Notes on Medicinal Products

Oils and ointments were used to treat wounds

• Isaiah 1:6 "From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment."
• Jeremiah 8:22 "Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery For the health of the daughter of my people?"
• Jeremiah 51:8 "Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed. Wail for her! Take balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed."
• Luke 10:33-34 "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him."
• James 5:14 "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord."

Binding, bandaging and splinting were practiced

• Isaiah 1:6 "From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment."
• Ezekiel 30:21 "Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and see, it has not been bandaged for healing, nor a splint put on to bind it, to make it strong enough to hold a sword."

Herbs were used to encourage healing

• Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones."
• Jeremiah 30:12-13 "For thus says the LORD: 'Your affliction is incurable, Your wound is severe. There is no one to plead your cause, That you may be bound up; You have no healing medicines."
  Jeremiah 51:8 "Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed. Wail for her! Take balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed."
• Ezekiel 47:12 "Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."

They used painkillers

• Mark 15:23 "Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it."

Wine was used for wounds and stomach ailments

• Luke 10:34 "So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him."
• I Timothy 5:23 "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities."

See also: Physicians, Healers, Doctors