Definition of rest cure

The term "rest cure" originated in the late 19th century as a medical recommendation for women experiencing nervous exhaustion, hysteria, or other ailments associated with female neuroses. This strict regimen involved extended periods of bed rest, often lasting several months, with minimal stimulation and little to no physical activity. The concept of the rest cure was popularized by Dr. Silas Weir Mitchell, a well-known neurologist and psychiatrist, who advocated for its use as a treatment for women suffering from various conditions, including anxiety, depression, and postpartum depression. Mitchell believed that women were predisposed to hysteria and neurotic disorders due to their delicate and sensitive nature, and that rest was the best way to restore their physical and mental health. The rest cure was typically administered in all-female institutions, such as sanatoriums or private homes, with the nurse-patient ratio as high as 1:1. Patients were instructed to avoid any unnecessary stimulation, such as reading, writing, or talking, and were fed simple, bland foods to aid in digestion. The ultimate goal of the rest cure was to weaken the patient's volition and restore the dominance of her biologically determined role as a wife and mother. The rest cure gained significant popularity during the Victorian era, with notable patients including Charlotte Bronte, Virginia Woolf, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who greatly benefited from its supposed restorative powers. However, the guidelines of this treatment sharply contrasted societal expectations for women during this time, and many feminists criticized the rest cure for its detrimental effects on women's rights and independence. In the 20th century, new medical revelations and understanding of women's health led to the abandonment of the rest cure as a valid treatment, and replaced it with more effective and evidence-based therapies to address physiological and psychological ailments in women.