Medicine Without Physicians: A History of Home Remedies

Ex Libris with a scene that depicts a man creating a concoction, looking at a flask with a mortar and pestle in the background. A book, hourglass, and skull are on his desk and alchemy symbols are on the arch above his head. An owl rests above the scene and the floral border includes grapes, foxglove, and poppy

The roots of modern medicine are based in the botanical and herbal practices of the past.

Before affordable doctors, people adopted a do-it-yourself attitude towards health and medicine in the United States and Europe. This tradition of self-help continued well into the twentieth century, even after doctors became more commonplace. Although some people turned to healing at home because of limited access, many people continued to rely on their own capabilities because of how deeply rooted these self-sufficient medical practices were.

This exhibition explores the tradition of healing at home, termed “domestic medicine,” in the United States and Europe through the creation and use of botanical remedies and herbalism. The items on display capture the range of this medical tradition across social class, economic ability, culture, and race.

By examining these practices, we can gain insight into the ways people have historically sought to maintain their health and well-being in the absence of formal medical institutions and connect this history to the contemporary rise of “natural” medicine and efforts to democratize medicine.

This exhibition was curated by Sarah Bernstein, Josiah Charles Trent History of Medicine Intern (2023-2024). Sarah would like to thank Rachel Ingold, Curator of the History of Medicine Collections; Meg Brown, Head of Exhibition Services and E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundations Exhibits Librarian; and Yoon Kim, Senior Library Exhibition Technician, for all of their help, support, and guidance.