Modern Wellness Trends Mirror Medieval Health Beliefs

In the United States, a growing segment of the public is turning to “detox,” “purge,” and other wellness practices that echo the humoral theories of the Middle Ages. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Influencers on TikTok, YouTube and at conferences in Utah, Montana and Idaho promote breathwork, Reiki, herbalism and even “body-transformation” spells sold on Etsy for around $10. The trend is reinforced by political figures; President Donald Trump** recently likened childhood vaccine doses to “a bottle of soda,” a claim that health experts say misrepresents the actual volume.

CNN

Medieval physicians described “plethora” as an excess of blood, prescribing bloodletting and other purging methods. The theory of the four humors—blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile—shaped European, Middle Eastern and South Asian medicine for centuries.

CNN

Scholars link the resurgence to a loss of trust in institutions after the Covid-19 pandemic. Influencers such as Eric Berg, a Florida-based chiropractor, promote unproven remedies like colloidal silver for throat irritation. The pharmaceutical industry’s perceived dominance and high drug costs further fuel the search for alternative explanations.

CNN

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted controversial theories about vaccines, antidepressants and fluoride without solid medical evidence. President Trump’s vaccine comparison was fact-checked and found to exaggerate the actual dose size. Health officials emphasize that while “purging” language is popular, it lacks scientific validation and can distract from evidence-based care.

CNN

• “Covid was one of the first times that people actually saw how medical advances work, they saw the fits and starts where we have to learn things and where scientists can make mistakes,” — Roy Perlis, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School

CNN

• “Everyone has questions about their health, and people have access to much more information,” — Roy Perlis, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School

CNN

• “The language you hear in a lot of ads now is about purging and toxins, where these residues build up in the body over time, that would feel quite familiar to medieval people,” — Meg Leja, a professor of European medieval history at Binghamton University

CNN

• “The Islamic world did not have this kind of trust crisis because they had a fairly consistent public health policy,” — Robin S. Reich, a history professor at Seattle University

CNN

• “I think being critical of people who draw the wrong conclusions is one of the major errors in public health,” — Roy Perlis, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School

CNN