It is essential to confer bath to the skin with the aid of different types of preparations as it aids in the removal of scales, crusts, etc. The therapeutic bath essentially refers to bathing in different kinds of warm water for quick healing of wounds, applying heat to spring joints, for imparting relief from emotional stress, itching, and inflammation. Various skin disorders can be treated with much ease with this kind of bath.
This article covers different types of bath which include hip baths, Hot hip bath, alternate hip bath, Full wet sheet pack, cold foot bath, immersion baths, neutral hip baths, Epsom salt bath, Graduated bath, cold hip baths etc. along with the precautions that should be taken during the therapeutic baths.
Enema
An enema is known to be the process of injecting a fluid or a liquid into the rectum with the purpose of cleaning the bowels.The enema essentially contains lukewarm water and one or two liters of water is known to be injected into the patient. The warm water enema is crucial in cleaning the rectum of fecal accumulations. It is considered to be one of the safest methods to clean the bowels. It also assists in improving the peristaltic movement of bowels and providing relief during constipation. A cold water enema, on the other hand, helps in reducing various inflammatory conditions of the colon which may include fever, colitis, diarrhea. hemorrhoids, diarrhea,etc.
Cold Compress
Cold Compress is a local therapeutic bath with the usage of a cloth soaked in cold water. The bath is accomplished with the aid of folding of cloth into a broader strip after which it is dipped into ice water, and sometimes in cold water. The application of compression is done on the head, back, chest, abdomen, and neck. It is also considered to be an effective remedy to control different inflammatory conditions of pelvic organs, kidneys, lungs, spleen, brain, stomach etc. One can take this bath during cardiovascular diseases and fever. It also helps in soothing the inflammations on the external part of the eye.
Heat Compress
It is a type of compress that helps in comforting warmth to the individual.In this process, linen cloth is folded three or four times and pressed in cold water after which it is covered with a blanket or dry funnel for preventing the air circulation. It helps to accumulate the body heat. It is often applied for the duration of several hours. As the compression is removed, the areas are being rubbed with a wet cloth after which it is being dried with a towel. The heat compress helps in conferring relief during laryngitis, sore throat, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, etc. The abdominal compress is helpful for those patients who has problems like gastritis, indigestion, constipation, dysentery, etc. The joint compress, on the other hand, provides relief during sprains, inflamed joints, rheumatic fever, and rheumatism.
Hip Baths
In the hip baths, a person sits in tepid, cold or hot water in such a way that the pelvis and hips remain in contact with water. Circulation is stimulated in legs, pelvis, spine and other pelvic organs which include sexual organs, bladder, prostate, etc. As the circulation to the pelvis is improvised, circulation is improved in the legs as well. In addition to it, chronic inflammation in pelvic is reduced and the functions of kidney, libido, and lethargy are improved. If you are suffering from high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases of frails, it is recommended to consult a physician before in taking this therapy. Hot water hip baths may also be taken but cold hip baths aid in enhancing the body function of the entire body.
Cold Hip Baths
A cold hip bath is known to provide relief in case a patient is suffering from constipation, obesity, indigestion etc. It also helps the eliminative organs for the proper functioning of the body. Urine problems such as seminal weakness, irregular menstruation, chronic digestion, displacement of ovary and uterus, hepatic congestion, diarrhea, dilation of colon and stomach can be treated with the aid of cold hip bath. The temperature of the water should range between 10C to 18C for the therapeutic bath. The bath should be conducted in a duration of 10minutes but in some conditions, it may extend to 30minutes.
Hot Hip Bath
A Hot Hip Bath works wonder for women for imparting relief during painful menstruation, It also relieves a person from painful piles, inflammation in bladder or rectum, pain during urination etc. This therapeutic bath is considered to be largely beneficial during enlargement of the prostatic gland. This bath should be taken for a duration of 8 to 10minutes. The temperature of the water during bath should be between 40c to 45c. It is recommended to start the bath at a temperature of 40C, after which it should be gradually increased to 45. It is advised not to apply any friction on the abdomen while having this bath. The patient should intake a glass of cold water before having this bath.
