treatments.

Electrical Impotence technique 

Impotence in men was a significant issue even in ancient times. During that era, an impotent man was seen as socially weak and marginalized. Being impotent was a source of great embarrassment. However, with the discovery of electricity, the world began to shine brightly in every aspect. By the early 19th century, as the properties and uses of electricity became known, researchers and doctors were eager to explore its effects on the human body. They theorized that electrifying certain areas of the body could restore their function. It was discovered that the brain sends out electric pulses to all parts of the body, causing them to respond and function properly. A lack of activity in a certain area indicated that the electric pulses were not being sent properly. To address this, a device resembling a horse's bridle was created. This device, worn around the waist, emitted electric pulses that initially caused pain to the wearer. This method was believed to cure impotence, but its effectiveness was short-lived.

Trepanation Treatment 

If blood-letting was considered disgusting, then this technique took it to a whole new level. This was a time when medicine was primitive, and people believed that illnesses were caused by evil spirits possessing the unfortunate individual. As a result, techniques were developed with this belief in mind, and most of them had no scientific basis. This particular method was commonly used for disorders and ailments related to the head. It involved drilling a hole into the patient's skull using a special instrument, in order to expose the brain matter inside. It was believed that this would release the trapped evil spirit, curing the patient of their disease. Rituals were often performed afterwards to drive out the evil spirit or seek help from good spirits. However, it is true that this procedure was extremely dangerous and claimed many lives. People at the time attributed these deaths to the vengeful actions of the evil spirits.

Trepanation was also a form of surgery used to mend broken bones in the head. Today, doctors use a much safer and modified version called "craniotomy" for neurological procedures. This modern technique has a higher success rate compared to trepanation.

Treatment using Mercury 

Mercury, an element commonly used in thermometers, has a long history of human fascination. Its unique properties, such as not sticking to surfaces and its natural luster, led many to believe it was precious. In ancient civilizations, mercury was ingested in small quantities as a treatment for various ailments, including chest pains, heart and liver problems, and muscle spasms. It was highly regarded as an important element and seen as a celestial gift from the gods. However, the toxic nature of mercury eventually became known, and its ingestion resulted in numerous deaths. Despite this, it was also found to be effective in treating sexually transmitted diseases, with a success rate of around 50%. However, it significantly reduced the lifespan of those treated.

Fire Cupping 

At first glance, this method may seem like something out of a movie, as it was famously shown in the movie "Karate Kid". This treatment is actually one of the oldest known, dating back around 1,000 years based on archaeological evidence. It involves creating a vacuum with heated air, as the name suggests. Common ailments such as congestion, arthritis, chest pains, muscle cramps, and sprains can be treated with this method. Special cups of specific dimensions are used, heated with fire to create a vacuum, and then placed on the skin of the patient in the targeted area. The cups stick to the skin due to the vacuum, and the treatment is usually followed by a slow massage on the affected area. While this method was commonly used in ancient China, it is now considered outdated in many parts of the world. However, certain sects in China still practice it, claiming it is one of the best methods for treating body disorders. There are no known side effects to this treatment, and while it may help with stress relief, there is no documented proof of its effectiveness. Many people are still unsure of how exactly this method works.

Treatment by Blood-Letting 

The ancient Greeks made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and science. One popular method they used, known as "blood-letting", was also practiced by the ancient Mesopotamians. Despite being an outdated treatment, blood-letting was believed to be effective and quickly spread to other civilizations such as the Egyptians, Mayans, and Aztecs. The idea behind this method was that removing "bad blood" would also remove the disease. However, in reality, it caused harm to the patients by resulting in a significant loss of blood and potential infections due to improper wound sealing. Despite these drawbacks, blood-letting was practiced until the early nineteenth century when it was replaced by the safer method of blood transfusion used today.

Induced Seizures 

In the early 1930s, a Hungarian pathologist named Ladislas Von Meduna noticed that many of his epilepsy patients were developing psychotic symptoms and eventually being cured of epilepsy. This phenomenon was also observed in patients with schizophrenia. Von Meduna then created a unique medical treatment that gained him recognition. Approximately 20% of his epileptic patients did not respond to traditional drugs for epilepsy. After experiencing psychotic symptoms and being cured of epilepsy, these patients often developed depression. Antidepressants were ineffective in treating this depression. Von Meduna then came up with a strange method of injecting a mixture of camphor oil and oil directly into the bloodstream of some of his catatonic schizophrenia patients. This mixture induced seizures, which somehow alleviated the depression and ultimately cured the patients of their disorders. This method was found to be 50% effective, although at the time, the reason behind its success was not fully understood. Von Meduna had developed the method as a trial and error approach.

Insulin Therapy

Another method of treating schizophrenia and other mental illnesses involved increasing the dosage of insulin in the body. This approach was also used for treating unrelated disorders and diseases. During the early days of medicine, when new discoveries and theories were emerging, doctors experimented with patients to test their ideas. However, rumors spread about doctors conducting illegal procedures on physically disabled patients without their consent. This led to the implementation of strict measures by medical boards to prevent such occurrences. In this method, patients were induced into a state of seizure by increasing their insulin levels, rather than using electrical shocks. However, this often resulted in patients slipping into a coma. Some doctors believed that the body could heal itself and achieve normalization after a coma.

Electroconvulsive Treatment (ECT)

In 1938, Italian psychiatrist Ugo Cerletti discovered that electrocuting pigs made it easier to slaughter them. He found that a mild electric shock could temporarily stun and paralyze the pigs' limbs. Inspired by this, he developed a method of administering a mild shock directly to the head of his mentally challenged patients as an anesthetic, making them temporarily unconscious. This method proved effective for treating various mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, catatonia, and schizophrenia. However, there were instances where the treatment caused complete paralysis or sent the patient into a coma. Despite these risks, the method was generally successful and Ugo Cerletti gained fame for his innovative approach.