‘Fomentation’: Lost Treatment for Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Spider Bites

In nursing school in the early 70s, I learned about the effectiveness of a simple procedure called a fomentation.

It’s one example of a tried-and-true home remedy without drugs that has largely been lost through time. Loss of this knowledge has taken healing instincts out of our hands and increasingly profited a corrupt medical system.

With so many people struggling and wanting home treatment (trying to avoid the hospital), this home remedy that has proven time and time again to work for pneumonia, allergic bronchitis, spider bites, etc.

In the December 13, 1918, issue of the Hutchinson Leader, the editor reported on the Norwegian-Danish Seminary in Hutchinson, Minnesota. 120 students and faculty all lived under one roof – 90 came down with the Spanish flu.

Statistically, between 9 to 18 of them should have died. The newspaper account reported on the fact that not one person died.

This was very unusual. Why did no one die?

Not one of the 90 Spanish Flu patients died because they were each given fomentation treatments.

These treatments stimulate the immune system, activating spontaneous blastogenesis of the plasma cells—the B cells of the lymphatic system which are designed to make antibodies.

It is targeted natural chemotherapy that the body does all on its own. Each patient was treated with the protocol that is outlined in this document.

Here Kimberly Stelzer from Azure Standard shares this wonderful, effective home remedy their family has affectionately dubbed “Hot & Cold.”

It is effective for adults and children.

9 minutes. (Refresh this article if the video is slow to appear).

What you will need:

• 1 covered pot of hot water on simmer

• bowl or dishpan

• a bag of ice or prefrozen flexible ice packs

• 1 piece of wool (or wool sweater) to wrap your hot towel fomentation in

• 1 hand towels (1 for hot and 1 for cold)

• 2 bath towels

• 1 pair of rubber gloves to wring out hot towels

• a timer

• 1 blanket

This treatment calls for 7 rounds of: 3 minutes of hot and 1 minute of cold alternating. It takes around a 1/2 hour and should have not delay between the hot and cold for the most effective treatment. She uses a stop watch.

Agatha M. Thrash, M.D. wrote, “Use the fomentations for pneumonia, bronchitis, coughs, arthritis, colitis, peptic ulcer, systemic diseases such as lupus, infectious mononucleosis, or influenza. It should not be used in tuberculosis or heart attacks.”

Dr. Thrash lists 4 ways to heat your towels: There are the boiling water, steam, microwave and oven method. (Her favorite method is the STEAM METHOD).

These effective old remedies that have been obscured or tossed aside can be taught to your older children!

I hope this equips you further so you can avoid going to the ER or the hospital!

“Various methods may be used for the application of heat to the body surface, but of all methods there is perhaps no more effective or simpler method than the use of cloths wrung out of boiling water and alternated with cold cloth. This is known as a fomentation.” ~1945 edition Physical Therapy in Nursing Care,  p. 74.

“Of all the home remedies, a good wife is best.” ~Kin Hubbard

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