Prevention of Disease in Medieval England (Edexcel GCSE History)

Disease Prevention in Medieval Britain - Summary

Natural Prevention

Hygiene

• People believed it was important to look after your body

• A book called Regimen Sanitatis was published

  • Regimen Sanitatis was a loose set of instructions provided by a physician to help patients maintain a healthy life

  • Many health professionals prescribe some of the advice today including:

    • Exercise

    • Do not overeat

    • Sleep

    • Avoid stress

• However, the Regimen Sanitatis also advised to:

  • Breathe eastern or northern air

  • Avoid barking dogs

  • Stay on good terms with neighbours

Diet

• The Theory of the Four Humours linked to good health to digestion

• Physicians discouraged overeating

• Many Medieval kings died from conditions like dysentery, caused by overly rich diets

  • People believed dysentery indicated living an immoral lifestyle of over-indulgence. King John died of dysentery in 1216

  • The 13th century monk and historian Matthew Paris stated:

• Many people decided purging, through laxatives or vomiting, was a good way to prevent illness from happening

Purifying the Air

• To counteract miasma, people used:

  • Herbs such as lavender

  • Flowers such as posies

• A pomander (a locket worn around the waist) was worn with similar sweet smells for protection

• Local authorities disposed of rotten bodies by removing them from the streets

Supernatural Prevention

• People believed that the Church provided the most important method of Medieval prevention through:

  • Regular prayer

  • Confession

  • Leading a morally good life 

• By doing these actions, Medieval people attempted to avoid becoming ill