Of heliotropes and hemorrhoids. St. Fiacre, patron saint of gardeners and hemorrhoid sufferers.
During the Middle Ages, an integral part of the therapy for certain ailments included supplication to "patron" saints for possible divine intervention. Through legends surrounding his life, St. Fiacre, a 7th century Irish monk, has become the patron saint for hemorrhoid sufferers.
D005602:France; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000266:history*; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland