What was chicken soup believed to be in the Middle Ages?

The idea of chicken soup as a cure-all is a relatively modern concept. In the Middle Ages, chicken soup wasn't a common dish, and it certainly wasn't seen as a medical remedy.

Here's why:

* Chicken was expensive: Chicken was a luxury food for the wealthy in medieval times. Most people couldn't afford it, so chicken soup wouldn't have been a staple.

* Soup was a poor man's food: Soups in the Middle Ages were typically made with cheaper ingredients like vegetables, grains, and sometimes bread. Meat was a rare addition, usually reserved for special occasions.

* Medieval medicine focused on humors: Medieval medicine believed in the theory of the four humors (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile). They treated illnesses by trying to balance these humors, often through bloodletting, purging, and other methods.

While chicken soup might have been occasionally consumed in the Middle Ages, it wasn't considered a magical remedy. It's important to note that the modern association of chicken soup with comfort and healing likely arose much later.