Ancient Greek doctors used live electric eels to treat migraine headaches

History
Ancient Greek doctors used live electric eels to treat migraine headaches

Long before modern medicine, ancient Greek physicians utilized the numbing power of electric rays to alleviate chronic pain and treat severe headaches through primitive forms of shock therapy.

Physicians in ancient Greece and Rome utilized live torpedo fish, a type of electric ray, to treat ailments like migraines and gout. Doctors would place the discharge-producing fish directly onto a patient's forehead or affected limb. The resulting electric shock acted as an early form of anesthesia by numbing the area and blocking pain signals.

There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.

Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz
Open in App

Get the full experience

Download Facts A Day