disease was sent by God to punish for sin meaning that the cure should involve the supernatural - spiritual healing

religious treatment included: - healing spells - praying for a special mass to be said - fasting - touching holy relics - presenting an offering at a shrine - praying to God for healing - lighting a candle as tall as you or the body part in need of healing

pilgrimages for tombs of people for their healing powers became popular

These were also important when prescribing treatment. Treatments varied according to the horoscope of the patient. The alignment of the planets was then checked at every stage of the treatment prescribed: herb gathering, bleeding, purging, operations and even cutting hair and nails all had to be done at the right time.

bathing - warm baths were regularly prescribed to help the body draw hot and to help dissolve blockages in the humours. Steamed out impurities and it eased aching joints. Herbal remedies could also be given this way

leeches - was a method of blood letting. Freshwater leeches were placed on the skin until the leech was full. Used for people whose age or condition made traditional bleeding too dangerous

blood-letting - the most common treatment for an imbalance in the humours. They believed that getting rid of some of the blood would get rid of the bad humours. Also called phlebotomy. It was so common that most physicians didn't even bother to carry it out. It was usually done instead by barber surgeons or wise women

purging - it was believed that the humours were created from the foods that we eat. A common treatment was therefore purging since it removed leftover food. This was done by giving the patient either a laxative or an emetic.