{"id":2371,"date":"2025-12-17T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/?p=2371"},"modified":"2026-02-16T10:20:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T10:20:27","slug":"december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/","title":{"rendered":"St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"395\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg\" alt=\"Hildegard von Bingen receives a divine inspiration and passes it on to her scribe. From the Rupertsberg Codex of Liber Scivias.\" class=\"wp-image-2372\" style=\"width:538px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg 270w, https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Hildegard_von_Bingen-205x300.jpg 205w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">St Hildegard of  Bingen receives a divine inspiration and passes it on to her scribe. From the Rupertsberg Codex of Liber Scivias.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>What a relief! Here is a Saint who was not flayed alive, burnt on a griddle, scratched with wool combs, crucified upside down, beheaded, eyes gouged out, etc. etc. (consider identifying the Saints in this list as my Christmas Quiz). She died of illness, aged 81 and was famous not just for her visions but her erudition, her scientific writings, and her musical compositions. She came from the Rhineland area of Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you proceed to read this post listen to this YouTube clip of her sublime music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"525\" height=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HYzPR0nwcmY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-GB&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hildegard of Bingen: De Spiritu Sancto (Holy Spirit, The Quickener Of Life)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Magistra Bingen, Monophony and  Migraine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>She was elected as <em>Magistra<\/em> (Mother Superior) of her Convent in 1136, and went on to found two other nunneries. But, was made famous by her writings on her visions. She was also a renowned composer of sacred <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Monophony\">monophony<\/a>,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There has been speculation that her visions were caused by migraine. Read <a href=\"https:\/\/feminismandreligion.com\/2015\/07\/08\/were-hildegards-visions-caused-by-migraines\/\">Mary Sharratt&#8217;s <\/a>piece for more details, from which I took the following quotation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8216;<em>When I was forty-two years and seven months old, Heaven was opened and a fiery light of exceeding brilliance came and permeated my whole brain, and inflamed my whole heart and my whole breast, not like a burning but like a warming flame, as the sun warms anything its rays touch.<\/em>&#8216;<\/p>\n<cite>Hildegard von Bingen, <em>Scivias<\/em>, translated by Mother Columba Hart, O.S.B., and Jane Bishop<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Writings on Science and Medicine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the many books she wrote were two famous and early books on medicine and science. Her medical writing was highly practical although, of course, based on the humoural theories which had held sway since Hippocrates. However, she did think that the four humours had a hierarchy. She considered blood and phlegm the more superior humours, representing the celestial elements of fire and air.  While black bile and yellow bile represented the earthly humours of earth and water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just as physicists today look to find a unifying theory of everything,  Hildegard also tried to find unities within the body of classical knowledge.  According to Wikipedia, she:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>&#8216;often focuses on interrelated patterns of four: &#8220;the four elements (fire, air, water, and earth), the four seasons, the four humours, the four zones of the earth, and the four major winds.&#8221; &#8216;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Linked also to the celestial bodies and to religion, she gave her world view in <em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hildegard_of_Bingen#Scientific_and_medicinal_writings\">Causae et Curae<\/a><\/em> c. 42:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>It happens that certain men suffer diverse illnesses. This comes from the phlegm which is superabundant within them. For if man had remained in paradise, he would not have had the <em>flegmata<\/em> within his body, from which many evils proceed, but his flesh would have been whole and without dark humour [livor]. However, because he consented to evil and relinquished good, he was made into a likeness of the earth, which produces good and useful herbs, as well as bad and useless ones, and which has in itself both good and evil moistures. From tasting evil, the blood of the sons of Adam was turned into the poison of semen, out of which the sons of man are begotten. And therefore their flesh is ulcerated and permeable [to disease]. These sores and openings create a certain storm and smoky moisture in men, from which the flegmata arise and coagulate, which then introduce diverse infirmities to the human body. All this arose from the first evil, which man began at the start, because if Adam had remained in paradise, he would have had the sweetest health, and the best dwelling-place, just as the strongest balsam emits the best odour; but on the contrary, man now has within himself poison and phlegm and diverse illnesses.