Traditional Hydrotherapy

from Hydrothermic Remedies...

Try a number of different treatments as some respond better

• hot Vaginal Douche 47-50°C for 2min
• Hot Foot Bath 49°C for 2min, cold applied to low abdomen and inner thighs
• cold tap water Vaginal Irrigation 6min
• Shallow Sitz Bath 15°C 10min with very Hot Foot Bath
• Therapeutic Fever - elevate temperature to 40°C then bring down immediately to 38.5°C for 30 min
• Menorrhagia diet - high steroid foods at least daily (ie corn, apples, carrots, peanuts, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, potatoes.)
• One tablespoon of shredded coconut and wheat germ, daily

from Dr JH Kellogg's Prescriptions...

See Puerperal Complications

General Method:

• Find the cause and treat accordingly. Results are usually good.

Commonest Causes:

• most common : Vegetations of the endometrium; treat surgically
  • followed by treatment for Chronic Metritis

Problems:

• Anaemia
• Exhaustion
• Uterine Inflammation or Uterine Congestion in:
  • Chronic Metritis
  • Constipation
  • Enteroptosis
  • Sexual Excess
  • Uterine Displacements
  • Ovaritis or tubal disease (same treatment)

Treatment Method:

• hot Vaginal Irrigation (not in severe cases)
• Short hot Hip Pack
• Hot Foot Bath then cold Compress to hypogastrium and inner surface of thighs

In obstinate cases:

• cold Vaginal Irrigation
• Very cold shallow Sitz (10-18°C, 5-15min) with
  • Hot Foot Bath

If all else fails:

• Hot Douche to lower spine, hypogastrium, and inner surface of thighs.

Contra-indications:

• Prolonged heat (increases haemorrhage) or
• Short cold (increases congestion) to lower spine, abdomen, thighs, hips or feet

from Dr JH Kellogg's Hydriatic Techniques...

If due to congestion especially...

• Reflex Haemostatic
  • very cold Pelvic Pack in uncontrolled cases with
    • anode Galvanic Current
  • Cold Foot Bath
  • Prolonged Cold Sitz
  • Cold Spinal Compress
  • Ice Bag
• Direct Haemostatic combined with reflex in severe cases
  • Applications to Mucous Passages to the uterus with
    • anode Galvanic Current
• Revulsives
• Treat Visceral Congestion
• Mildest Tonic if with anaemia:
  • short hot Shower and/or Fomentations to the spine then
  • Cold Douche carefully avoiding lumbar and abdominal regions.
• Graduated Tonic Cold between periods

During periods:

• Fomentations
• Revulsive Sitz or
• hot Vaginal Irrigation

Menorrhagia

• Reflex Haemostatic
  • Abdominal Heating Compress
  • hot Caliper Douche in some cases
  • Prolonged Cold Sitz - in chronic cases

Contra-indications

• Shallow Bath

from Dr GK Abbott's Prescriptions...

• Reflex Haemostatic

For Menorrhagia

prolonged or profuse menstrual bleeding usually due to subinvolution, vegetations, or fibroids

• Cold Sitz Bath prolonged with accompanying
  • very Hot Foot Bath
• Cold Foot Bath only 6cm deep - sometimes enough if patient is on bed rest
• Ice Bag over pubis and between upper thighs with
  • Hot Foot Bath or Leg Pack

For post-partum haemorrhage:

if immediate and profuse

• heavy massage of uterus through the abdominal wall or failing this - very hot Intra-Uterine Irrigation

if slight:

• Ice Bag over pubis with
• very hot Vaginal Irrigation