How to Cure a Headache, 9th century

manuscript illustration of alarmed-looking face in capital O Ninth-century headache?
St. Gall 904 (ca. 850)

Headaches you will enchant: take some earth, touch your breast three times and say: My head hurts, why does it hurt? It does not hurt.

Pseudo-Pliny (9th century) (trans. H. S. Versnel)

Good old denial: it’s better than ibuprofen.

How to Cure a Werewolf, 6th century

Those who are afflicted by the disease cynanthropy or lycanthropy go out at night…

Moreover, if there is any doubt as to whether a person is or is not dead…

Beneath the armpits are certain veins called “ticklish”…

Good Wine ought to be clean, pure, and clear, inclining to a red, called Claret…