Overview

• The Corpus of Early Medieval Latin Medicine published an online catalog that has nearly doubled the number of known pre-11th-century medical manuscripts by incorporating hundreds of previously uncatalogued texts.
• Analysis of these sources reveals that medieval practitioners relied on systematic observation and natural remedies, dispelling myths of a wholly superstitious Dark Ages.
• Many recipes were found scribbled in the margins of theological, grammatical and literary works, underscoring widespread popular interest in personal health and DIY treatments.
• Some historical cures, such as mixing crushed peach stones with rose oil for headaches, closely parallel modern alternative-medicine trends promoted on social media.
• Building on the catalog release, the international research team is continuously updating its database with new finds and preparing annotated translations to support teaching and research.