Use of Remedies
261
intelligent on the subject. You often place yourself in positions where
you hurt your influence and do no one any good, by expressing all
your convictions. Thus you cut yourself away from the people. You
should modify your strong prejudices.—
Letter 182, 1899
(To a worker
in an overseas field).
God’s Remedies—There are many ways of practicing the healing
art, but there is only one way that Heaven approves. God’s remedies are
the simple agencies of nature that will not tax or debilitate the system
through their powerful properties. Pure air and water, cleanliness, a
proper diet, purity of life, and a firm trust in God are remedies for
the want of which thousands are dying; yet these remedies are going
out of date because their skillful use requires work that the people
do not appreciate. Fresh air, exercise, pure water, and clean, sweet
premises are within the reach of all with but little expense; but drugs
are expensive, both in the outlay of means and in the effect produced
upon the system.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:443
(1885).
Use the Simplest Remedies—Nature will want some assistance
to bring things to their proper condition, which may be found in the
simplest remedies, especially in the use of nature’s own furnished
remedies—pure air, and with a precious knowledge of how to breathe;
pure water, with a knowledge of how to apply it; plenty of sunlight in
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every room in the house if possible, and with an intelligent knowledge
of what advantages are to be gained by its use. All these are powerful
in their efficiency, and the patient who has obtained a knowledge of
how to eat and dress healthfully, may live for comfort, for peace, for
health; and will not be prevailed upon to put to his lips drugs, which,
in the place of helping nature, paralyzes her powers. If the sick and
suffering will do only as well as they know in regard to living out
the principles of health reform perseveringly, then they will in nine
cases out of ten recover from their ailments.—
Medical Ministry, 223,
224
(
Manuscript 22, 1887
).
Remedies in the Natural World
Water Treatments and Simple Herbs—The Lord has taught us
that great efficacy for healing lies in a proper use of water. These
treatments should be given skillfully. We have been instructed that in
our treatment of the sick we should discard the use of drugs. There