In the Lotus Island Market every weekend, wheat grass is sold as a uniquely gifted health food when prepared as a juice, with nutritional and restorative powers. Its virtues at the time seemed to me to be something of a more modern and innovative discovery, although it was , as I learned , investigated in the 30's and 40's, and the art of juicing and marketing the drink occurred in the 50's. Remarkable claims have been made as to its benefits.
Fancy then, that Rabelais (1494 to 1553), physician, author, theologian, and humanist, in his epic novel about the adventures of Gargantua and Pantagruel, he described the benefits of " wheat in the blade " in 1534 . Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun. I'm not sure Rabelais is everyone's cup of tea but he was France's treasure, although despite that, the church drove him from his country as a result of his failure to conform . Its not everyone who becomes a commonly used English adjective such as "rabelaisian".
His observations on wheat grass were clearly outlined.
He writes: " From wheat in the blade you make a fine green sauce, simple to mix and easy to digest, which rejoices the brain, exhilarates the animal spirits, delights the sight, induces the appetite, pleases the taste, fortifies the heart, tickles the tongue, clarifies the complexion, strengthens the muscles, tempers the blood, eases the diaphragm, refreshes the liver, unblocks the spleen, comforts the kidneys, relaxes the vertebrae, empties the ureters, dilates the spermatic glands, tautens the testicle strings, purges the bladder, swells the genitals, straightens the foreskin, hardens the ballock, and rectifies the member: giving you a good belly, and good belching, farting both noisy and silent, shitting, pissing, sneezing, crying, coughing, spitting, vomiting, yawning, snotting, breathing, inhaling, exhaling, snoring, sweating, and erections of the john-thomaa; also countless other rare advantages. "
Unfortunately we are not told of the other countless rare advantages. Nevertheless the observations of Rabelais render the modern pitch of wheatgrass rather pallid, woudn't you agree?
Fancy then, that Rabelais (1494 to 1553), physician, author, theologian, and humanist, in his epic novel about the adventures of Gargantua and Pantagruel, he described the benefits of " wheat in the blade " in 1534 . Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun. I'm not sure Rabelais is everyone's cup of tea but he was France's treasure, although despite that, the church drove him from his country as a result of his failure to conform . Its not everyone who becomes a commonly used English adjective such as "rabelaisian".
His observations on wheat grass were clearly outlined.
He writes: " From wheat in the blade you make a fine green sauce, simple to mix and easy to digest, which rejoices the brain, exhilarates the animal spirits, delights the sight, induces the appetite, pleases the taste, fortifies the heart, tickles the tongue, clarifies the complexion, strengthens the muscles, tempers the blood, eases the diaphragm, refreshes the liver, unblocks the spleen, comforts the kidneys, relaxes the vertebrae, empties the ureters, dilates the spermatic glands, tautens the testicle strings, purges the bladder, swells the genitals, straightens the foreskin, hardens the ballock, and rectifies the member: giving you a good belly, and good belching, farting both noisy and silent, shitting, pissing, sneezing, crying, coughing, spitting, vomiting, yawning, snotting, breathing, inhaling, exhaling, snoring, sweating, and erections of the john-thomaa; also countless other rare advantages. "
Unfortunately we are not told of the other countless rare advantages. Nevertheless the observations of Rabelais render the modern pitch of wheatgrass rather pallid, woudn't you agree?
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