We are delighted to share a publication by our project member Megan Cassidy-Welch in The Conversation: “Fruit and veg, exercise, frequent bloodletting and more tips on staying healthy from medieval travellers“, [article here].
As Megan writes,
“Travellers have always faced health hazards when far from home. Medieval people were no exception.”
She outlines various methods and strategies used by travellers – in particular pilgrims and crusaders – to manage their health. From bloodletting to water desalination, from the caring of the physical body, such as feet (lots of walking!), to “divine prophylaxis” – the confessing of sins as a means of preventative healthcare – Megan shows the agency and proactivity of mobile communities in premodern healthcare.
Although the adjective “medieval” continues to be used disparagingly to imply backwardness in medical and scientific knowledge, this history of preventive medicine shows us something different.
We look forward to more exciting work from Megan!
Megan Cassidy-Welch is currently Dean of Research Strategy at the University of Divinity, and is Chief Investigator in the 2022 ARC Discovery Project, “Pursuing Public Health in the Premodern World, 1100-1800” [see project description here]. Her work focusses on the preventative healthcare of pilgrims and crusaders.
