When Medieval Doctors Prescribed Sex as Medicine

Medicine in the Middle Ages was often a lot more complex and sophisticated than many people assume. In the 11th century, a translation movement reintroduced much of ancient medical theory--and introduced for the first time much from the Arabic tradition--into the medieval medical worldview, and medieval physicians would use this theory to diagnose and suggest cures for their patients. But what happened when this theory suggested that sex would be the best medicine? How did the very Christian medieval populace react? Well it turns out medieval views about sex and sexuality were just as complex and nuanced as their medicine.
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Works cited and recommendations for further reading:
-Conrad, Lawrence I. The Western medical tradition: 800 B.C.-1800 A.D. (Cambridge University Press, 1995).
-Gerald of Wales. The Jewel of the Church. John J. Hagen, trans. (Lugduni Batavorum: Brill, 1979) [the episode about Louis VII and the bishop of Louvain are recounted in Distinction 2, ch. 11; the bit about Louis is also repeated word for word in Gerald's Instructions for a Ruler ch. 20 along with a similar situation involving his grandson, future Louis VIII]
-Pormann, Peter E., Emilie Savage-Smith. Medieval Islamic Medicine (Edinburgh University Press, 2007).
-Wallis, Faith, ed. Medieval Medicine: A Reader (University of Toronto Press, 2010) [Includes Wallis's translation of Constantine the African's book "De Coitu"]
-William of Malmesbury. Gesta Pontificum Anglorum: The History of the English Bishops. Michael Winterbottom, Rodney M. Thomson, trans. (Oxford University Press, 2007) [for Maurice, see book 1, ch. 64]
All images used in this video are either my own, in the public domain, under fair use, or under creative commons (whence they shall be credited appropriately)
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Outro music: Laid Back Guitars by Kevin MacLeod, CC BY-SA 4.0
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#medievalhistory #medieval #middleages #history #educational #historyofmedicine #intellectualhistory #medievalmedicine #ancientmedicine #medievallife

[@studiumhistoriae]

Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that I've finally created a Patreon account! If you think that my content is worth supporting monetarily, consider a monthly subscription. Note that I will continue to make videos regardless of how many people choose to support me on Patreon, so do not feel in any way obligated to do so if you don't really want to or can't. Also there are currently no perks or benefits, other than a shout out for those who choose the highest tier (if they want one), so it's really just if you have some disposable income you want to throw my way as a way to show appreciation. Alright I'll leave you alone now. patreon.com/StudiumHistoriae1215

[@Mark723]

"Complicated" is such a useful word.

[@gehenna14]

wish my doctor prescribed me this

[@apexapey]

I expected many things, but I am stunned that Schweddy Balls is an ancient phenomenon xD Thank you as always for the great lecture. Keep up the good stuff!

[@pilarpanizza871]

With each video I watch I become more fascinated by this channel

[@EduardoGabrieldeOliveiraVictor]

It would be cool to see some historical view, by the medium of documents and letters and such, of women's sex and sexuality.

[@laub847]

The image at 18:30 is a new one

[@laub847]

Can you make a video about jousting? I saw a reenactment at Lincoln palace and the costumes were beautiful, I would like to know more about the custom and its role in the medieval society🙏

[@studiumhistoriae]

Good idea!

[@TriBgarage]

Different from you normal vids, but quite amusing. Its strange how i automatically lowered the volume when watching a video on sex. But didn't feel the need to go incognito. As a person who had prostrate cancer at a young age, not sure if this means i will live longer or shorter, even with sweaty balls or not.

[@lorenstiteler305]

More medical content please!

[@michaelschneider3646]

Stadium freakoria

[@jeff__w]

17:34 “Sex on Sunday? Don't even get me started about sex on Sunday.” Judaism, by contrast, was much more sex positive (although it was negative in lots of aspects, too). Rabbis _encouraged_ sex on the Sabbath (within marriage) as a way of encouraging intimacy between couples.

[@MinnieTricks]

It’s a double mitzvah on Shabbat :)

[@Pelmenji]

7:05 the common willy tree

[@DrVictorVasconcelos]

It's hard to understand why views on sex developed the way they did. In terms of the Bible, Jesus's lineage as described by John included only 4 women, 3 of which had pregnancy out of wedlock. People read their preconceptions into the text.

[@matthewfergusons4318]

I can imagine if you have medieval people with modern technology can you imagine one p*** search is feisty barmaids and a doctor okay isn't that story of p*** search for some people

[@ademonstoe7760]

B4 one minute gang

[@ZALYPA_TIGRA]

Segs

[@jasperchance3382]

Religion is the greatest of human mistakes.

[@Lord_Machiavelli]

Atheism is the greatest mistake of humanity

[@pao5567]

Reddit moment