Evidence supporting the use of: Mercury
For the health condition: Syphilis
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1
Mercury was historically used to treat syphilis, but this practice was based on tradition rather than scientific evidence. The use of mercury for syphilis dates back to the late 15th and early 16th centuries, shortly after the disease became widespread in Europe. Physicians administered mercury in various forms—ointments, ingestion, and vapor baths—believing it could purge the body of the "bad humors" associated with syphilis. The phrase "a night with Venus, a lifetime with Mercury" underscored how common this treatment was. However, mercury therapy was notorious for its severe toxicity, causing side effects such as excessive salivation, tooth loss, neurological damage, and even death. There was no rigorous scientific evaluation of its efficacy at the time, and the perceived improvements were likely due to the natural waxing and waning of syphilis symptoms rather than true cure. The discovery of penicillin in the 20th century, which is a safe and highly effective treatment for syphilis, rendered mercury obsolete. Today, mercury is not used for this purpose, and its historical use is considered a cautionary example of how traditional treatments can persist despite a lack of supporting scientific evidence.