Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-08-17
As to Blood Purifiers.

dandelion wine which some w. G.
T. U, members, as well as other
good women, make every spring
when the yellow blossoms are
abundant.
The dandelion has been used for
years as a remedy for torpid liver,
and also dyspepsia associated
with liver disorder. Made into
wine by the usual recipes it will
become strongly alcoholic, and
whatever virtue the herb may
possess will be weakened or de-
stroyed by the Irritating effect of
the alcohol upon stomach and
liver. The recipes usually call
for a considerable quantity of
sugar and in some cases for rails.
ms, also. Directions are given for
the length of time it is to "stand"
before straining and bottling.
With all that has been said and
written about the fermentation of
a sweet liquid producing alcohol
there seem to be some who do not
yet understand that if sugar is
added to any decoction of herbs,
or to any fruit juice, and it is all
lowed to "stand" a few days, the
sugar will ferment and in the fer.
menting alcohol will be produced.
When raisins are added, there will
be still more alcohol as the result
of the raisin fermentation.
If any woman believes that the
bitter of dandelion is OF benefit to
her in the spring-time she car
have the benefit without any in
jury from alcohol by simply boil
ing the leaves and roots ana
drinking the fresh infusion. Or,
she car dig the roots and dry them
and grind or pound them to
powder and make a drink of them.
This will not taste SO good as the
wine to one who has become fond
OF the flavor of alcohol, but it will
be vastly better and safer for the
health, and 1t is for health, not al
cohol flavor, that good women
make dandelion wine, according
to their own profession.
Personally the writer does not
believe that bitters of any kind
should ever be taken on self-pre-
scription. Multitudes of women
who have ruined their stomachs
by swallowing NORWOOD tea,
horehound tea, and ether miser-
able decoctions which they sup
posed were of benefit, especially
In the spring-time.
If people would live properly
through the winter, avoiding
wines, pies, fried cakes, plum pud-
dings, rich gravies and other in
digestible foods, and have less
fear of fresh air In their sleeping
and living rooms, they would feel
better in the spring than in the
fall, for cold weather is invigorat-
ing and life-giving. There is no
need of nasty-tasting, bitter dopes
in the spring.
There seems to be a widespread
idea that the blood needs purify
in the spring, and that this puri-
ication must be effected by swal-
lowing naaseous doses of medi-
cine. The greatest purifier of the
blood is fresh air, for the oxygen
of the air enters the lungs anG
burns up impurities which the
blood has brought there from the
different parts of the body. Walk
ing, or otherwise exercising in the
open air, SO as to increase the
breathing, and hence the intake O
oxygen, will do more for healtl
than any other possible measure
Oxygen is the great internal
housecleaner.
The activity of the liver,
bowels and kidneys may be in
creased by free drinking OF hot
water. Warm baths aid also il
purifying the blood by increasing
the activity of the skin SO tina
more waste matter passes GU
through the pores than is possibl,
when these are clogged.
Fruit juices are also very valu'
able in putting the blood int,
good condition. If the goot
women who waste sugar on dan.
delion juice would spend tn,
money 1t costs for oranges, Of
apples, or grapeiuice, they would
be truly benefited instead OF be,
ing deceived BY the nerve deaden
ing influence Of the alcohol mad,
by the rotting Of the sugar.
Root beers made from herbs
with sugar added and allowed t
stand" produce alcohol In the
same way as the dandelioa wine.
All alcoholic homemade drinks
are usfarfersu far tha ea1oor 4.