bipolar in middle ages...

The Extreme Treatment of Psychosis in the Middle Ages

The treatment of psychosis in the Middle Ages was often brutal, rooted in superstition, religious beliefs, and a limited understanding of mental illness. Unlike modern psychiatry, medieval societies viewed psychosis as a result of demonic possession, divine punishment, or imbalance in bodily humors. As a result, many treatments were extreme, sometimes cruel, and largely ineffective.

1. Exorcisms: Driving Out "Demons"

One of the most common treatments for psychosis during the Middle Ages was exorcism. People suffering from hallucinations, delusions, or erratic behavior were often thought to be possessed by demons. The Church performed exorcisms, which involved prayers, fasting, and physical punishments to "purge" the evil spirits. Some extreme cases included beating, starving, or even burning individuals in an attempt to drive out the supposed demons.

2. Bloodletting and Purging

Medieval medicine was heavily influenced by the ancient Greek theory of the four humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile). An imbalance in these humors was believed to cause mental disorders, including psychosis. Treatments involved bloodletting using leeches or knives, as well as forced vomiting or enemas to "cleanse" the body.

3. Confinement and Chains

Mental illness was often feared, and those suffering from psychosis were sometimes locked away in monasteries, dungeons, or the earliest mental asylums. Some were chained to walls for years, left to live in squalor with little medical care. This isolation was meant to prevent them from harming themselves or others, but it also led to severe neglect and suffering.

4. Holy Relics and Pilgrimages

In religious societies, some believed that exposure to holy relics or pilgrimage to sacred sites could cure mental disorders. Families of the afflicted would take them to shrines, hoping for divine intervention. Though not as violent as other treatments, this often led to exploitation by religious institutions.

5. Witch Hunts and Executions

In some cases, people with severe psychosis—especially women—were accused of witchcraft. Symptoms like speaking in tongues, hallucinating, or erratic behavior were seen as evidence of a pact with the devil. The result was often execution by hanging or burning at the stake, particularly during the height of the witch hunts in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance.

6. Herbal Remedies and Folk Medicine

Not all treatments were violent. Some medieval healers used herbal remedies, such as valerian root, mandrake, or St. John's Wort, to calm agitation and treat symptoms of psychosis. However, these methods were overshadowed by more extreme practices.

Conclusion: A Dark Chapter in Mental Health Treatment

The Middle Ages were a time of fear and misunderstanding when it came to mental illness. Without scientific knowledge, societies resorted to extreme treatments that often harmed rather than helped. It wasn’t until the Renaissance and later centuries that more humane approaches to mental health began to emerge.

While medieval treatments for psychosis seem barbaric today, they serve as a reminder of how far mental health care has progressed—and how important it is to continue improving our understanding and compassion for those affected by mental illness.