Heat and hot baths as natural remedies should be the subject of this guide. The moist warmth is very different in the extent of the effect. In practice it can be seen that painful conditions can worsen if dry heat, which triggers a specific irritant effect, is used.
Baths as beneficial remedies
These heat donors include: heating pads, radiation lamps, infrared, light and hot air treatment. Wherever you want to relieve convulsive states, calm irritations, release effusion residues and wash away deposits, the application of moist heat is preferred.
In practice, some people have experienced disappointment when dry heat treatment does not bring about the desired improvement. In these cases one should turn to the moist heat as a therapeutic agent, then one will often be pleasantly surprised by its effect.
The indications, i.e. the areas of application for which the moist heat is available are very extensive. It is recommended i.a. for rheumatic complaints of muscles and joints, sciatica, lumbago, intervertebral disc syndromes, conditions after subacute bruises, bruises, strains, fiber tears, sprains and the consequences of accidents on the musculoskeletal system.
Also convulsive states, colic, circulatory disorders and much more. can be found in the range of applications of moist heat. It has the not to be overlooked advantage that it can usually be used comfortably at home without great effort. The variety of possibilities is briefly explained below:
application
- The hot full bath, with and without bath additives, which also trigger individual healing effects through their active ingredients. In the case of some bath additives, the local effectiveness can be increased by rubbing the bath extracts such as spruce needle extract, hay flower extract, rheumatism bath onto the affected areas beforehand and only then stepping into the hot bath.
- Partial baths, such as foot, arm or hip baths. The same applies to them as was said for full baths. In some cases it will be useful to add salt, for which common table salt is usually sufficient.
- Hot showers with the hand shower lasting 15-20 minutes, directed at the area to be treated. It can be increased in a full bath by briefly increasing the water temperature from the hand shower to 50 - 60 degrees Celsius. The body part to be treated must always remain a hand's breadth under the surface of the water.
- Ascending arm and foot baths against circulatory disorders in angina pextoris or in circulatory disorders in the lower legs, as we find them in the so-called smoker's legs.
- Steam applications. These include the steam bath, the steam jet, which specifically addresses individual body parts, and the well-known and not yet surpassed chamomile bath. Many other inhalations also use steam.
- Hot socks and compresses for acute attacks of pain, especially colic, are easy home remedies. A final covering with warm towels or blankets increases and extends the soothing effect.
- A partial light bath or partial hot air bath can become a moist application of heat if the areas to be treated such as arm, leg, stomach or back are wrapped in a damp cloth or a compress is applied and only then exposed to the appropriate heat source.
- Contact heat is an intensive treatment, it is applied as follows: A warm, damp terry towel is used as a compress, e.g. placed on one thigh, a heating pad with a waterproof cover over it, a dry terry towel over it. Everything is tightly wrapped with an elastic bandage 8-10cm wide. The heating pad switch can now be used to generate an individual, humid warmth that can be regulated and that has an optimum effect in 30 - 45 minutes.
- Moist packs are local heat applications with different materials, where in addition to the moist heat effect, the specific healing substances are added. This includes peat packs, fango packs, paraffin packs as well as hay flower, linseed and chamomile bags. They trigger complex effects that correspond individually to the indications. Another well-established pack for household use is worth mentioning, the potato pack. Take about 5 pounds of peeled potatoes, boil them and pour the water off and the potatoes on a large towel. The cloth is folded over from 4 sides and the potatoes are mashed. Place the hot potato mixture in the cloth on the affected area and wrap it warm with a terry towel or blanket. The good warming effect then lasts for up to 30 minutes. In order to prevent burn blisters on all hot packs, the skin is rubbed with some oil beforehand.
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