A bath of warm (100°F ) water will draw blood into the skin surface creating the longest duration of dermal capillary circulation - Herbal and essential oil ingredients in the water are most easily absorbed into the capillaries when the blood is drawn into the surface of the skin. WARM/NEUTRAL baths can be up to 45 minutes duration.
WARM baths of 98 - 100 °F are generally soothing, safe and effective.
COOL and
COLD
water baths will act to
stimulate an immune response - creating a strong
heating reflex in the body.
COOL baths below 85
°F should generally be no more
than 5 minutes duration and should not be uncomfortable after the initial mild
shock of temperature change to the skin.
COLD water baths below 70 °F are NOT recommended for home use.
Contraindications of HOT bath - Since baths stimulate circulation, the following people should not use HOT water (> 105 °F) treatments:
• Persons with internal or external bleeding;
• Infants and young children, pregnant women, the elderly and infirm.
Several minutes of HOT (110-112 °F) immersion, wrapping or spray increases collagen extensibility and decreases joint pain and stiffness -a comfort for arthritis and rheumatism, stiffness/sore muscles due to overexertion or strain, fatigue, sport or back injury
Ideal for a hand, foot, arm, shoulder, etc.
Unheated parts of the body balance the higher heating of a single part through blood flow.
Massage and manipulation after collagen softening will stretch the joint tissue resulting in "residual extension" of the connective tissue - allowing more comfort in movement with a decrease of pain.
A comfortable WARM to
HOT
bath, HOT
compress, or
HOT
water bottle
also brings relief to muscle spasms and cramps -
by encouraging
blood flow to eliminate lactic acid and toxin waste buildup from the muscle
cells.
A WARM to HOT bath will calm nervousness, increase blood flow to nourish tissue and relax tension - Gentle massage with fingertips over cramping muscle areas will help stimulate blood circulation and release nervous blockage.
A 'sitz' bath covering the lower abdomen up to the navel is good for abdominal organ and lower back complaints.
Local HOT compresses over skin eruptions, or full /local HOT baths resolve eruptions, exudates and edema - by drawing exudates and stimulate the resolution of infections, boils, and other eruptions through the skin. Swellings due to edema are reduced through blood flow activity which eliminates toxin and fluid buildup in the affected area. A hot bath will relax muscle tension which in turn releases the constrictions on the nerves and vessels which run through them. The released flow of energy and fluid brings relief to the body.
Elimination of Toxins from Cells - Local hot applications and partial and full baths stimulate the cells to eliminate toxins into the bloodstream and out of the system. Heat increases metabolism in the cells and also resolution blood flow through the tissue. This increase in cell metabolism encourages the elimination of toxins into the bloodstream. Toxins that are accumulated in the fatty layers under the skin are metabolized and released. The sweat glands of the skin become very active in hyperthermia and a great amount of toxins are eliminated through the skin. The blood flowing through the surface capillaries is able to discharge toxins from other parts of the body through the skin and out of the system. The body is also able to purge itself of invading virus, through a process called "viral shedding," as hyperthermia creates an artificial fever to eliminate pathogens from the system through the skin. The skin is the body's first line of defense against invading organisms and harbors over fifty percent of the immune systems killer T-cells. The stimulation of the skin in the thermal bath calls these defenders into action which makes the bath a vital part of the fight against cold and flu germs.
Therapeutic bath should be followed by a half-hour bed rest period - allowing the natural healing reflex of the body to continue.
