Medieval Bath & Booze

[sister_raphael]

Sloane 2435, Aldobrandino of Siena, Le Régime du corps (ff. 1-75v); Image du monde (ff. 77-133v) France, N. Dated to the 3rd quarter of the 13th century (perhaps c. 1285) Folio 8v.

The Tacuinum sanitatis of Liege, folio 76, writes of the virtues of bathing with Water of A Pleasurable Warmth:

Nature: Warm and humid in the second degree.
Optimum: The kind that opens the pores with moderate heat or with a fever.
Usefulness: For bodies with open pores; furthermore, it lowers the temperature.
Dangers: for intestinal flow.
Neutralisation of the dangers: With astringent drinks.

Drinks, therefore, were recommended.