While we've explored a wide range of strange illnesses and surgical procedures, a compilation of unusual non-surgical medical treatments has yet to be featured. Today, we’re excited to introduce this list alongside other medical-related content on Mytour. To qualify, the treatment must still be in practice today—excluding historical methods like bloodletting, though some might argue its relevance. Surgical treatments are also excluded, as they are covered in this list.
10. Sweat Therapy

Sweat therapy merges group counseling or psychotherapy with communal sweating sessions. This practice involves social interaction while experiencing physiological and psychological responses to heat. Rooted in ancient traditions, group sweating has been a global wellness practice for millennia. Examples include the Finnish Sauna, Russian Banya, Native American Sweat Lodge Ceremony, Islamic Hammam, Japanese Mushi-Buro or Sent?, and African Sifutu. Used for both physical and mental health, these practices have stood the test of time. While proponents highlight numerous health benefits of regular participation in Native American sweat lodges, research on the topic remains limited.
9. Mud

Clay is widely recognized for its use in health spas, where individuals soak in it to enhance skin health. However, fewer people are aware that clay, or mud, is also utilized in internal medicine. It serves as a coating for pills and is ingested in larger quantities to address digestive issues. NASA has even incorporated clay into its research: “In the 1960s, NASA investigated the impact of weightlessness on the human body. Studies revealed that weightlessness causes rapid bone loss, prompting the search for effective countermeasures. While pharmaceutical companies developed calcium supplements, none proved as effective as clay. Terramin, a reddish clay from California, was used in these experiments. Dr. Benjamin Ershoff of the California Polytechnic Institute showed that consuming clay mitigates the effects of weightlessness.” [Source]
8. Electrocution

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), commonly referred to as electroshock, is a long-standing yet debated psychiatric treatment where seizures are electrically triggered in anesthetized patients for therapeutic purposes. Primarily used for severe, treatment-resistant major depression, ECT is also employed for conditions like mania (often in bipolar disorder), catatonia, and schizophrenia. Introduced in the 1930s, it became widely used in the 1940s and 1950s. Today, approximately 1 million people globally undergo ECT annually, typically in a series of 6–12 sessions administered 2–3 times weekly. While most literature reviews affirm its efficacy in treating depression, some debates remain.
7. Dousing

Dousing involves drenching someone or something with liquid, such as cold water, to induce a physiological response. This practice is believed to 'shock' the body into a fever-like state, akin to the mammalian diving reflex or temperature biofeedback. Techniques like Tummo meditation share similar effects with elevated body temperature. Cold water dousing is more intense than a cold shower and is often used in naturopathic traditions. Some proponents claim this fever helps eliminate harmful bacteria while preserving beneficial ones. In winter, steam can often be seen rising from the body after dousing.
6. Urine Therapy

Urine therapy, also known as urotherapy, urinotherapy, or uropathy, involves using human urine for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, such as drinking it or applying it to the skin. Those who practice this are referred to as uropaths. Despite its popularity in some circles, there is no scientific evidence supporting its therapeutic benefits. A common myth suggests urinating on jellyfish stings can help, but this is ineffective and may worsen the sting by triggering remaining nematocysts. While urine contains substances like Vitamin C, these are excreted because the body cannot use them or they are in excess, meaning re-ingesting them offers no benefit. Drinking urine, especially on an empty stomach, often acts as a laxative, potentially causing diarrhea due to its high urea content.
5. Bloodletting

Bloodletting involves removing significant amounts of blood from a patient to treat or prevent diseases. This practice was widely used by physicians from ancient times until the late 19th century, spanning nearly 2,000 years. Historically, it often harmed patients more than it helped. However, bloodletting is still employed today for specific conditions, such as reducing excess iron or red blood cells in diseases like porphyria. Traditional methods involved cutting the patient and using suction cups to draw blood, while modern techniques utilize syringes.
4. Leech Therapy

Medicinal leeches are experiencing a resurgence in microsurgery, where they help reduce blood clotting, alleviate venous pressure caused by blood pooling, and promote circulation in reconstructive procedures for organs like eyelids, fingers, and ears. Their benefit lies not in the blood they consume but in the steady bleeding from the wound they leave behind after detaching. While prolonged bleeding is the most common side effect, it is easily managed. However, allergic reactions and bacterial infections can also occur. Innovations like 'mechanical leeches,' which administer heparin and mimic leech functions, have been developed but are not yet widely available.
3. Smoking

For centuries, doctors recommended smoking to treat various ailments, though this practice is now rare and seldom publicized. Research indicates that smokers may have a 50% lower risk of developing Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease compared to non-smokers. Nicotine has also been shown to alleviate ADHD symptoms, mimicking the effects of stimulants. While these findings don’t endorse smoking, studies are exploring nicotine therapy for ADHD. Additionally, smokers may require fewer revascularization procedures after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Smoking has also been linked to a reduced risk of ulcerative colitis, though this benefit disappears upon quitting.
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2. Fecal Bacteriotherapy

Fecal bacteriotherapy is a treatment for inflammatory bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis. It involves administering a series of enemas over five days. The enema solution is created using a stool sample from a healthy donor, typically a relative. The goal is to introduce beneficial bacteria from the donor’s stool into the patient’s gut to promote healing. While the idea of receiving someone else’s stool via enema may seem unpleasant, the treatment can also be delivered through a nasal tube, which some find even more off-putting.
1. Helminthic Therapy

Helminthic therapy, a form of immunotherapy, involves treating autoimmune diseases and immune disorders by intentionally infecting patients with parasitic worms or their eggs. This unconventional method is also sometimes used to address conditions like hay fever and asthma. Depending on the autoimmune disease, helminthic therapy can lead to symptom remission in up to 70% of patients. Treatment involves repeated oral doses of worm eggs over several weeks, which can cause significant side effects. Some patients may receive as many as eight doses of 2,500 worm eggs throughout their therapy.