Bulimia Help

The history of Bulimia Nervosa

Surprisingly, the origins of Bulimia Nervosa date back to ancient Rome and the vomiting that society promoted after eating a huge meal at some festive event. Special places known as “vomitoriums” were built for this purpose. Additionally, the emperors Claudius and Vitellius were Bulimics. These facts were depicted in many of the books that the ancient Romans wrote.

During the Middle Ages in Europe, “purgation” was recommended by physicians of the day as a means to treat illnesses and diseases. The texts of ancient Arabia and Greece also spoke of bingeing and purging. Other cultures such as the Egyptians purged themselves monthly for up to 3 days in succession by using clysters and emetics to promote better health. It was their feeling that diseases stemmed from the foods they ate.

The condition known as Anorexia Nervosa was described in medical literature in the 1970’s and was based on a study of three individuals that alternated between over-eating and under-eating cycles. The first mention of Bulimia Nervosa came in 1979 when it was described in literature published by a Dr. Russell. During the 1980’s, more incidents of the disorder were recorded and showed that there was a significant increase in these incidents.

Despite the fact that the origins of the disorder date back thousands of years, one cannot apply the terminology Bulimia Nervosa to these historical cases that were published before Dr. Russell’s work in 1979. The motives for bingeing and then purging were completely different from today’s motives. Additionally, there was a difference in the psychological aspects between ancient times and today.

Bulimia help is available

With the increase in the number of eating disorders since the 1980’s, eating disorder treatment and recovery centers have been growing in numbers as well. Today, bulimia help is available at many facilities throughout the US. Harmony Grove is one of those eating disorder treatment and recovery centers which bases their programs on nutrition wellness. We are an 8-bed facility that provides intensive out-patient (day treatment) programs for women suffering with Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa.

Our staff member’s expertise includes a thorough knowledge of these eating disorders as well as the details and processes necessary to a total recovery from them. Additionally, our comforting residential environment provides our clients with the peace of mind they need and a personalized focus on recovery. The homelike setting of our facility as well as our licensed and highly qualified clinicians is the right combination for Bulimia help and recovery from the disorder.