<\/p>\n<cite><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hildegard_of_Bingen#Scientific_and_medicinal_writings\">Wikipedia<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>And here I was hoping to find light and joy in a medieval Saint&#8217;s story! So we seem to be doomed by Adam&#8217;s Fall, and the poor quality of his semen. (Having recently watched Hugo Blick&#8217;s Wild West box set &#8216;The English&#8217;, I can quite understand the syphilitic underpinnings of Hildegard&#8217;s theory).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also reminds me of Pandora&#8217;s Box.   At least we know the Greco-Roman Gods were flawed divinities. While the Abrahamic God is omnipotent. Why then does he allow evil, cruel or unfair outcomes from his own creations?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Feverfew<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Feverfew-CC-BY-2.5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5984\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Feverfew-CC-BY-2.5.jpg 800w, https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Feverfew-CC-BY-2.5-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Feverfew-CC-BY-2.5-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Feverfew CC BY 2.5, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=216947<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On the subject of headaches, Hildegard was a keen user of feverfew, which has been, since the 18th Century, a suggested cure for Migraine. I didn&#8217;t find it worked for me, being a sufferer since age 12. And it never occurred to me to think that the flashing lights, partial temporary blindness, tingling muscles and devastating headaches might be a gift from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hildegard wrote the following about feverfew:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cIf you suffer from a sick intestine, boil the Motherswort with water and butter or oil and add some spelt flour. Prepare a drink, for it helps the intestines.\u201d <\/p>\n<cite><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthyhildegard.com\/physica\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Hildegard of Bingen, Physica, Cap. 116<\/em><\/a> quoted in Hildegard\u2019s Feverfew Use (www.healthyhildegard.com\/feverfew-uses)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>And so it became popular among women for gynaecological issues and abdominal pain. Feverfew has flowers like a daisy, &#8216;growing in every hedgerow&#8217; according to Mrs Grieve&#8217;s English Herbal. Grieve&#8217;s says it is good for nervous and hysterical complaints; low-spirits; as a syrup good for coughs; as a tincture against swellings caused by bites of insects and vermin. However, https:\/\/www.drugs.com\/npp\/feverfew.html  says the : <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>&#8216;leaves possess emmenagogic activity (ejection of the placenta and fetal membranes) and may induce abortion. Use is not recommended during breastfeeding or in children younger than 2 years.<\/em>&#8216;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And there are also potential issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>St Hildegard seems to have two special days &#8211; one is Dec 17th and the other is the day she died, September 17th 1179 which is her  &#8216;Liturgical Feast&#8217;. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>On This Day<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1538<\/strong> &#8211; The Pope, Paul III, finally passes a Bull of Excommunication against Henry VIII and declares his Kingdom forfeit.  By which time it was far too late to have much impact.  Pope Clement had first warned Henry of the risk of Excommunication at the end oof 1531. Henry was told to treat his Queen with &#8216;marital affection&#8217; in all things.  Had he taken decisive steps at this early stage would the outcome have been different?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>First Published on December 18th, 2022, Revised and republished December 2023, 2024, 2025, On This Day added February 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What a relief! Here is a Saint who was not flayed alive, burnt on a griddle, scratched with wool combs, crucified upside down, beheaded, eyes gouged out, etc. etc. (consider identifying the Saints in this list as my Christmas Quiz). She died of illness, aged 81 and was famous not just for her visions but &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[112,116,119,430,321,115,405,23,98,10,1109],"tags":[408,2361,341,407,2360,406,409],"class_list":["post-2371","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-almanac-of-the-past","category-calendar","category-christian-heritage","category-churches","category-europe","category-folklore","category-germany","category-heritage","category-medical-history","category-medieval","category-musical-history","tag-feverfew","tag-four-humours","tag-herbal-medicine","tag-migraine","tag-monophony","tag-st-hildegard","tag-visions"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th - And Did Those Feet<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"St Hildegard of Bingen, her visions may have been caused by migraine. She was a talented composer, and wrote books on science and medicine.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th - And Did Those Feet\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"St Hildegard of Bingen, her visions may have been caused by migraine. She was a talented composer, and wrote books on science and medicine.