Spring Remedies | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 28, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 21.

Spring Remedies.

IN early times it was the custom to give the body a regular spring cleaning. Beginning with the flow of sugar water, sassafras tea was substituted for coffee; then followed an occasional drink of an infusion of sarsaparilla, burdock, prickly ash, or wild cucumber. These were often combined in the form of bitters, using whisky in the place of hot water to extract their virtues. In addition, white walnut, mayapple, black snakeroot, rattleroot, bloodroot, pokeroot, and many others were used to meet the special indications.

There is still too much dependence placed in the efficacy of pills, potions, and powders, and not enough in the means of health prescribed by nature. Those who feel languid and dull prefer taking quinine or bitters to indulging in exercises which induce perspiration and good, sound sleep. Iron is a more convenient appetizer than an air bath and a restricted dietary, and alcoholic stimulants a more agreeable means of supplying vital force than those embodied in the original plan. While these may seem to answer the purpose, and may do so for the time being, they are purely delusive and wholly untrustworthy. When they appear to be adding to the stock of vital energy, they are really consuming it, or at least impairing the energies through which it is generated.

Sufficient exercise in the open air to produce free but not copious perspiration, is one of the most efficient means of freeing the system of effete and poisonous matter. This is in reality an air bath, and as such is more effective in the elimination of many deleterious substances than the water or vapor bath. The exercise dislodges the particles, and they are carried out with the escaping fluids. These principles are embodied in the Turkish and the Russian bath, but are not so well adapted to the purpose as when applied in the manner prescribed by nature. As Sir Philip Sidney said, The common ingredients of health And long life are Great temp'rance, open air, Easy labor, little care.

—Oregonian.