Over millennia, we developed a complex and nuanced pharmacopoeia to deal with our ailments. Today, modern medicine is beginning to embrace these ancient cures. Researchers and archaeologists are working tirelessly discover these age‑old remedies and develop new treatments from time‑tested medicine. This article uncovers the 10 secrets ancient that have survived wars, empires, and centuries of mystery.
10 Secrets Ancient: Unveiling the Past
1 Year-Old Pharmaceutical Operation
Between 2013 and 2015, Turkish archaeologists uncovered a treasure trove of roughly 700 tiny vessels that held ancient antidepressants and heart‑disease remedies. These unguentaria were unearthed during digs at Bathonea on Kucukcekmece Lake, and they appeared alongside pestles, mortars, and a sizable cooking pot, indicating a massive ancient pharmaceutical workshop. This find represents the greatest concentration of such bottles ever recovered from a single archaeological location.
Initial clues pointing to the site’s pharmaceutical nature came from the profusion of medicinal plants sprouting there. Chemical analysis showed the vessels contained methanone and phenanthrene—compounds acting as antidepressants and cardiac drugs, respectively—both derived from locally sourced flora. The bottles lay beneath a fire‑stratum dated between 620 and 640 CE, which may mark the Avar invasion. While historical texts reference this onslaught, these artifacts could provide the first physical evidence of the Avar push of 626 CE.
2 Year-Old Hangover Cure
The Kitab‑al‑tabikh—translated as the “Book of Cookery”—is a millennium‑old Middle Eastern manuscript boasting over 600 culinary and medicinal formulas. Among its most celebrated entries is a potent hangover remedy. Its author, Ibn Sayyar Al‑Warraq, prescribes a hearty stew called kkishkiyya to soothe the post‑drink malaise. This meat, chickpea, and vegetable concoction incorporates khask, a fermented yogurt, milk, and whey blend that mitigates the “excess heat” that erupts in the stomach and head after heavy drinking. Today, variations of kkishkiyya continue to be prepared across the Levant and northern Iraq.
Very little is known about Ibn Sayyar Al‑Warraq beyond his death in 961 CE. Scholars suspect many of his recipes echo even older sources, possibly dating a millennium before his own compilation. In addition to the stew, he advises diners to eat cabbage before drinking, snack intermittently between cocktails, and consume ample water prior to enjoying kkishkiyya.
3 Smoked Henbane Seeds
In 2015, archaeologists uncovered compelling evidence of medicinal henbane seed use during excavations at Kaman‑Kalehoyuk, Turkey. Eurasian henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) harbors potent alkaloids—atropine and scopolamine—concentrated within its seeds. For countless generations, these seeds have featured in remedies and mystical brews. The site yielded 121 charred seeds nestled in an ancient hearth alongside animal dung, strongly suggesting they were deliberately fumigated.
The Ottoman Empire referred to henbane as beng or benc and employed it for a spectrum of ailments: toothaches, earaches, eye irritations, and more. A 1608 record describes a medicinal recipe blending henbane seeds, black pepper, and opium. Situated roughly 100 km south of Ankara, Kaman‑Kalehoyuk boasts layers of Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Ottoman occupation. The burnt seeds date to the Ottoman period, spanning the 15th to 17th centuries.
4 Ancient Ingrown Eyelash Remedy
A Danish Egyptologist recently translated a 3,500‑year‑old Egyptian papyrus that details a remedy for trichiasis—commonly known as ingrown eyelashes. The document, long hidden in the University of Copenhagen archives, resurfaced after 80 years of neglect. The formula calls for an eclectic mix: bull fat, bat and donkey blood, lizard heart and dung, pulverized pottery, the milk of a nursing mother, and a drizzle of honey.
The papyrus’s hieroglyphs read right‑to‑left, featuring illustrations of birds, snakes, and ships. Ingredient quantities appear in vivid red ink, while explanatory black text outlines the preparation steps. The manuscript was broken into seven fragments, roughly the size of a modern sheet of paper. Its reverse side houses a gynecological treatise. German scholars studying parallel Egyptian medical texts helped validate the translation, noting striking similarities in ingredient lists.
5 Amazing Artemisinin
In 2015, Chinese chemist Tu Youyou earned a Nobel Prize for isolating artemisinin, a centuries‑old wormwood‑derived antimalarial. Contemporary researchers now suspect the compound may also combat tuberculosis. Michigan State microbiologist Robert Abramovich discovered that artemisinin can thwart the defense tactics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis depends on oxygen to thrive. The human immune system counters infection by restricting the bacterium’s oxygen supply, prompting it to enter a dormant, survival‑mode state. Artemisinin interferes with a molecule called heme, effectively disabling the pathogen’s oxygen sensor. This breakthrough could dramatically shrink the lengthy six‑month treatment regimen typical for tuberculosis, a disease whose protracted therapy fuels the emergence of drug‑resistant strains.
