What was before antibiotics?

Answer 1

I know for sure silver has been used in dressings in wounds for a very long time and is still used in dressings to treat wounds such as venous ulcers. Also compounds of metals such as Mercury and lead, by early cultures such as Egyptians.

Hypericum - St John's Wort.

There are many many plants in rain forests that have been used by indiginous people for centuries, such as Brazil and Mexico. The plant Mimosa tenuiflora is a good example.

The Kwakiutl Indians discovered antibiotics. It was a common remedy to use Indian cornmeal, bruised herbs, warm fermenting poultices, and a soft and slimy fungus called "rotten on the ground" on boils and tumors. This application stopped inflammation and pain and drained the abscesses.

Artemisia tilesii (Wormwood) used by different tribes of Eskimos for treatment of skin infections

Lomatium dissectum (Wild Carrot or Desert Parsley) used by various North American tribes as an anti-viral and anti-bacterial medicine.

Pine resin such as from Pinus Edulis (Pinyon Pine) used by various North American tribes as an anti-viral and anti-bacterial medicine and also in England

Mold from rotten apples, old cheese coverings and lard spread onto copper pennies and left out for a time.

Bog moss (Sphagnum) was used in the Americas and Europe for anti-viral and anti-bacterial medicine.

Various fungii have ben used by many cultures. (Pencillin comes from fungus itself).

Penicillin comes from an actual mold used by Native Americans

The cactus Peyote plant used for a long time by Native Americans: Peyocactin proved effective against 18 strains of penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, several other bacteria, and a fungus

Before the advent of modern antibiotics, the herb thyme was used to medicate bandages.

Ancient Greek and Roman medicine valued and gave credit (as did indians and maoris) to the healing power of the ribwort plantain. The drug is anti-hemorrhagic, astringent, hemostatic and soothing. Plantain is popular as a healer of wounds and injuries as well as a remedy for most poisons, infections and skin diseases. Plantain contains a high percentage of mucilage, which gives its soothing properties; allantoin, to speed wound healing; flavonoids (including apigenin), against inflammation and aucubin (an irridoid glycoside), - the most important constituent of the leaves - a strong antimicrobial substance to help prevent infections. The astringent property of the leaves due to the tannin makes the leaves useful for all types of sores on the skin, cuts, bites and various inflammations.

Also concentrated tannins from oak bark or tea. Native Americans had a lot of use for trees in medicine, such as bark from elms and elders for antimicrobial use, as did many old Asian cultures. There were hundreds of plants used, exploiting the plants' own defense mechanisms to fight off infection.

There are many other methods used:

Meat products. (Native Americans used slices of beaver kidney or maggots to clean wounds. England used beef parts. Maggots were used there too and they are still used today.)

Smoke from burning wood or wool

Cubeb pepper

Honey

Leadwort (Plumbagin) used by ancient Chinese for antimicrobial use. Native Americans also used.

Many essential oils are included in pharmacopoeias as having antimicrobial activity, including:

Sideritis or Greek Mountain Tea

Oregano oil

Tea tree oil - in cosmetics, medicine

Mint oil - in medicine, cosmetics (tooth paste etc.)

Sandalwood oil - in cosmetics

Clove oil - stomatology etc.

Nigella sativa (Black cumin) oil

Onion oil (Allium cepe) - phytoncides, in phytotherapy

Leleshwa oil

Lavender oil

Lemon oil

Lemon myrtle oil

Neem oil

Garlic

Eucalyptus oil

Peppermint oil

Cinnamon oil

Thyme oil

Answer 2

Old home remedies were used like mustard plasters and aspirin. Garlic on a string around your neck. Life expectancy was much shorter. For men it was around 50 and less for women. It was common for one or more kids to die before they were 5.

Answer 3

the circulation of blood

Answer 4

amputations...