Pour the Medicine Over the Patient’s Head!

In addition to poultices and drugs to cure irritated membranes, to reduce swellings, to open the bowels and to get rid of wind, the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians also recommended such curious remedies as pouring concoctions over a patient’s head. An example is for a man with cramps: either

Let that man sit down, with his feet under him, pour boiled … and cassia juice over his head and he will recover.

or

Let him kneel and pour cold water on his head.

The choice was usually between a warm and a cold douche and if one afforded no relief then the other could be tried. A variation of the treatment for cramps included a massage to stimulate the circulation, but it sounded worse for the patient than the original cramps!

Place his head downwards and his feet under him, manipulate his back with the thumb, saying ‘be good’, manipulate his arms 14 times and his head 14 times, rolling him on the ground.

The address ‘be good’ was apparently directed at the demon causing the cramps. Why 14 was a magic number is not known.