Archive · 29 Jan 2026
Ancient Romans Used Faeces in Medicine
A long time ago, in ancient Rome, doctors used a special mix to help people feel better.
This mix had something unusual in it: poop!
They mixed it with strong-smelling things like thyme, garlic, and wine to make it less smelly.
They put this mix in small glass bottles.
A long time later, scientists found one of these bottles and studied it.
They found out it really had poop in it, just like the old doctors said.
This shows that the old doctors really used poop in their medicine, not just talked about it.
Ancient Roman physicians used a mixture containing human faeces to treat ailments like infected wounds and eye infections.
The mixture was combined with strong-smelling herbs like thyme, garlic, and wine to mask the foul smell.
A 1,900-year-old Roman glass vial found in the ancient city of Pergamon, western Turkey, contained residues of the mixture.
Analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified faecal biomarkers in the vial.
The findings align with historical texts by the Roman physician Galen, providing direct chemical evidence for the medicinal use of faecal matter in Greco-Roman antiquity.
- Who
- Ancient Roman physicians, led by Galen
- What
- Used a mixture containing human faeces for medicinal purposes
- When
- Around 1,900 years ago
- Where
- Ancient city of Pergamon, western Turkey
- Why
- Believed the mixture had healing properties for ailments like infected wounds and eye infections
- Study Publication Date
- January 19
- Journal
- Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
- Location of Discovery
- Ancient city of Pergamon, western Turkey
- Key Ingredients
- Human faeces, thyme, garlic, wine
- Analysis Method
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
- Identified Compounds
- Coprostanol and 24-ethylcoprostanol
- Physician Associated
- Galen