Healthful Living

Bathing

966. Many have never experienced the beneficial effects of water, and are afraid to use one of heaven's greatest blessings.—How to Live 3:62. HL 226.5

967. The use of water can accomplish but little if the patient does not feel the necessity of also strictly attending to his diet.—How to Live 3:60. HL 226.6

Frequency of the Bath

968. Persons in health should ... by all means bathe as often as twice a week. Those who are not in health have impurities of the blood.... The skin needs to be carefully and thoroughly cleansed, that the pores may do their work in freeing the body from impurities; therefore feeble persons who are diseased surely need the advantages and blessings of bathing as often as twice a week, and frequently even more than this is positively necessary.—Testimonies for the Church 3:70. HL 227.1

969. Frequent bathing is very beneficial, especially at night just before retiring, or upon rising in the morning.—Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 141. HL 227.2

Manner of Giving the Bath

970. A bath, properly taken, fortifies against cold, because the circulation is improved; ... for the blood is brought to the surface, and a more easy and regular flow of the blood through all the blood-vessels is obtained.—Testimonies for the Church 3:71. HL 227.3

971. Reduce the feverish state of the system by a careful and intelligent application of water.—How to Live 3:60. HL 227.4

972. If, in their fevered state, water had been given them to drink freely, and applications had also been made externally, long days and nights of suffering would have been saved, and many precious lives spared.—How to Live 3:62. HL 227.5

973. The fire of fever seems consuming him. He longs for pure water to moisten the parched lips, to quench the raging thirst, and to cool the fevered brow.... The blessed, heaven-sent water, skilfully applied, would quench the devouring flame.—Testimonies for the Church 5:195. HL 227.6

974. Twice a week she should take a general bath, as cool as will be agreeable, a little cooler every time, until the skin is toned up.—Testimonies for the Church 1:702. HL 228.1

975. It will take but a few moments to give the children a bath and to rub them until their bodies are in a glow.—Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 141. HL 228.2

Effects of the Bath

976. Whether a person is sick or well, respiration is more free and easy if bathing is practised. By it the muscles become more flexible, the body and mind are alike invigorated, the intellect is made brighter, and every faculty becomes livelier. The bath is a soother of the nerves. It promotes general perspiration, quickens the circulation, overcomes obstructions in the system, and acts beneficially on the kidneys and the urinary organs. Bathing helps the bowels, stomach, and liver, giving energy and new life to each. It also promotes digestion, and instead of the system's being weakened, it is strengthened. Instead of increasing the liability to cold, a bath, properly taken, fortifies against cold, because the circulation is improved, and the uterine organs, which are more or less congested, are relieved; for the blood is brought to the surface, and a more easy and regular flow of the blood through all the blood-vessels is obtained.—Testimonies for the Church 3:70. HL 228.3

977. Nature, to relieve herself of poisonous impurities, makes an effort to free the system, which effort produces fevers and what is termed disease. But even then, if those who are afflicted would assist nature in her efforts by the use of pure, soft water, much suffering would be prevented.—How to Live 4:60. HL 228.4