These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic

Humans used to do some really, really gross stuff. Like putting leeches on your own body. And bathing once a year…at a public bathhouse. But, it was all we humans had for a long time: fake science, no hygiene, that was reality for people in the old times. Of course, diseases were everywhere and no one seemed to live very long; let’s just settle for being grateful for soap.

1.) Pulling Teeth

1420032700541986 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — medievalists

In the Middle Ages, a barber would not hesitate to pull your tooth with their archaic equipment if it showed any signs of a cavity or caused pain. That’s right, dentists and barbers were practically one in the same. And they were also responsible for cutting hair, pulling teeth, and administering crazy treatments like bloodletting to ailing people.

2.) Eagle Dung

1420032700425236 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — alphacoders

Eagle excrement was once considered to be a pain reliever.

3.) Urine as a Face Wash

142003270025321 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — huffington post

People used to think urine was good for washing their faces with because of its antiseptic qualities.

4.) Red-hot Pokers

1420032702578107 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — Wikimedia Commons

To try and prevent infections, red-hot pokers were used to cauterize wounds.

5.) Moss Tampons

1420032700694233 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — mountainmoss

Before we had anything close to today’s sanitary pads, women would have to utilize moss and other things they could find to use as tampons.

6.) Bloodletting

1420032700615199 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — Wikimedia Commons

Draining a sick person’s blood with the help of leeches was considered a useful treatment for many illnesses at one point.

7.) Public Baths

Back when only the extremely wealthy could afford to have their own bathtubs, people would have to go to a public bath to wash up…if they washed up at all.

8.) Sulphur

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To get rid of undesirable freckles, people would rub sulphur onto their face. Ouch.

9.) Lead Water Tanks

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Many of the first water tanks were built with poisonous lead materials.

10.) Smoke in the Mouth

1420032704460555 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — creditingmarvels

15th century physicians would often attempt to cure toothaches by filling an ailing person’s mouth with smoke from a candle. The idea was that this would force the tooth worms they believed to be responsible for the pain to leave the patient’s mouth. Yes, tooth worms.

11.) Chicken Dung

142003270213601 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — jamestownfeed

Consuming a blend of chicken dung and potassium used to be thought of as a cure for baldness in men.

12.) Lead-based Makeup

1420032704502179 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — fibre

Women in Elizabethan times were particularly fond of a toxic lead-based powder that would mask any skin imperfections.

13.) Not Using Utensils

1420032704122402 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — businessinsider

In the 16th century, some particularly religious people felt that using utensils to eat was an affront to God.

14.) Mouse Skin

1420032704349294 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — alamy

Mouse skin was often used by women to help give their eyebrows whatever shape they desired.

15.) Lye and Urine Detergent

1420032704134834 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — Old and Interesting

On the rare occasion that someone did was their clothes, a mixture of poisonous lye and urine was used as a detergent.

16.) Yearly Baths

1420032704870492 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — honestabeplumbing

Most people took their yearly baths, if at all, in May. Who wouldn’t want to smell fresh for the springtime?

17.) Cesspools

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Before sewage systems, people would have to dump their waste into pits in their backyards.

18.) Sleeping on Bird Dung

1420032704401584 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — gedlab

Roofs were not what they are now. It was next to impossible to avoid birds and other animals messing up your sleeping quarters.

19.) Wiping with Leaves

1420032704223324 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — thezoom

Before there was toilet paper, people would have to use leaves to tidy up after using the bathroom. It makes a lot more sense when you think about how they were probably going to the bathroom outside.

20.) Not Wearing Underpants

1420032704902095 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — healthhub

While men sometimes wore linen underpants, it was rare for women to wear any.

21.) Chamber Pot

1420032704172532 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — odysseysvirtualmuseum

This is a pot people would keep under their beds. They would use it when they had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and did not feel like leaving the house to use the outhouse.

22.) Not Changing Clothes

1420032704618417 These 23 Disgusting Techniques Were Once Considered Hygienic — stitchesoftime

Even the richest of people in the Middle Ages would have, at most, four different outfits (one for each season).

23.) Groom of the King’s Close Stool

There used to be a position in a king’s inner circle that involved carrying the royal portable toilet around. It also required cleaning their backside when they were through sitting on the throne.