Medicine historically features questionable cures, prominently including antimony, a toxic metal. Known since ancient Egypt for its use in cosmetics like kohl, antimony was believed to ward off evil spirits. Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations recognized its toxicity yet continued to explore its potential as a medicine. In medieval times, antimony gained further cultural significance, particularly during alchemy, leading to practices such as drinking wine from antimony cups. Such usage reflected attempts to balance bodily humors as understood in medieval medical theory.
The history of medicine is, for the most part, a history of dubious cures, with some substances, like antimony, recognized as toxic yet still used for healing.
Ancient civilizations, including the Greeks and Romans, acknowledged antimony's toxicity but explored its potential medicinal properties throughout history.
In ancient Egypt, antimony was ground into kohl for cosmetic use, believed to ward off bad spirits, illustrating its cultural significance.
By the late seventeenth century, people were consuming wine from antimony cups, reflecting an enduring fascination with this toxic metal in medicinal practices.
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