Leeches were used to cure everything
For centuries, leeches were considered a miracle cure for almost every ailment. Doctors believed that by removing blood, they were rebalancing the body’s humors. So they applied numerous leeches to patients, who had to let them suck for hours.
As medieval as it may seem, it was a serious medical treatment. Ironically, it further weakened the sick or led to infections. Yet, for a long time, leeches were the pinnacle of medical progress.
