Legacy The History of Wellness and Wellbeing | The First Treatments and Cures | 2
Jan 20, 2026
Afua's voice returns thanks to a quirky red onion and honey remedy, leading to a dive into ancient healing methods. They explore how civilizations used food and herbs as medicine, revealing early medical writings like the Ebers Papyrus. Honey emerges as a revered superfood with various uses, while spices like frankincense and turmeric showcase their antiseptic qualities. The conversation touches on dietary systems and the impact of water rituals on public health, highlighting how access to wellness has been influenced by social inequalities.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Onion And Honey Cough Cure
- Afua Hirsch describes using a red onion soaked in honey as a family remedy that cleared her cough in one night.
- She links this cure to wider skepticism about why natural remedies lack commercial promotion.
Ancient Empiricism In Plant Medicine
- Early humans across distant regions independently experimented with plants and recorded what worked.
- These empirical trials form the roots of later medical systems and pharmacopoeias.
Writing Preserved Medical Know-How
- Writing accelerated the preservation and transmission of medical knowledge like recipes and remedies.
- The Ebers papyrus lists 700 remedies, many using edible ingredients such as honey and onions.
