Neutral 93-97 degrees Water boils 212 degrees
Tepid 81-92 degrees Body Temperature 98.6 degrees
Cool 66-80 degrees Water Freezes 32 degrees
Cold 55-60 degrees
Very Cold 32-54 degrees
Baths:
Full or partial baths for feet, hands, or sitz bath (sitting in a small tub of water coverint the body to the stomach area). If doing a hot foot bath, use a cold compress on the forehead.
A hot bath is used to relieve pain and muscle spaswm, help stretch contracted muscles, and increase circulation.
Partial ice baths are used for injured body parts. Fill basin with cold water and crushed ice. Submerse injured part for up to 10 minutes. This promotes the removal of fluids and helps to relieve pain during acute and subacute inflammation of injuries.
Neutral baths help quiet and sedate the nervous system, relieves anxiety and depression, helps to reduce benign swelling, and helps to alleviate muscle spasm. When doing a neutral bath a sheet should be used to cover exposed area of the body. Water should be constantly added to keep temperature in the neutral zone.
Injury Treatment:
Acute injury - (within 24 hours: redness, heat, loss of movement) Ice for 10 minutes, remove for 10 minutes, and repeat for 1 hour. Cycle can be repeated as often as possible.
Subacute injury - (after 24 hours: redness, heat reduced, some movement is returned) Heat 5-10 minutes, discontinue if redness, or heat increases. Cold (ice or compress) 10 minutes every hour or two. Contrast, alternate cold, hot, cold, hot, cold (begin and end with cold) 10 mintues each.
Chronic - (time period undetermined, can last days to years) Heat 10-20 minutes, especially helpful before stretching. Cold (ice or other methods) if area is irritated or at end of day, or after exercise. Contrast, alternate cold, hot, cold, hot, cold 10 minutes each.
Sprains should be immediately treated with ice application.
When swelling decreases or for muscle spasms, use direct hot and cold application. Start with 1 ice cube, rub on area for 1 minute only. Use a hot compress on area for 1 minute only. Repeat six times starting and ending with ice. Stop for 10 minutes and repeat entire process 3-6 times. Stop for an hour and start again.
Compresses - Use hot or cold water or cold water with ice as indicated. Immerse a cloth in water, wring out, and place on area. For muscle spasm, use hot water on area. Hot water can be mixed with aromatherapy, or ground ginger to increase heat affect. Ginger compresses are very soothing, relaxing and warming to muscles in spasm. Compresses can be used on the hands and feet reflexes, as well as along the spine.
Steams - For a facial steam, boil water, remove pan from heat, (can add aromatherapy), place head over steam and place towel over head. Can be used for facial cleaning as well as for respiratory and sinus problems. Steam helps to loosen mucus.
Make-shift steam baths: Sit in a room with a shower. Do not sit in the shower. Make the room as closed as possible, run the water as hot as possible for as long as possible, and inhale the moisture. Excellent for respiratory conditions, also try when you have a cold.
Salt Glow - Salt glows increased local circulation and perspiration, as well as stimulating muscles, nerves, and skin (also helps skin to look beautiful, a sign of health). Oil skin with almond or bodyworkers sesame oil (both are nutritious to skin). Sprinkle sea salt (many minerals that get absorbed) onto skin, and lightly rub areas, do not do front or face area. It takes very little pressure for salt glow to be effective. Move pressure can be used on bottom of feet and elbows.
