A little history:
The primary carrier of bubonic plague was the rat flea. Plague bacteria lived in rodents, especially rats. Fleas fed on infected rats and swallowed the bacteria, which blocked the flea’s stomach so it became starved and aggressive. The flea then bit humans repeatedly, vomiting plague bacteria into the wound each time. I know it’s really gross but it’s just the truth. And that is how humans became infected.
Once a person was infected, things got much worse. If the bacteria entered the lungs, the disease became pneumonic plague, which could spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. This form was faster, more lethal, and of course far more contagious.
So who were plague doctors, really?
Plague doctors were hired by cities during outbreaks to treat the sick, track cases, and record deaths, and they were not always elite physicians. Often they were newly trained doctors, surgeons, or anyone brave or desperate enough to take the job.
Because the work was dangerous and unpopular, plague doctors were usually paid better than normal physicians. They were also contract employees of the city, not private practitioners.
Their duties included:
Visiting infected homes
Documenting symptoms and deaths
Ordering quarantines
Certifying cause of death
Advising families on prevention
Sometimes performing burials when no one else would
They were both healers and public health officials.
They also used long wooden canes to examine patients without touching them. More survival. And I have to say, added to the creep factor.
And yes, people were terrified of them. Seeing a plague doctor meant your street might be sealed, your house quarantined, and your neighbors disappearing. They became walking symbols of doom.
So while they looked like folklore monsters, they were actually frontline workers doing public health, data tracking, quarantine enforcement, and patient care centuries before we had the words for any of that. They were early disease control officers.
So why the creepy bird suit?
You might call it early medical PPE (personal protective equipment, a term we unfortunately became familiar with after covid arrived). During the bubonic plague outbreaks of the 1600s, doctors believed disease traveled through something called, “miasma,” or if you want a more technical term, “stinky air.” So, they built armor against it. They wore waxed leather coats, gloves, boots, wide brim hats, and glass goggles, which did make them look like nightmare birds but it also meant less skin contact, fewer flea bites, and fewer chances of infection. It was smart.
And the scary mask? This is the cool part … the beak was hollow and packed with strong smelling, antimicrobial herbs and resins. Rosemary, Lavender, Cloves, Myrrh, Mint, Camphor, Juniper, Dried Roses. As the doctor breathed, air was pulled through this herbal ‘chamber’ before reaching their lungs. It was essentially a walking herbal air filter, and quite effective.
Herbs Plague Doctors Used (and why modern science now agrees with half of them)
Plague doctors were not throwing random good smelling plants into their beak masks. They used the strongest antimicrobial, aromatic plants available in their world.
I think their noses were better scientists than their textbooks. Here is what they packed into those beaks and what we now know about them.
Cloves
Rich in eugenol. Potent antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and analgesic. Still used in dentistry and infection control today.
Myrrh
Powerful antimicrobial resin. Supports wound healing and inhibits bacterial growth. Still used in oral care and medicine. One of the heavy hitters in my Green Healing Salve.
Juniper
Antiseptic, antiviral, and strongly aromatic. Also repels insects including fleas (hello).
Rosemary
One of the most powerful antimicrobial culinary herbs on earth. Contains rosmarinic acid and cineole. Actively inhibits airborne bacteria, improves circulation, and supports lung defense. It was burned in homes and worn on the body, besides being stuffed into plague masks.
Sage
Strong antibacterial and antiviral activity. Traditionally burned to cleanse rooms, not spiritually, but microbially. Its volatile oils disinfect air and surfaces.
Thyme
Rich in thymol, which is still used today in hospital-grade disinfectants, mouthwash, and surgical scrubs. Thyme vapor is lethal to many bacteria and viruses.
Wormwood
Extremely bitter, strongly antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and insect repelling. Also helped drive fleas away.
Mint
Antimicrobial, decongestant, and mentally stimulating. Helps clear respiratory passages and suppress microbial growth.
Lavender
Antibacterial, antifungal, calming to the nervous system, and insect repelling.
Camphor
Strong antiviral and antimicrobial vapor. Clears lungs, repels insects, and disinfects airspaces.
Dried Roses
Contain tannins and flavonoids. Mild antimicrobial and anti inflammatory properties. Also help bind and stabilize aromatic blends.
Angelica root
“Herb of the Angels.” Traditionally used as a “plague herb.” Contains compounds with antiviral and immune supporting actions.
Even though they did not fully understand bacteria yet, they accidentally created one of the earliest forms of infection control: filtered air, barrier clothing, and minimal physical contact. And yes, many of them survived better because of it.
So the next time you see a plague mask on Halloween, remember, that is not just a spooky costume. That was an herbalist in full hazmat mode.
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