Whisky History: 'Miracle Cure' of the Middle Ages
ScotchWhiskey.com Sheds Light on the Healing Origins of This Revered Recreational Beverage
Middle Age medicine: A medieval physician with a urine flask (Photo: Wellcome Collection; CC BY)
Given the integral role of whisky in the culinary arts of the modern era, it may surprise you that the roots of this time-honoured spirit came out of the healing world.
It all began in post-medieval Scotland, where the term aqua vitae (Latin for 'water of life') was used in reference to liquid derived from the distillation of grain and fruits, typically at local monasteries. Using techniques brought to Europe from north Africa and the Arabian peninsula, the production of high-proof alcohol and experimentation with its effects on people led to a general appreciation of its potential as "a panacea for human maladies."
In a fascinating article on Scotchwhisky.com, Kirsten Amor examines the roots of whisky as a miracle cure, suggesting that doctors and folk healers in 15th-century Scotland mixed medicinal whisky cocktails to combat a diverse range of ailments, from deafness to muscle soreness to colds and rashes.
Such a prescription would never fly today...but given the resurgence in popularity of a variety of holistic medicines and practices, perhaps we shouldn't dismiss the healing potential of a wee dram now and then, even if only through the power of suggestion. :)
Story credit: Neat Stuff