From Academia to Healing: Reconnecting with Medieval Women Healers

Have you ever felt a mysterious pull towards a certain path or calling, even if you couldn't explain why?

Medieval history captivated me as a young university student. I found myself engrossed by the intriguing world of women healers. These remarkable women dedicated their lives to the art of healing, making an indelible impact on their communities, often defying societal norms. I couldn't get enough.

As I researched the lives and practices of these remarkable women, my curiosity grew.

I vividly remember taking breaks from my archival work in Florence, sipping espresso and reflecting on the incredible stories I was uncovering.

This passion eventually led me to earn a research degree and have the privilege of teaching courses on "Medieval Women and Gender" and "Medicine and the Black Death" at the University of Glasgow.

Little did I know then, as I sat in Italian cafes contemplating the lives of these powerful women, that this academic journey would lay the foundation for my own path as a healer.

A Connection Embedded in My DNA

The lives and practices of these women healers drew me in like a magnet. At the time, I had no idea why I felt such a strong connection to their stories and their wisdom. Looking back, it seems this fascination was embedded in my DNA, a part of me waiting to be awakened. The more I learned about these extraordinary healers, the more I felt a deep sense of kinship with them, as if I had stumbled upon a vital piece of my own story.

My deep fascination with medieval women healers didn't immediately translate into pursuing a career in the healing arts. Only through my personal journey of growth and self-discovery did I begin to understand the barriers preventing me from embracing my potential. Gradually, I started to confront and work through my pain and trauma, dismantling the walls that obscured my true calling. This is a lifelong journey. However, each layer of healing brings newfound clarity and sometimes, a stronger connection to the wisdom of the medieval women healers who had inspired me as a young woman.

The Diverse Roles of Medieval Women Healers

One of the most striking aspects of medieval women healers was the sheer diversity of their roles and practices. From noble ladies and wise women to midwives and female physicians, these healers brought a unique blend of skills, knowledge, and compassion to their work.

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), a visionary Benedictine abbess, made significant contributions to medieval medicine and spirituality. Her holistic approach combined knowledge of herbs, stones, and foods with mystical insights, as documented in her medical text Causae et Curae.

Hildegard wrote about women's health issues, offering advice on menstruation, conception, and childbirth. She believed in the "greening power" (viriditas), a life force particularly strong in women, connecting them to nature and the divine.

Hildegard's visions often featured the womb as a sacred space, reflecting the diverse practices and enduring wisdom of medieval women healers. [1]

Noble Ladies as Healers

In the grand halls of aristocratic households, noble ladies often took on the role of carers and healers, tending to the sick and wounded with remarkable skill. Chrétien de Troyes' (1130 - 1191) tale of Erec and Enide introduces us to two such women, the sisters of Guivert, who are praised for their exceptional healing abilities.

The author tells us that they "went to great lengths to heal [Erec's] wounds, first removing the dead skin, then applying ointment and dressing". Their expertise was so renowned that "they had nothing to learn in this regard for they knew all about healing". [2]

This tale reminds me of the innate healing wisdom that resides within each of us, waiting to be rediscovered and nurtured.

Herbalists and the Power of Traditional Knowledge

Beyond the walls of noble estates, wise women and female empirics played a crucial role in the health of their communities. These women, often steeped in the knowledge of herbs, animals, and minerals, blended elements of spirituality and magic with practical medical skills.

Marie de France's Eliduc tells the story of Guildeluec, who discovers the seemingly lifeless body of her lover, Guilliadun.

Guildeluec witnesses a female weasel revive her seemingly dead weasel companion by placing a red flower in their mouth.

Inspired by this, Guildeluec places the same flower in Guilliadun's mouth, bringing him back to life. This story beautifully demonstrates the power of traditional knowledge passed down from woman to woman, and the deep connection between nature and healing that these wise women understood so well. [3]

In the modern world, herbalists and natural health practitioners continue to draw upon this ancient wisdom, using plants and natural remedies to support healing and wellness in a holistic way.

Midwives: Guardians of Women's Health and Childbirth

Midwives, too, held a vital position in medieval society, serving as the guardians of women's health and childbirth. In Chretien de Troyes' tale of William of England, the king recognises the importance of a midwife's presence during his wife's labour, lamenting that without one, she would have "great need of one, a woman knowing better than any man how to aid her." [4] This passage highlights the specialised knowledge and skills that midwives possessed, as well as the trust and respect they garnered within their communities. 

