Therapeutic Baths
Water has been used as a valuable therapeutic agent
since time immemorial. In all major ancient civilizations, bathing was
considered an important measure for the maintenance of health and prevention of
disease. It was also valued for its remedial properties. The ancient Vedic
literature in India
ENEMA
Also known as rectal irrigation, an enema involves
the injection of fluid into the rectum. In nature cure treatment, only lukewarm
water is used for cleaning the bowels. The patient is made to lie on his left
side extending his left leg and bending the right leg slightly. The enema
nozzle, lubricated with oil or vaseline, is inserted in the rectum. The enema
can containing the lukewarm water is then slowly raised and water is allowed to
enter into the rectum. Generally, one to two liters of water are injected. The
patient may either lie down on his back or walk a little while retaining the
water. After five to 10 minutes, the water can be ejected along with the accumulated
morbid matter. A warm water enema helps to clean the rectum of accumulated fecal
matter. This is not only the safest system for cleaning the bowels, but also
improves the peristaltic movement of the bowels and thereby relieves
constipation. A cold water enema is helpful in inflammatory conditions of the
colon, especially in cases of dysentery, diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids
and fever. A hot water enema is beneficial in relieving irritation due to inflammation
of the rectum and painful hemorrhoids. It also benefits women in leucorrhoea.
SPINAL BATH
The spinal bath is another important form of
hydrotherapic treatment. This bath provides a soothing effect to the spinal
column and thereby influences the central nervous system. It is given in a
specially designed tub with its back raised so as to provide proper support to
the head. The bath can be administered at cold, neutral and hot temperatures.
The water level in the tub should be an inch and a half to two inches and the
patient should lie in it for three to 10 minutes. The cold spinal bath relieves
irritation, fatigue, hypertension and excitement. It is beneficial in almost
all nervous disorders such as hysteria, fits, mental disorders, loss of memory
and tension. The neutral spinal bath is a soothing and sedative treatment,
especially for the highly strung and irritable patient. It is the ideal
treatment for insomnia and also relieves tension of the vertebral column. The duration
of this bath is 20 to 30 minutes. The hot spinal bath, on the other hand, helps
to stimulate the nervous, especially when they are in a depressed state. It
also relieves vertebral pain in spondylitis and muscular backache. It relieves sciatic
pain and gastrointestinal disturbances of gastric origin.
FULL WET SHEET PACK
This is a procedure in which the whole body is
wrapped in a wet sheet, which in turn is wrapped in a dry blanket for
regulating evaporation. The blanket should be spread on the bed with its edges
hanging over the edge of the bed. The upper end should be about eight inches
from the head of the bed. Then spread a linen sheet wrung out in cold water
over the blanket so that its end is slightly below the upper end of the
blanket. The patient should lie on the bed sheet with his shoulders about three
inches below the upper age. The wet sheet should be weekly wrapped round the
body of the patient, drawn in, tightly tucked between the legs and also between
the body and the arms. The sheet should be folded over the shoulders and across
the neck. Now the blanket should be drawn tightly around the body and tucked in
along the side in a similar manner, pulling it tightly. The ends should be
doubled up at the feet. A Turkish towel should be placed below the chin to
protect the face and neck from coming into contact with the blanket and to
exclude outside air more effectively. The head should be covered with a wet
cloth so that the scalp remains cold. The feet should be kept warm during the
entire treatment. If the patient’s feet are cold, place hot water bottles near
them to hasten reaction. The pack is administered for half an hour to one hour
till the patient begins to perspire profusely. He may be given cold or hot water
to drink. This pack is useful in cases of fever especially in typhoid and continued
fevers, and benefits those suffering from insomnia, epilepsy and infantile
convulsions. It is useful in relieving chronic cold and bronchitis and helps in
the treatment of rheumatism and obesity.
STEAM BATH
Steam bath is one of the most important time-tested
water treatments which induces perspiration in a most natural way. The patient,
clad in minimum loin cloth or underwear, is made to sit on a stool inside a
specially designed cabinet. Before entering the cabinet, the patient should
drink one or two glasses of cold water and protect the head with a cold towel.
The duration of the steam bath is generally 10 to 20 minutes or until
perspiration takes place. A cold shower should be taken immediately after the bath. Very weak
patients, pregnant women, cardiac patients and those suffering from high blood pressure
should avoid this bath. If the patient feels giddy or uneasy during the steam
bath, he or she should be immediately taken out and given a glass of cold water
and the face washed with cold water. The steam bath helps to eliminate morbid
matter from the surface of the skin. It also improves circulation of the blood
and tissue activity. It relieves rheumatism, gout, uric acid problems, and obesity.
The steam bath is helpful in all forms of chronic toxemias. It also relieves
neuralgias, chronic nephritis, infections, tetanus and migraine.
EPSOM SALT BATH
The immersion bath tub should be filled with about
135 liters of hot water at 40°C. One to 1 ½ kg of Epsom salt
should be dissolved in this water. The patient should drink a glass of cold water,
cover the head with a cold towel and then lie down in the tub, completely
immersing the trunk, thighs and legs for 15 to 20 minutes. The best time to
take this bath is just before retiring to bed. This is useful in cases of
sciatica, lumbago, rheumatism, diabetes, neuritis, cold and catarrh, kidney
disorders and other uric acid and skin affections.
Precaution
Certain precautions are necessary while taking these
therapeutic baths. Full baths should be avoided within three hours after a meal
and one hour before it. Local baths like the hip bath and foot bath may,
however, be taken two hours after a meal. Clean and pure water must be used for
baths and water once used should not be used again. While taking baths,
temperature and duration should be strictly observed to obtain the desired
effects. A thermometer should always
be used to measure the temperature of the body. Women
should not take any of the baths during menstruation. They can take only hip
baths during pregnancy till the completion of the third month.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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