Primitive Physick

12/01/2022 24 min

Listen "Primitive Physick"

Episode Synopsis

John Wesley's bestselling book was not a work of theology, but a book of medical remedies titled Primitive Physick, or an easy and natural Method of Curing Most Diseases. In a time when medical care by doctors was primarily the privilege of the wealthy, Wesley offered medical advice and free pills and elixirs to the poor as a way of upholding the Methodist General Rule of doing all the good you can to the souls and bodies of people. While Wesley's remedies may seem quaint and misguided by modern medical standards, they do reveal the heart of the Methodist movement as being concerned for the salvation of the whole person. In this episode, host Bob Kaylor offers a glimpse into this fascinating (and quirky) work of Wesley.
Grab a copy of Primitive Physick.
Read Samuel Rogal's interesting article in The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. 
Send your questions and comments to the host at [email protected] and follow Bob Kaylor on Twitter @revbkaylor.