6 Anglo‑Saxon Eye Salve
In 2015, scientists successfully recreated a ninth‑century Anglo‑Saxon remedy for ocular infections. The concoction, blending onion, garlic, wine, and cow bile, astonished researchers by effectively neutralizing methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This ancient salve, uncovered in the medical codex Bald’s Leechbook, may hold the key to battling modern antibiotic‑resistant superbugs. Laboratory tests revealed the formula eradicated 90 percent of MRSA cultures, suggesting its power stems from the synergistic action of all ingredients rather than any single component.
Bald’s Leechbook stands as one of the earliest medical textbooks. Its authors appear to have practiced a proto‑scientific method, emphasizing observation and experimentation centuries before microorganisms were identified. The discovery that Anglo‑Saxons documented effective infection treatments long before modern microbiology underscores the depth of ancient medical knowledge, hinting at many more forgotten cures awaiting rediscovery.
7 Martyr Skull Bone Powder
Italian researchers have recently illuminated the purpose behind a series of enigmatic perforations in a 15th‑century martyr’s skull. The bone bore 16 holes of varying dimensions, likely produced with a specialized trepan instrument to generate bone powder. Historical pharmacopoeias, such as the Pharmacopee universelle by French chemist Nicholas Lemery (1645‑1715), describe powdered skull bone dissolved in water as a treatment for neurological conditions like paralysis, stroke, and epilepsy.
The skull belonged to one of the Martyrs of Otranto, victims of the 1480 Ottoman siege that forced 800 survivors to either convert or face execution. Beatified in 1771, these martyrs’ remains were believed to possess potent therapeutic properties, especially when derived from individuals who suffered violent death. The precise rationale for selecting this particular skull remains a tantalizing mystery.
8 Ramesseum Medical Papyri
In 1991, a joint Egyptian‑French archaeological team unearthed a collection of medical papyri within the Ramesseum necropolis. Dating back to the early 18th century BC, these scrolls provide a priceless window into ancient pharmacology, anatomy, disease classification, and therapeutic prescriptions. The documents are inscribed in vertical hieratic columns.
The Ramesseum served as the mortuary temple of Ramesses II, a pharaoh renowned for his monumental building projects. Papyrus III recounts a volcanic eruption—likely Santorini—and offers remedies for burn injuries. Notably, the texts contain the earliest known reference to medicinal cannabis. Papyrus IV addresses female health, covering childbirth, neonatal care, and contraception. An outlier, Papyrus V, is composed in hieroglyphics, further underscoring the diversity of ancient Egyptian medical literature.
9 Roseroot
For countless generations, roseroot (Rhodiola rosea) has been prized for its therapeutic virtues. Siberian folklore claims that regular consumption of roseroot tea can extend life beyond a century. Ancient Greeks, Vikings, Caucasians, and Mongols all revered the herb. Contemporary research confirms roseroot’s modest efficacy in alleviating moderate depression and fatigue, though it trails conventional antidepressants like sertraline. Nevertheless, its favorable benefit‑to‑risk profile makes it an attractive alternative.
Since the 1960s, nearly 200 studies have examined roseroot’s health impacts. Historically, it has been employed to combat depression, fatigue, and altitude sickness. Vikings prized it for stamina and strength, while ancient Chinese expeditions trekked into Siberia seeking the plant. Mongolian practitioners have applied roseroot in cancer and tuberculosis therapies, and Central Asian cultures still regard its tea as the premier remedy for colds and flu.
10 Amur Cork Cancer Medicine
In 2014, researchers identified an ancient Chinese remedy with promising activity against pancreatic cancer. For millennia, the bark of the Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense) served as a potent analgesic. Scientists at the University of Texas discovered that extracts from this bark can impede key pathways involved in tumor development. By reducing fibrotic tissue that normally shields tumors, the extract enhances drug penetration. Additionally, it suppresses inflammatory enzymes within the tumor microenvironment.
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest malignancies, notorious for its stealthy onset, aggressive progression, and resistance to standard therapies. Surgical removal offers the only curative option, yet merely 20 percent of patients qualify at diagnosis. The dire prognosis underscores the urgency of novel treatments, making the ancient Amur cork extract a compelling candidate for future oncological strategies.