Understanding Mental Health Treatment in the Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, people had different ideas about treating mental health issues. Their methods often mixed beliefs about religion and basic medical care. Here are some key points:

1. Religious Exorcism:

   • Many people thought mental illness happened because of evil spirits taking over someone's mind.
   • Exorcism was a common practice, where religious leaders would perform special rituals to drive out these spirits. This was seen in Christian Europe and can be viewed as an early way to think about helping someone spiritually.

2. Asylums:

   • The first asylums started in the late Middle Ages, around the 12th century. This was a big change in how mentally ill people were treated.
   • One well-known asylum was the Bethlem Royal Hospital in London, opened in 1247. It became famous for its harsh and cruel treatments, showing that there were not many kind practices at that time.

3. Herbal Remedies:

   • Many people used plants to help with emotional problems. About half of the medical writings from that time described how to use these herbs.
   • Plants like valerian and St. John's wort were common, and some of these are still used today in herbal medicine.

4. Moral Treatment:

   • By the end of the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, a new idea called moral treatment started to become popular. This meant treating people with kindness and respect.
   • This idea helped lead to improvements in mental health care and better living conditions in asylums during the 18th and 19th centuries.

In summary, although many treatments for mental health during the Middle Ages were basic and often cruel, they helped set the stage for better care in the future.