Corpse Touch for Warts
In medieval Europe, one bizarre folk remedy for warts was to touch them with a dead person’s hand—especially one from an executed criminal. People believed the spiritual transfer would pull the wart away or “shock” the body into healing. Grave robbing and gallows visits were common for this ghastly ritual.
Of course, touching decaying bodies led to real diseases, not magical cures. Plagues, tetanus, and infections were far more likely than any wart removal. Still, the belief persisted for centuries, combining superstition with literal grave consequences. Thankfully, modern dermatology now handles warts with freezing, lasers, and no need for corpses.
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