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"And Did Those Feet\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-17T23:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-16T10:20:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"270\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"395\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kevin Flude\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kevin Flude\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kevin Flude\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cb27a3e695fa933f259306aab8fab59f\"},\"headline\":\"St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-17T23:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-16T10:20:27+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1084,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cb27a3e695fa933f259306aab8fab59f\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"feverfew\",\"four humours\",\"herbal medicine\",\"migraine\",\"monophony\",\"St Hildegard\",\"visions\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Almanac of the Past\",\"Calendar\",\"Christian Heritage\",\"Churches\",\"Europe\",\"Folklore\",\"Germany\",\"Heritage\",\"Medical History\",\"Medieval\",\"Musical History\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/\",\"name\":\"St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th - And Did Those Feet\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-17T23:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-16T10:20:27+00:00\",\"description\":\"St Hildegard of Bingen, her visions may have been caused by migraine. She was a talented composer, and wrote books on science and medicine.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/12\\\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/\",\"name\":\"And Did Those Feet\",\"description\":\"The Past brought to Life\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cb27a3e695fa933f259306aab8fab59f\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cb27a3e695fa933f259306aab8fab59f\",\"name\":\"Kevin Flude\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/04-new.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/04-new.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/04-new.jpg\",\"width\":525,\"height\":371,\"caption\":\"Kevin Flude\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/12\\\/04-new.jpg\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/www.chr.org.uk\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/chr.org.uk\\\/anddidthosefeet\\\/author\\\/kpfludechr-org-uk\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th - And Did Those Feet","description":"St Hildegard of Bingen, her visions may have been caused by migraine. She was a talented composer, and wrote books on science and medicine.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th - And Did Those Feet","og_description":"St Hildegard of Bingen, her visions may have been caused by migraine. She was a talented composer, and wrote books on science and medicine.","og_url":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/","og_site_name":"And Did Those Feet","article_published_time":"2025-12-17T23:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-16T10:20:27+00:00","og_image":[{"width":270,"height":395,"url":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Kevin Flude","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kevin Flude","Estimated reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/"},"author":{"name":"Kevin Flude","@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/#\/schema\/person\/cb27a3e695fa933f259306aab8fab59f"},"headline":"St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th","datePublished":"2025-12-17T23:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-16T10:20:27+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/"},"wordCount":1084,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/#\/schema\/person\/cb27a3e695fa933f259306aab8fab59f"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg","keywords":["feverfew","four humours","herbal medicine","migraine","monophony","St Hildegard","visions"],"articleSection":["Almanac of the Past","Calendar","Christian Heritage","Churches","Europe","Folklore","Germany","Heritage","Medical History","Medieval","Musical History"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/","url":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/","name":"St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th - And Did Those Feet","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg","datePublished":"2025-12-17T23:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-16T10:20:27+00:00","description":"St Hildegard of Bingen, her visions may have been caused by migraine. She was a talented composer, and wrote books on science and medicine.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Hildegard_von_Bingen.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/december-17th-st-hildegard-of-bingen-visions-of-migraine\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"St Hildegard of Bingen. Visions of Migraine, December 17th"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/#website","url":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/","name":"And Did Those Feet","description":"The Past brought to Life","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/#\/schema\/person\/cb27a3e695fa933f259306aab8fab59f"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/#\/schema\/person\/cb27a3e695fa933f259306aab8fab59f","name":"Kevin Flude","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/04-new.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/04-new.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/04-new.jpg","width":525,"height":371,"caption":"Kevin Flude"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/04-new.jpg"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.chr.org.uk"],"url":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/author\/kpfludechr-org-uk\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2371"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10873,"href":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2371\/revisions\/10873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chr.org.uk\/anddidthosefeet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}