Neutral Hip Bath
The neutral hip bath assists in preferring relief from different inflammatory conditions which include inflammation in tubes, ovaries, and uterus. It also helps in providing relief during neuralgia of testicles, fallopian tubes, etc. It is also known to be a sedative treatment for patients suffering from erotomania. The temperature of the water during bath should be within the range of 32c to 36c. It is advised that that friction should be avoided on the abdomen during this bath. The bath can be taken for the duration of 20minutes and can be extended to an hour.
Alternate Hip Bath
The repulsive hip bath or alternate hip bath plays an integral role in rendering relief from inflammation and infection in the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and deep subcutaneous tissue. If a person is having disorders in the urinary system, reproductive organs, he should take this bath. It is also known to be relieving when a person is having pain in lower back, buttock, legs etc. The hot tub should have a temperature of 40c to 45c whereas the cold tub is known to have a temperature of 10 to 18c. The patient should be sitting in the hot tub for the duration of five minutes and for three minutes in the cold tub. A person can have this bath for a time period of 10 to 20minutes. Here, a cold press is used for keeping the neck and head cold.
Spinal Bath
Spinal Bath is known to be indispensable for improving the blood circulation in a spine. It is known for bestowing relief from the congestion of spinal nerves and activating the nervous system. It also confers relaxation to the body in case of backaches, headaches, and hypertension. This therapeutic bath is considered to be useful for the treatment of muscle-skeletal diseases, insomnia, and hypertension. If you are suffering from nervous disorders or mental disorders, tension, hysteria, memory loss., it is a sedative and soothing treatment for high strung patients. You can take this bath for a time duration of 20 to 30 minutes. The hot spinal therapeutic bath aids in the stimulation of the nerves in the depressed state. If a person is suffering from a muscular backache, spondylitis, it bestows relief to them. The bath imparts a soothing relief to the spinal column by influencing the central nervous system.
Full wet sheet pack
In this therapeutic bath, a wet sheet is used for wrapping the entire body after which a dry blanket is used in order to regulate evaporation. To begin with, the blanket should be spread on top of the bed whereas the edges should hang over the bed edges. The upper end should be at a height of 8inches from the bed head. As a patient lies on the bedsheet, he should make sure that the shoulder should be 3inches beneath the upper edge. You should wrap the wet sheet around the body of the patient in a loose fashion. It should be tucked in a tight manner between the arms and body and between the legs as well. You should also ensure to fold the sheet across the neck and over the shoulders. Now, you should wrap the blanket around the body of the patient tightly. You should place a Turkish towel beneath the chin so that the neck and face should not come in contact with the blanket. You should use a wet cloth for covering the head and the scalp remaining cold. However, you should take care that the feet remain warm during the treatment. The bath confers relief during fever in typhoid. It has been proved beneficial to those who suffer from infantile convulsions, epilepsy, insomnia.
Hot Foot Bath
The hot foot bath happens to be one of the simplest and most convenient therapeutic baths that offer various physiological effects. It plays a vital role in promoting circulation across the entire body. It helps in enhancing the lymphatic flow and boosting the immunity system. It also renders relief to the patients who are suffering from insomnia, fatigue. It aids relaxation to a person during nasal congestion, headaches, asthma, cold etc. People who have cardiovascular diseases, urinary tract infections, heat intolerance should have hot foot bath in lieu of the hot bath. However, people having to swell in legs, sore foot, diabetes, numbness in feet should refrain from having these therapeutic baths.
Cold Foot Bath
The cold foot bath plays an integral role in treating strains, sprains, etc. It is also known to cure inflamed bunions on taking for the long duration. To have this cold foot bath, three or four inches of cold water should be placed in a bucket or tub. The temperature of the water should range between 7.20C to 12.70C. It needs to be ensured that the feet of the patient are immersed in an accomplished manner within the water for a duration of one to five minutes. There should be the continuous application of friction to the feet at the time of bath. This can be accomplished by the rubbing of a single foot against another one. This bath proffers relief during uterine hemorrhage and cerebral congestion at the same time. However, this bath is prohibited for patients who have inflammation in kidney, liver and genito-urinary organs.
