Jossei viina, terva tai sauna auta, on tauti kuolemaks.
Traditional Finnish proverb
An accurate listing of the cures available to
common folk before the advent of modern medicine.
Still, the triumvirate undoubtedly worked for curing quite a few
people. In a traditional Finnish house, the sauna was the most
hygienic place since it was continually sterilized by steam,
which is also why it was traditionally used for childbirth.
Vodka is an effective external disinfectant (as well as a
sedative). Tar seems to have played a similar role,
although in some versions of the saying tar is replaced with
bloodletting (kuppaus), widely practiced according
to bastardized Galenic doctrine in order to let out bad blood
and other humors. Finns actually eat the stuff as well, see terva for details.
These days, this proverb is used only figuratively to treat ailments
such as getting dumped by your girlfriend, with an emphasis
on the first cure.