Welcome to revolting remedies, where we examine and explore some of the less conventional ways that people have treated their ailments and infirmities across the ages.
Today we're looking at cures for the humble headache!
Many people suffer from skull splitting migraines that make them want to curl up in a dark room, few people would consider actually splitting their skull as a cure for it though!
What is it exactly?
Trepanation or Trepanning was the act of intentionally punching a hole in someone's skull – often without any anaesthetic. Yes, people really used to do this.
When did people do this?
The oldest form of trepanation found is in France, dated to 6500BC, but trepanning was also practiced in the classical and renaissance periods. It's thought to be one of the oldest surgical procedures practiced by man.
Why on earth would they do it?
Trepanation was practiced as a cure for ailments such as migraine, epilepsy, mental disorders and head injuries. Removing a piece of skull was thought to release pressure, allowing the brain to breathe and therefore relieving any pain.
How did they do it?
An instrument called a trepan or trephine was used to drill or scrape a hole in the skull. The instrument has evolved over time from a crude hunk of sharpened flint in the Neolithic age to a hand-cranked auger in the first century and in more recent times a drill.
The trepan removes a round piece of bone from the skull, with care being taken not to penetrate below the level of the bone membrane. The wound is then bandaged and eventually the skin heals over the top. A few modern advocates of trepanning still exist but the mainstream medical community consider its curative effects for mental disorders and migraines to be nothing more than pseudoscience.
A clinical trepanation might be performed if you have a serious head injury and your brain begins to swell, but the piece of bone is always replaced when the swelling goes down.
Thanks but no thanks! Any alternatives?
If you have a migraine or headache but you don't fancy a hole being drilled into your skull, we can't blame you and you won't be surprised to learn that there are many other less 'invasive' options.
You can find a wide selection of pharmaceutical pain relief drugs like migraine tablets, paracetamol and ibuprofen to relieve the pain. Hydrogel patches applied to the forehead can also help to soothe a headache. Alternative health remedies, such as homoeopathy and aromatherapy, which can also be used to minimise the symptoms of a headache or migraine.
Keep out of reach of reach of children. If you are unsure about your health condition always speak to a medical professional. All content on this website is for information purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice. Always read the label prior to using any product.
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