The History of Baths

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Natropathy in Bathing Part 1

By the mid 19th Century, the Americans were subject to various non-exercise cures, dietary schemes and treatments, all designed to improve health and well-being. In general, they came under the banner of naturopathy; they included hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, herbal medicine, nutrition, massage, and homeopathic treatments. They were inspired by the Hippocratic concept of the bodies’ capacity to heal itself.

One of the earliest health reformers was Sylvester Graham, (1795-1851) who was a Presbyterian minister preaching the virtues of temperance, a vegetarian diet which emphasised non processed food, sexual restraint, and water bathing treatments. Today he is known as the inventor of graham crackers, this still bears his name in America, it is the forerunner of the British digestive biscuit.

Ellen White, another advocate of vegetarianism and hydrotherapy, was the founder of the Seventh-day Adventists; they embraced naturopathy and they claimed to be healthier than others who did not follow their religion. Her husband James White was the founder of the Western Health Reform Institute, which was later bought by fellow seventh day Adventist, John Harvey Kellogg, (1852 –1943), the physician who started the first holistic sanatorium at Battle Creek, Michigan.

The basis of the John Kellogg creed was a healthy diet, fresh air, upright posture, regular exercise, and enemas, as well the avoidance of unnatural sexual practises. Many rich and famous people flocked to Battle Creek for his cures. Kellogg was an especially strong proponent of nuts; he believed it to be the most sustainable protein in the face of a shortage of food. Though remembered today for the invention of the flaking process and the development of corn flakes, Kellogg also patented a process for making peanut butter.

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