Tasting History: Grotesque Remedies for the Black Plague and Candied Horseradish
In the latest episode of Tasting History, the host explores the curious landscape of medieval medicine, particularly focusing on the bizarre remedies once employed to combat the Black Plague. While the previous episode touched on the relatively benign culinary prescriptions aimed at balancing bodily humors, this edition delves into ten of the most peculiar and grotesque remedies that highlight the desperation of the time.
The episode opens with a quote from Jean Froissart, who humorously critiqued the qualifications of medieval doctors by suggesting they needed to be skilled deceivers who could kill without remorse. This notion sets the tone for the discussion about the inadequacies of medical knowledge during the 14th century, as doctors struggled to understand the bubonic plague, let alone treat it effectively.
The host then transitions into a demonstration of a distinctly odd remedy: a 15th-century Spanish recipe for candied horseradish. While the intent is to illustrate a taste curiosity, it also serves as a vessel to explore the incredibly ineffective and strange remedies that would later be described.
As the preparation for candied horseradish begins, the episode takes a comedic turn, highlighting various bizarre practices believed to ward off or cure the plague:
Herbs: People believed that fresh-smelling herbs could repel 'miasma'—an invisible, toxic cloud thought to spread disease, showcasing the lack of understanding about germs.
Living in Sewers: Strangely enough, some believed that living amidst human waste would protect them from miasma, pandering to the idea that filth could be a sanctuary.
Cutting Open Buboes: The grotesque method of cutting open buboes and packing the wounds with moss, weeds, and human excrement (not one's own) illustrated the dire measures taken in the name of "health."
Flagellation: This self-punishing practice was rooted in the belief that the plague was a punishment from God, leading many to seek atonement by whipping themselves.
Eating Emeralds: In a bizarre twist of logic, some individuals believed consuming crushed emeralds could cure their ailments, showcasing the superstitions surrounding precious stones.
Putrid Treacle: It was thought that consuming ten-year-old treacle could make the plague flee due to its foul odor. Interestingly, some modern researchers speculate that beneficial molds could have formed in such treacle.
Urine Baths: A remedy that feels particularly unappealing involved bathing in urine sourced from healthy individuals, further reflecting the odd medical standards of the time.
The Vicary Method: In this method, doctors would employ the rear end of a chicken, attaching it to patients' armpits and groins in an attempt to drive off disease—a testament to the absurdity of historical medical practices.
Fire Therapy: Pope Clement VI famously sat between two large fires to ward off the plague, inadvertently protecting himself from fleas that thrived in cooler environments.
Social Distancing: Surprisingly, early forms of quarantine became a popular practice based on the notion that isolation could prevent diseases from spreading, a concept that has resurfaced in modern times during health crises.
After detailing these strange remedies, the host returns to the process of making candied horseradish, which involves boiling, soaking, and then simmering with syrup until the root is transformed into a sweet treat. The final product is described as surprisingly delightful—not spicy, but sweet with a hint of horseradish flavor, showcasing a hidden culinary treasure of the medieval age.
As the episode wraps up, the host expresses an eagerness to explore viewer recommendations for future episodes, emphasizing the importance of audience interaction in shaping the content. Those interested in understanding this peculiar intersection of food, history, and medicine are encouraged to check out the recipe in the episode description and delve into further reading on related topics.
With humor and valuable lessons drawn from past mistakes, Tasting History succeeds in unpacking the oddities of historical remedies while also providing a platform for engaging and like-minded culinary enthusiasts.
Part 1/7:
Tasting History: Grotesque Remedies for the Black Plague and Candied Horseradish
In the latest episode of Tasting History, the host explores the curious landscape of medieval medicine, particularly focusing on the bizarre remedies once employed to combat the Black Plague. While the previous episode touched on the relatively benign culinary prescriptions aimed at balancing bodily humors, this edition delves into ten of the most peculiar and grotesque remedies that highlight the desperation of the time.
The Role of Doctors in the 14th Century
Part 2/7:
The episode opens with a quote from Jean Froissart, who humorously critiqued the qualifications of medieval doctors by suggesting they needed to be skilled deceivers who could kill without remorse. This notion sets the tone for the discussion about the inadequacies of medical knowledge during the 14th century, as doctors struggled to understand the bubonic plague, let alone treat it effectively.
The host then transitions into a demonstration of a distinctly odd remedy: a 15th-century Spanish recipe for candied horseradish. While the intent is to illustrate a taste curiosity, it also serves as a vessel to explore the incredibly ineffective and strange remedies that would later be described.
The Grotesque Remedies of the Past
Part 3/7:
As the preparation for candied horseradish begins, the episode takes a comedic turn, highlighting various bizarre practices believed to ward off or cure the plague:
Herbs: People believed that fresh-smelling herbs could repel 'miasma'—an invisible, toxic cloud thought to spread disease, showcasing the lack of understanding about germs.
Living in Sewers: Strangely enough, some believed that living amidst human waste would protect them from miasma, pandering to the idea that filth could be a sanctuary.
Cutting Open Buboes: The grotesque method of cutting open buboes and packing the wounds with moss, weeds, and human excrement (not one's own) illustrated the dire measures taken in the name of "health."
Part 4/7:
Flagellation: This self-punishing practice was rooted in the belief that the plague was a punishment from God, leading many to seek atonement by whipping themselves.
Eating Emeralds: In a bizarre twist of logic, some individuals believed consuming crushed emeralds could cure their ailments, showcasing the superstitions surrounding precious stones.
Putrid Treacle: It was thought that consuming ten-year-old treacle could make the plague flee due to its foul odor. Interestingly, some modern researchers speculate that beneficial molds could have formed in such treacle.
Urine Baths: A remedy that feels particularly unappealing involved bathing in urine sourced from healthy individuals, further reflecting the odd medical standards of the time.
Part 5/7:
The Vicary Method: In this method, doctors would employ the rear end of a chicken, attaching it to patients' armpits and groins in an attempt to drive off disease—a testament to the absurdity of historical medical practices.
Fire Therapy: Pope Clement VI famously sat between two large fires to ward off the plague, inadvertently protecting himself from fleas that thrived in cooler environments.
Social Distancing: Surprisingly, early forms of quarantine became a popular practice based on the notion that isolation could prevent diseases from spreading, a concept that has resurfaced in modern times during health crises.
The Making of Candied Horseradish
Part 6/7:
After detailing these strange remedies, the host returns to the process of making candied horseradish, which involves boiling, soaking, and then simmering with syrup until the root is transformed into a sweet treat. The final product is described as surprisingly delightful—not spicy, but sweet with a hint of horseradish flavor, showcasing a hidden culinary treasure of the medieval age.
Conclusion and Engagement
Part 7/7:
As the episode wraps up, the host expresses an eagerness to explore viewer recommendations for future episodes, emphasizing the importance of audience interaction in shaping the content. Those interested in understanding this peculiar intersection of food, history, and medicine are encouraged to check out the recipe in the episode description and delve into further reading on related topics.
With humor and valuable lessons drawn from past mistakes, Tasting History succeeds in unpacking the oddities of historical remedies while also providing a platform for engaging and like-minded culinary enthusiasts.