OPINIONS: The Gemara describes at length many remedies for various ailments. These Talmudic remedies differ noticeably from the medicines and medical procedures commonly used today. Are these remedies recommended for use today?

(a) The YAM SHEL SHLOMO (Chulin 8:12) writes that the sages of earlier generations issued a Cherem (decree of excommunication) in order to prevent anyone from using the remedies described in the Gemara. He explains that this was instituted because those remedies were intended specifically for the nature of people in Bavel and for the climate of Bavel, and they are not compatible for treating people of our nature and in our climates. If a person would attempt to use those remedies and find that they do not work, he might come to ridicule the words of the Chachamim without realizing the reason for why they did not work for him.

The MAHARIL (quoted by REBBI AKIVA EIGER to Shulchan Aruch YD 336) suggests a similar idea. He gives an additional explanation for why these remedies do not work for our illnesses: we do not know the exact method of preparation of these remedies. (See Rebbi Akiva Eiger there for an exception to this rule.)

The CHAVOS YA'IR (Teshuvah 234) expands on this idea. He says that we do not know the exact translation or identity of the herbs and other materials mentioned in the Gemara, and we do not know the exact quantities that should be used and the proper method of preparation. He also cites the Yam Shel Shlomo's explanation.

(b) The RAMBAM quotes none of these remedies. In Hilchos De'os (4:18) he mentions occasions when one may perform blood-letting. The HAGAHOS MAIMONIYOS quotes the Gemara in Shabbos (129a) which mentions the conditions under which blood-letting is advisable, which is not compatible with what the Rambam writes. The KESEF MISHNEH answers that this is not a question on the Rambam since it is known that the remedies of Bavel, to which the Gemara in Shabbos refers, are not compatible with the nature of people in our places of residence. This may also explain why the Rambam cites none of the Talmudic remedies mentioned here in Gitin.

(c) RAV SHERIRA GA'ON, quoted by the Otzar ha'Ge'onim (Chelek Teshuvos, Gitin 68b), writes that the remedies recorded in the Gemara were developed based on general medical knowledge of that time and not based on Torah knowledge (for if they were based on Torah knowledge, the remedies would apply today as well). Since the remedies were based on the general medical knowledge of that time, we are not required to accept those medications and procedures. RABEINU AVRAHAM, the son of the Rambam, writes a similar idea. (It is important to stress that this applies only to medical procedures. In contrast, Halachic decisions made by the Amora'im are based on their knowledge of Torah and must be accepted by all generations, since they had a greater and clearer knowledge of the laws of the Torah than we have today.)