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Regrettably, the idyllic eras depicted in films and historical texts can only be characterized as malodorous. Prior to the development of contemporary plumbing, electricity, and medical science, personal cleanliness was, to say the least, inadequate. Devoid of the modern amenities we enjoy today, women during the Middle Ages had to resort to peculiar methods for personal hygiene.
Content:
- Use of chamber pots during the night
- Alternative to toilet paper in the Middle Ages
- Water-based hygiene practices
- Techniques for making soap during the Middle Ages
- Dental hygiene practices in the Middle Ages
- Methods of contraception
- Methods of abortions
- Menstrual hygiene practices
Nighttime pots
Chamber pots were used both day and night, as there was no modern plumbing system available. Instead, people used a chamber pot to replace the toilet. These pots were emptied out of windows with accompanying shouts – in England and Scotland, this was known as “gardy-loo,” which meant “Watch out!” In order to make the streets passable, street cleaners were hired in Europe to clear the paths of excrement. Some wealthy homes had toilet rooms, but they were far from modern-day bathrooms. People of upper class relieved themselves directly on the floor, and the servants cleaned up as best they could. Naturally, the stench in the corridors was unbearable. When the odor in his castle became unbearable, King Louis would move with his entire entourage to another residence. In his absence, the rooms were thoroughly aired out and cleaned.
What was used instead of toilet paper in the Middle Ages
China had already mastered the technique of creating small squares of rice paper as early as the 6th century. However, this progress did not quickly reach Europe, where the Chinese practice was viewed as distasteful. Instead, wealthy Europeans during that time period preferred to use tools known as gompfuses or gompf-sticks, which were essentially sponges attached to wooden sticks. This was a nod to ancient Rome, where such items were commonly used. Those less fortunate, however, had to make do with whatever they could find, including straw, moss, and leaves, without much thought given to the quality of the materials.
Water procedures
Frequent bathing was not a common practice, especially in regions where it was either not customary or not possible. However, it is natural for people to avoid being constantly surrounded by their own unpleasant odors. The Romans utilized public bathhouses, Scandinavians bathed to maintain cleanliness and to pay homage to their spiritual beliefs, and some monastic groups considered bathing with water to be a vital aspect of their spiritual discipline. Wealthy Europeans occasionally took baths, although it was believed to be unhealthful to do so frequently. Typically, families shared the same bathing water, which posed a challenge for the last person to use it.
For the common populace, bathing was typically restricted to natural water sources such as streams, lakes, or springs. This meant that the water was typically cold, and access to water for bathing was limited to the spring and summer seasons. During the winter, people had to abstain from bathing for an extended period of time because wet hair and exposure to the cold weather could lead to hypothermia, pneumonia, and even death.
How soap was made in the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, individuals utilized nearly any available materials to produce soap, including a combination of wood ash and lard or oil, and at times, even lime. Dried herbs and aromatic ingredients, like lavender flowers, were sometimes incorporated into the molded soap cakes. The general public typically created soap using lye, a harsh substance that could irritate and even remove skin if applied too forcefully.
How teeth were cleaned in the Middle Ages
Toothbrushes were replaced by rudimentary implements such as wooden sticks with sharpened tips or cloth infused with crushed limestone. In medieval Europe, routine dental hygiene was not widely accepted and was deemed inappropriate. Consequently, the teeth of medieval aristocrats decayed severely, and to restore their smiles, affluent Europeans even purchased healthy teeth from the impoverished – the process of how these teeth were then fixed is best left unconsidered. It was not until the 17th century that the first publication regarding the significance of oral care was issued, in which cavities were referred to as “tooth worms.” Toothbrush mass production did not commence until 1780.
Contraception
The 1492 Columbus expedition from America introduced an unforeseen “gift” to Europe: syphilis. The disease spread to all European nations within a few years. Numerous efforts were made to create a safeguard against it, but it would take several centuries before the advent of the first condom – the official production date of the first such device dates back to the 17th century. The oldest artifacts discovered during excavations were constructed of thin leather or animal intestines. For instance, the discovery of an item in the cesspool of Dudley Castle demonstrated that royal guardsmen wore such items in the mid-17th century – ostensibly to protect against sexually transmitted infections.
Women employed “contraceptive blocks” in the form of sponges inserted at the uterine entrance to prevent unintended pregnancies. In ancient times and later during the Middle Ages, doctors provided “passion killers” – already mentioned by Aristotle – which women utilized to mitigate their spouses’ ardor. In hopes of curbing their partner’s passions, women would incorporate these substances, including Queen Anne’s lace, leeks, garden lily, coriander and lettuce seeds, rue and camphor, into their spouse’s food, as they were weary of incessant childbirths.
Abortions
Throughout history, clandestine abortions were performed, sometimes by the women themselves. Essentially, any pointed object could be utilized, such as a knitting needle or spindle. Women also endeavored to terminate the pregnancy by consuming poisonous substances, such as iodine, glycerin, or mercury (which, in China, was even directly injected into the uterus). Naturally, the results of such procedures were disastrous – for both the fetus and the woman.
Hygiene during menstruation
Women have been devising ways to manage menstruation since ancient times. For instance, in Ancient Egypt, women crafted tampons from wooden sticks that were wrapped in papyrus, while Roman women used cotton disks. During medieval Europe, women attempted to contain menstrual flow using cloth pads fastened to their skirt waistband. These pads needed to be washed and changed up to 10 times a day. It wasn’t until World War I that a breakthrough occurred when nurses discovered the absorbent properties of surgical pads. This innovation marked the beginning of modern menstrual hygiene products.
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