Introduction
In 1916, Dr. Charles Sanford Porter published the sixth edition of his groundbreaking work, "Milk Diet as a Remedy for Chronic Disease," documenting over 32 years of clinical experience using an exclusive raw milk diet to treat thousands of patients. This paper examines this remarkable therapeutic approach which achieved extraordinary results across a wide spectrum of chronic conditions—results largely forgotten by modern medicine.
The Milk Diet Protocol
Core Principles
Dr. Porter's milk diet treatment consists of five fundamental elements:
- Complete rest for all organs except those concerned in blood production, circulation, and waste elimination
- Abundant raw milk as the sole source of nutrition
- Unlimited pure air to oxidize and cool the blood
- Daily warm water baths to soften the skin, equalize circulation, and relax tense muscles
- Appropriate exercise after the body is rebuilt
The Complete Protocol
Preparation Phase
Living Environment:
- Open-air environment is essential (pavilion, screened porch, or well-ventilated room)
- Openings from floor to ceiling for proper air circulation
- Bed positioned with head toward air openings
- Clean bedding changed regularly
- Loose-fitting sleeping garments changed twice daily
Equipment Required:
- Two-quart tin container for milk
- Glasses marked precisely for individual doses
- Clock visible from bed
- Small bedside table
- Complete bathing facilities with reliable hot water
Milk Supply:
- Holstein milk strongly preferred over Jersey/Guernsey
- Must be fresh, raw milk (never pasteurized or preserved)
- Reliable source providing sufficient quantity for daily needs
- Average consumption: 5-7 quarts daily
Pre-Treatment:
- 36-hour fruit fast (excluding bananas)
- Baseline measurements recorded
Implementation
Daily Schedule:
- Patient remains in bed continuously except for bathing
- Milk consumed every 30 minutes while awake
- Daily warm bath in morning (increasing from 15 minutes to 1+ hour)
- Bath temperature progression: Start below body temperature → body temperature → finish warmer
- Complete rest and relaxation between drinks
- Minimal reading, talking, or mental stimulation
Common Reactions:
- Initial digestive discomfort (nausea, gas, fullness)
- White/chalky stools changing to yellow-orange
- Temporary return of old symptoms ("healing crises")
- Night sweats
- Skin eruptions
- Physical transformation varies by individual: underweight patients gain healthy tissue while those already at normal weight experience more balanced changes
Duration:
- 3 weeks of complete rest and milk
- 1 week transitional period returning to activity
- Long-term maintenance possible with morning milk and evening meal
Documented Case Studies from Dr. Porter's Practice
High Blood Pressure & Hardened Arteries
Dr. Porter documented 48 patients with high blood pressure treated between 1906-1914. Their blood pressures ranged from 160 to 265 mmHg at the start of treatment, with most falling between 200-240 mmHg. After the milk treatment, nearly all patients showed dramatic improvement:
Case Study: A 76-year-old gentleman with a blood pressure of 195 mmHg who had suffered with asthma for nearly forty years reduced his pressure to 150 mmHg in the four weeks of treatment. Six months later he reported for examination, having had no asthma symptoms since, and his pressure remained at 145 mmHg. Five years after treatment, he remained well with the same blood pressure.
Case Study: A man of seventy-six years who had experienced three apopletic strokes came to Dr. Porter with a blood pressure of 265 mmHg and pulse of just 38 beats per minute. Despite the severity of his condition, four weeks of treatment (using a reduced amount of four quarts daily) reduced his pressure to 240 mmHg and improved his overall condition significantly.
Most patients' blood pressure returned to near normal levels (approximately 130 mmHg) regardless of starting point.
Bright's Disease (Kidney Disease)
Among the most dramatic cases was that of Aubrey Parks of Omaha, Nebraska, who arrived with severe chronic nephritis (Bright's disease) and general anasarca (full-body dropsy). His condition had progressed despite treatment in two hospitals and by several physicians. Previous attempts at milk diet treatment had failed because he was instructed to exercise while drinking milk.
Under Dr. Porter's protocol of complete bed rest with 6-7 quarts of milk daily:
- His weight dropped from 186 to 127 pounds in 15 days as the edema resolved
- He then gradually built back to 154 pounds of solid tissue
- Albumin in urine disappeared completely
- Seven years after treatment, he remained in good health
Rheumatism & Arthritis
Dr. Porter emphatically states: "I have never seen nor heard of a return of rheumatism in any one who had taken the milk cure." He documents complete and permanent resolution of rheumatic conditions, noting that patients typically experience a temporary flare of symptoms during the second week of treatment—a healing response as circulation improves.
Case Study: Two patients with rheumatoid arthritis had severely stiffened joints that Dr. Porter believed were permanently damaged. After implementing the complete milk diet protocol for several months, both patients regained movement in joints previously thought to be permanently ankylosed (stiff).
Digestive Disorders
Numerous digestive conditions responded completely to the milk diet, including chronic dyspepsia, indigestion, dilated stomach, ulcers, colitis, and chronic diarrhea.
Case Study: A gentleman from Maine who suffered from membranous colitis had reached such an acute state that he was losing five pounds per week. After taking the milk diet under Dr. Porter's supervision for five weeks, he was permanently cured. Ten years later, he remained in perfect health with no recurrence of symptoms.
Case Study: A young man with severe digestive problems had been unable to retain even the simplest foods. Dr. Porter started him on small, frequent doses of carefully warmed milk while maintaining complete rest. The patient gained over 10 pounds in his first three days of treatment and quickly regained his health.
Physiological Mechanisms
Dr. Porter documents specific physiological changes occurring during the milk diet:
- Circulatory Improvements:
- Pulse rate increases 6-12 beats per minute
- Blood pressure normalizes (regardless of starting point)
- Capillary circulation dramatically improves
- Respiratory Changes:
- Breathing becomes deeper
- Chest measurements increase
- Lung capacity increases from 25-100 cubic inches
- Digestive Development:
- Rapid growth of digestive organs
- Restoration of peristaltic movement
- Improved secretion of digestive juices
- Muscular Development:
- Muscles increase in size and firmness even during complete rest
- Limbs can increase an inch in circumference weekly
- Complete Blood Renovation:
- Creation of new, healthy blood
- Elimination of accumulated toxins through skin, kidneys and bowels
Conclusion
The historical milk diet protocol developed and refined by Dr. Porter represents a remarkable therapeutic approach that achieved documented success with thousands of patients across a wide spectrum of chronic conditions. The complete protocol—combining the curative properties of raw milk with strategic rest, fresh air, and therapeutic bathing—offers insights that remain relevant today.
While modern medical advancements have provided many benefits, this forgotten healing protocol deserves renewed consideration for those seeking alternative approaches to chronic conditions. The strict requirement for complete rest makes this challenging to implement in today's fast-paced world, but even modified applications may offer significant benefits.
This whitepaper is based exclusively on Dr. Charles Sanford Porter's 1916 book "Milk Diet as a Remedy for Chronic Disease," with no modifications to his documented protocol or reported results.
