The Rotational Therapy Madness
Spinning Cures
Rotational therapy involved placing patients in a spinning chair to induce dizziness and vomiting, with the hope of balancing their mental state. This method, used in some European asylums, often left patients more disoriented and sick than before. The theory was that spinning would somehow cure madness, but it mainly resulted in terrified, nauseous patients.
Case Study: Bethlem Royal Hospital
At London’s Bethlem Royal Hospital, rotational therapy was a common practice in the early 20th century. Patients were spun at high speeds for prolonged periods, leading to traumatic physical and psychological effects. Despite the apparent absurdity of the treatment, it was widely believed to have therapeutic benefits, highlighting the desperate measures taken in the absence of effective treatments.