Steam Bath
The steam bath has several benefits for which it is in practice since many centuries. It helps to detoxify and purify the body at the same time. It assists in the stimulation of immune system, enhance the circulation of blood at the same time. It helps to promote the mental and physical well-being of a person at the same time. It plays an indispensable role in releasing the toxins from the body. The soothing warmth aids in opening the pores which help in lifting the impurities as well. A person having respiratory issues and sinus afflictions procure relief after having this bath. As heat is generated during this bath, it aids in providing relaxation to the aching muscles, widens the blood vessels and allows a further flow of nutrients and oxygen via them. It also helps in the release of tension at the same time. It revitalizes the body and you have a sound sleep after having this bath.
Immersion Baths
An immersion bath is essentially a therapeutic bath in which the wholesome part of the body of the person should be immersed within a therapeutic substance. Immersion baths are popular for many centuries for cooling a restless mind. People witness various mental and physiological changes after having this bath. A person can take this bath for a duration of 20minutes for the improvement of circulation, procuring relief during stress. You continue to have a positive look towards life and you recover emotionally with this bath. The buoyancy of water assists in impacting the gravity on muscular and skeletal issues. It helps in removing tension from your body. It helps in losing the muscles before you go for a workout. It removes the toxins from the body and aids in improving circulation bringing oxygen and nutrients.
Cold Immersion Bath
In this immersion bath, the entire body is immersed in cold water for procuring relief from depression. It aids in boosting mood owing to its anti-depression effects. It helps in enhancing the tolerance of a person to stress. It aids in speeding up the soreness of a muscle. Believe it or not, this therapeutic bath is integral in losing weight as well. Exposing the body to cold temperature aids in the removal of activated brown fat. It helps in the circulation of a body and aids in improving immunity at the same time. Some heart and skin problems are also combatted with this bath. Cold immersion bath is also beneficial in maintaining the appearance and thus refining the skin and hair. It aids in the tightening of pores and cuticles.
Graduated Bath
Graduated Bath is counted to be a type of therapeutic bath where a person has a bath at a temperature of 31c. The temperature of the water is reduced gradually at 1º C in a single minute until it reaches 25c. It aids in eliminating temperature from the body of a person. It enhances the resistance of the body and is considered to be a tonic for the body. However, it is a prerequisite that pure and clean water should be used for the bath.
Neutral Immersion Bath
The neutral immersion bath is considered to be a sedative treatment which is considered to be useful for the spinal cord, brain, etc. It helps in reducing the chronic inflammatory conditions which include arthritis, rheumatism, meningitis, etc. It is useful to the patients who are suffering from narcotic habits, multiple neuritides, etc. The bath can be taken for a time duration of 15 to 60minutes.
Hot Immersion Bath
Hot immersion baths are quite popular in conferring relief to the children suffering from lungs congestion, bronchopneumonia, and bronchitis. The bath is conferred to a patient at a temperature of 37c after which it is increased gradually to 40c with the addition of hot water. A patient should ensure to make his whole body cold by drinking cold water.
Epsom Salt Bath
This bath is considered to be beneficial if a person is suffering from diabetes, kidney problems, gout, rheumatism, catarrh, gout, etc. The bath tub should have 130-145 liters of hot water at a temperature of 40C. 2kg of Epson salt should be added and dissolved in it. The head of the patient should be covered with a cold towel during this path. He can intake glasses of cold water during this bath. It is best to intake this bath before a person goes to bed during the night time.
Precautions that should be taken during therapeutic bath
While therapeutic baths come with a wide number of benefits, it is a prerequisite to taking specific precautions during these baths. It is recommended that a person should refrain from taking these bath within a duration of 3hours after having a meal. The bath should not be taken by a person one hour before the intaking meal at the same time. However, it is possible to take local baths such as foot bath and hip bath after the meal. It is also important that pure and clean water should be used for bathing. Same water should not be used more than once for the purpose of bathing. It is a must to keep an eye on the duration and temperature while taking the baths with an eye to getting the desired effects. It is prohibited for women to take these baths during the menstruation cycle.