A midwife presents St Anne with the baby Mary. St Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus Christ, according to Christian tradition. Although she is not directly mentioned in the Bible, her story is found in the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James, a text dating back to the 2nd century AD. The image beautifully illustrates the crucial role that midwives played in medieval society as guardians of women's health and childbirth. This scene reflects the real-life experiences of countless medieval women who relied on the skill and compassion of midwives during the journey of pregnancy and childbirth.

Like the midwives of old, today, doulas provide a sacred space of compassion and understanding, empowering women to trust in their own bodies and intuition during this time.

Women's Contributions to the Official Medical Texts

Even within the official medical texts, we find evidence of women's contributions to the healing arts. The Trotula, a 12th century compendium of women's medicine from Salerno, showcases the work of female practitioners such as Trota, who authored the text On Treatments for Women.

This text offers a wealth of practical knowledge on women's health issues, from menstrual disorders to cosmetic concerns, drawing upon a rich oral tradition of women's medical lore.

The Trotula serves as a powerful reminder that women have always been at the forefront of medical knowledge, even when their contributions have been overlooked or suppressed. [5]

The Demonisation of Women's Healing Knowledge

It is important to acknowledge that while many women healers were celebrated for their knowledge and skills, others faced accusations of witchcraft and persecution. The line between healing and witchcraft was often blurred in the medieval mind, and the Church's increasing suspicion of women's power and autonomy led to the marginalisation and demonisation of many female healers.

This is a complex and troubling aspect of history, one that highlights the challenges and risks these women faced in their efforts to help others. In a future blog post, we will explore this topic further and examine how the legacy of the witch hunts continues to shape our understanding of women's healing practices and the perception of feminine wisdom today.

Discovering the Healer Within

My journey took an unexpected turn after completing my research, leading me down a winding path through informal learning, public engagement, and communications before I finally found my calling as a sound therapist.

This detour proved to be a crucial part of my journey, gaining valuable experiences and insights into the challenges and struggles so many of us endure in our patriarchal, capitalist society. It also helped me recognise the universal need for healing in our modern world.

It wasn't until I found myself grappling with chronic pain that I truly understood the depth of these women’s impact on my path.

As conventional medical treatments failed to provide relief, I began to explore other alternative approaches to healing, reconnecting with my body and the ancient practices that had captivated me so many years ago.

Sound healing found me unexpectedly. It guided me back to the path I was meant to walk, reconnecting me with my body and spirit.

The ancient wisdom of the healing arts, which had always whispered to me from the pages of history, now came alive in my own journey of self-discovery. Slowly but surely, I started to rediscover the healer within, the part of me that had always known the way home.

What parts of ourselves might we
uncover if we're willing
to do the deep work of healing
and self-discovery?

As I support others on their healing journeys, I draw upon the wisdom and practices of the women healers who came before me. I hope their legacy lives on in my work, blending ancient knowledge with modern scientific research.

An Invitation to Explore the Wisdom of Medieval Women Healers

Join me on this journey as we explore the fascinating world of medieval women healers and discover how their wisdom continues to shape our understanding of health and healing in the modern age. In the coming blog posts, we will explore the diverse roles and practices of these remarkable women, from the intersection of spirituality and medicine to the crucial role of midwives in women's health.

Together, we will uncover the challenges they faced, the knowledge they shared, and the enduring impact of their legacy on our lives today. 

As we do so, I invite you to reflect on your own journey and the ways in which the wisdom of our ancestors may be calling you toward a brighter, more vibrant future.

If you are interested in finding out more about sound therapy and
how it can support you on your journey, I’d love to hear from you.

Endnotes

[1] Hildegard of Bingen. (1999). On Natural Philosophy and Medicine: Selections from Cause et Cure. (M. Berger, Trans.). Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
[2] Chrétien de Troyes. (1991). Erec and Enide. In D. D. R. Owen (Trans.), Arthurian Romances (pp. 1-122). London: Everyman's Library.
[3] Marie de France. (1999). Eliduc. In G. S. Burgess & K. Busby (Trans.), The Lais of Marie de France (2nd ed., pp. 114-132). London: Penguin Books.
[4] Chrétien de Troyes. (1999). William of England. In N. J. Lacy & J. T. Pickens (Trans.), The Complete Romances of Chrétien de Troyes (pp. 53-90). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
[5] Monica H. Green, ed. and trans., The Trotula: An English Translation of the Medieval Compendium of Women’s Medicine (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2001)