<![CDATA[The Elixir of Long Life is something that has driven countless expeditions, researches and journeys to ancient civilizations across generations. People across generations have been driven by the quest of finding things like the elixir of long life and the secret to immortality. However, if a 150 year old bottle which was recently unearthed at a hotel construction side in the Lower East Side in New York is to be trusted, the elixir of long life is actually an alcohol heavy concoction and its taste is quite bitter. The site in question was once known as the Atlantic Garden, a music hall and German beer garden that had liquor bottles which dated back to the 1850s. One of these bottles was a greenish glass vial that was believed to help people cheat their deaths by giving them the secrets of long life. The unearthing of the bottle intrigued researchers at the Chrysalis Archeology, who then began their quest to get to the bottom of this mystery. Their answers were found in a 19th century guide which tracked down the history of the concoction to Germany. According to their findings, the bottle contains one part water, three parts alcohol, zedoary, Spanish saffron, rhubarb, gentian and aloe. According to Alyssa Loorya, the president of Chrysalis, the truth behind this recipe seems to be quite feasible because most of these ingredients are used in herbal medicine or as natural remedies till today. Aloe is considered to be one of the best anti-inflammants in the world while rhubarb and gentian roots help out in digestion. Zedoary spice purifies the blood and boosts cell regeneration and Spanish saffron offers solutions to a number of health issues. This medicinal drink was considered to be used as a “miracle cure” and is actually believed to work wonders on the human body. Researchers believe that it is quite likely that this “elixir of long life” was taken one drop at a time, considering that the entire bottle held less than an ounce. Another bottle that was unearthed by the team contained a medicinal drink that was a rage in the 19th century. The drink is known as Dr. Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters and its taste was actually bitter. The drink contains cinnamon, orange peel, gentian root, cardamom seed, gum kino, water, anise, sugar, grain alcohol and coriander seed. According to reports, Dr. Hostetter’s was considered to be so popular that it was served in bars by the glass all over the United States of America. However, both formulas required devious amounts of alcohol as the main medium. This makes it difficult to figure out whether or not the recipes were actually effective. To further determine the effects of these brews, Chrysalis plans to brew them within a few days and then subject them to a variety of tests. According to Loorya, a tasting party is definitely in order. Recipes for both drinks have already been released so that people can add them to their very own cocktails.]]>
19th Century 'Elixir of Long Life' Found
