Hydrotherapy
Baths
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The baths can
be a part of your session if you have the equipment at the office to do
so or send the directions home with your client for continued relief.
Full Bath: Warm baths ( 90-95 F)
are calming and soothing to the nerves, help relieve bladder and urinary problems, mild colds.
Hot Baths (100-113 F) - shocks the system;
causes increased circulation especially when followed by bundling in blankets
causes profuse sweating to detoxify the body wastes. Caution:
Hot
baths can dehydrate the body and can be exhausting. It can also lower
blood pressure and result in fainting.
Cold baths (55-65 F)- shocks the system
initially and then slows the heart down
Half Bath: between the full bath
and the sitz bath; sit in water up to the navel with the legs and feet
under water but the upper body out of the water.
Warm half baths : 95 F for 10 minutes
can be used for low blood pressure and menopausal problems. Can be
accompanied by vigorous brushing of the skin and end with a cool shower.
Cold half bath- 5- 15 seconds can be used
to treat headaches, insomnia, nervous problems, overactive thyroid, flatulence
and constipation.
Sitz bath -
A partial bath covering only the pelvic region: water reaches your navel.
Prop your feet up on a the edge or keep your knees up and splash water
onto abdomen (keep feet and knees out of water). Cover top half of
body accordingly for warmth. Beneficial for the genito-urinary tract,
lower abdominal area and rectum.
Effects
and Indications:
1. Hot Sitz bath - Temperature: 105 F to 115 F for 2-10 minutes.
Analgesic and stimulant to pelvic circulation. Used for dysmennorrhea,
other menstrual problems, hemorrhoids.
2. Cold Sitz bath - Temperature : 55 F to 75 F for 2-10 minutes.
Increases the tone of smooth muscle of the uterus, lower bowel and rectum
reducing tendency to bleed in these areas. Used in subinvoultion
of the uterus, metrorrhagia (profuse bleeding from the uterus at any other
time other than menstruation) atonic constipation and as a general tonic.
3. Contrast Sitz bath- Alternating hot and cold water. Hot
phase 105 F to 115 F for 3 minutes; Cold phase 55 F to 85 F for 30 seconds.
Increases pelvic circulation and tone of smooth muscle of the pelvic region.
Used in chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic prostatitis, atonic
constipation and fistula following rectal surgery.
Procedure: Prepare the bath at the desired temperature. Assist
the patient into the bath and drape to avoid exposure. Increase and
maintain temperature of water for length of time desired. Conclude
hot sitz bath by cooling the bath to neutral for 3 minutes. Herbs
can be added for treatment.
Medicated Baths:
1. Saline Bath - Add 3-5 pounds of magnesium sulfate (salt or Epsom salt) to a full tub of water (30 gallons). Temperature - 95-97
F. 10-20 minutes. Used to relax. Cooler water and shorter
time is more of a tonic.
2. Soda bath - Add 1 pound of baking soda to full tub of water (30
gallons). Temperature - 95-97 F 10-20 minutes. Alkaline. Acts
as a mild antiseptic, opens pores, relieves itching and skin irritation.
Good for skin conditions such as eczema, hives or insect bites.
3. Starch Bath - Add 1 pound of dry corn starch to full tub of water
(30 gallons). Temperature - 95-97 F. Acts as a cooling agent
relieving skin irritations, itchiness from such conditions as poison ivy,
poison oak, eczema and prickly heat.
4. Epsom salt Bath - Add 1 cup to 1 pound of Epsom salt to full tub
of water (30 gallons). Temperature- as hot as can be tolerated for
10-20 minutes. Increases perspiration, relieves muscular fatigue,
aches and pains. Used to relieve pain of arthritis, sciatica. Also used
to deter cold, flu, or other infection. Contraindicated for patients in
weakened conditions such as heart trouble, arteriosclerosis, diabetes.
5. Detox Bath - 1-2 cups each of Epsom salt, sea salt, baking
soda. Temperature - as hot as can be tolerated for 20-30 minutes.
Used to detoxify body after deep tissue work. Used to neutralize
energy picked up from doing bodywork. Practitioners will benefit
from a bath every night after work!
6. Sulfur Bath - Add 1-2 ounces of potassium sulfate to a full tub
of water (30 gallons). (or go to sulfur hot springs) Temperature
- 95-102 F 10-20 minutes. Can be relaxing or refreshing; increases
perspiration, relieves breathing problems in asthma or bronchitis.
7. Oatmeal Bath - 1-2 cups finely ground oatmeal to a full tub of water
(30 gallons). Temperature - 95-97 F 15- 30 minutes. Used to relieve
skin irritations, relieves sunburn, chafing and windburn.
8. Apple cider vinegar Bath - Use organic, raw, unfiltered and unpasteurized
with "mother" in bottle from health food store. Most regular
store bought vinegar is made from wood and flavored with apples.
1-4 cups added to full bath (30 gallons). Effective in detoxifying
the body and treating vaginal yeast infections.
Hot Foot Bath-
A local immersion bath covering the feet and ankles at temperatures
ranging from 100- 110 F
Uses: to decongest internal organs, relieve headaches, relieve chest congestion,
relieve pelvic congestion, recommended for bladder, kidney, throat and
ear inflammations; for general warming of body, to produce sweating,
to help stop or treat a cold; relaxation, treat tired, sore feet.
Helpful for chronically cold feet
Equipment: foot tub or large container to cover feet and ankles with
water, thermometer.
Procedure : Have enough water to cover feet and ankles. Add water
as needed to keep temperature between 100 F - 110 F . Watch temperature
and modify for desired treatment. Watch for reactions such as perspiration.
Pour cold water over feet to end treatment. Cool client if needed.
Contraindications: Insulin dependent
diabetic, frost bite, Arteriosclerosis of lower legs, loss of feeling in
feet or legs.
Cold Foot Bath
-
Used for tired feet, constipation, insomnia, headache, nosebleed and colds.
Immerse feet in cold water until the cold becomes too uncomfortable of
the feet feel warm.
Contrast Foot
Bath -alternate 1-2 minutes in hot bath, 30 seconds in cold lasting
for 15 minutes ending in cold; promotes circulation in the legs, prevents
varicose veins, helpful for insomnia, headache, high blood pressure, and
chronically cold feet.
