Why Did Europeans Eat Mummies? History of Mummy Powder Medicine Explained

Why did Europeans eat mummies as medicine? Because for roughly 500 years, powdered human remains, mummia, were genuinely believed to cure everything from headaches to epilepsy, and painkillers as we know them today simply didn't exist yet. This wasn't a fringe practice either. Royalty, priests, physicians, and scientists routinely consumed it. 

What Was Mummy Powder Medicine Actually Used to Treat?

From the 12th to the 17th century, and lingering well into the 20th century, Europeans bought mummies and ground them into powder for medicinal use, according to Historic Mysteries. Different body parts were believed to treat different ailments. Ground mummy skull was thought to cure headaches, while skin problems called for powdered mummy skin. It was often mixed with honey to make it easier to swallow, or applied directly to wounds.

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Why Did Europeans Actually Believe Mummy Powder Medicine Worked?Mummy Powder

The logic came from a specific medical theory. Paracelsus, a 16th-century Swiss physician often called the father of toxicology, believed the noblest medicine for man was man's body itself, promoting mummy, human blood, fat, marrow, and even skull in treating illness. The underlying idea, sometimes called "like cures like," held that consuming powerful bodily material could transfer its strength to whatever was ailing you.

Where Did the Mummies for This Medicine Actually Come From?Mummy Powder as Medicine (1)

image credit: Bettmann / Corbis

As genuine Egyptian mummies grew harder to source, supply chains got creative, and considerably darker. According to Atlas Obscura, locally sourced bodies filled the gap, often executed criminals or the poor, with Irish remains also documented as a common substitute in England. French royal surgeon Ambroise Paré complained in 1585 about being "compelled both foolishly and cruelly to devour the mangled and putrid particles of the carcasses of the basest people of Egypt, or such as are hanged".

Did Any Doctors at the Time Push Back Against Mummy Powder Medicine?

Yes, and their objections are well documented. Aloysius Mundella, a 16th-century physician, called the practice "abominable and detestable," while herbalist Leonhard Fuchs asked, "Who, unless he approves of cannibalism, would not loathe this remedy?" according to the Science History Institute. Even Paré, despite criticising it, admitted he'd tried mummy remedies "a hundred times" without success.

How Long Did Mummy Powder Medicine Actually Last?

Longer than most people assume. Mummy powder remained available in European pharmacies well into the 20th century, according to Historic Mysteries, with the last documented medicinal use of human corpse material occurring as late as 1908. Merck's own corporate archive, detailed by Merck KGaA's corporate history, confirms mummy powder was treated as a legitimate healing substance in medical literature from the 16th century onward.

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Conclusion

Mummy powder medicine wasn't a fringe superstition as it was mainstream practice for centuries. It was prescribed by respected physicians and consumed by royalty, in an era before painkillers or evidence-based treatment existed. It's a striking reminder of how confidently medicine has been practised without proof, and how far pharmacology has actually come.

thumbnail image credit: Google Gemini AI