Mysteries of Ancient Medicine
1 Season • 2026 PG
In the face of death, plague, or pestilence, how did our ancestors respond? From abracadabra to Ayurveda ancient amputations, and toxic tinctures, unearthing ancient medical knowledge sheds light on how humans once sought to stay alive.
S1.E1 - Etruscan Gold Teeth, Soutra Aisle, The Two Toes
Premiering on
Quest:
Jun 13 @ 1:00AM
NEW
Ancient Italians adorn their teeth with gold for reasons unknown; a Scottish hospital hides gruesome secrets of blood and toxic remedies; an Egyptian mummy reveals a surprisingly advanced prosthetic.
S1.E2 - Rivers of Mercury, Ethics of Anatomy, The Black Death
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Quest:
Jun 13 @ 1:45AM
NEW
An ancient Chinese emperor commences a hazardous quest for the elixir of immortality; a medical student dares to question Europe's long-held anatomical paradigm; and medieval societies crumble beneath the burden of history's most dire plague.
S1.E3 - Poison Panacea, A Shocking Treatment, Cannabis in China
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Quest:
Jun 20 @ 1:00AM
NEW
Toxic medieval paranoia sparks the use of a lurid stone; in ancient Egypt, a fascination with a shocking creature leads to curious treatments; and in ancient Chinese burials, traces of cannabis are found.
S1.E4 - Mummy Medicine, King of Poisons, Mayan Sweat Baths
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Quest:
Jun 27 @ 1:00AM
NEW
Egyptian mummies are looted to fill the shelves of European dispensaries; a rural community in the Alps defies science with an infamous toxic supplement; and in an ancient Mayan kingdom, remnants of a sweat bath provide clues to early maternal health.
S1.E5 - James Cook's Cup, Roman Army Hospital, Bamboo Scrolls
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Quest:
Jul 4 @ 1:00AM
NEW
An 18th-century cup promising universal healing conceals a deadly secret; Roman army medics display remarkable ancient care; fragile bamboo scrolls hint at the origins of ancient Chinese medical traditions.
S1.E6 - Queen Anne's Revenge, Tribal Trepanation, Thunderbolt
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Quest:
Jul 11 @ 1:00AM
NEW
Grim discoveries aboard a sunken wreck reveal the horrors of pirate medicine at sea; the remains of ancient Peruvians bear the markings of strange surgical experimentation from centuries ago; and a drug-laced latrine leads us to one of the most famous foot trails in American history.
S1.E7 - Abracadabra, Longmen Recipes, Belemnites
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Quest:
Jul 18 @ 1:00AM
NEW
A Roman incantation is wielded to ward off disease; unusual remedies carved in Chinese grottos provide ancient medical advice; a fossilized squid in a medieval Polish grave reveals ancient medical magic.
S1.E8 - Barber Surgeons, Astrologist-Physicians, Ancient Indian Medicine
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Quest:
Jul 25 @ 1:00AM
NEW
During times of war and plague, barber surgeons provide medical interventions; astrologer- physicians look to astrological charts to diagnose and treat their patients; groundbreaking surgical practices arise from an innovative figure in ancient India.
S1.E9 - Relitto del Pozzino, Ancient Opium, Liang Tebo
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Quest:
Aug 1 @ 1:00AM
NEW
A Roman shipwreck reveals the oldest known medical tablets; poppy-shaped jars in a Canaanite tomb trace the roots of opioid use; and a Stone Age skeleton with an amputated leg challenges our understanding of prehistoric medicine.