Traditional Hydrotherapy

from Hydrothermic Remedies...

Video

As the steam in the Russian Bath condenses, it liberates large amounts of heat, 537 calories for each gram. Thus there is an intense heating effect.

Effects:

• Tonic
• Sudorific

Treatment Options

Effect	Steam	After
Tonic	5-6 min	Cold Mitten Friction
Sudorific (Cold/Flu)	>15 min until sweating	Cold Mitten Friction
Sedative	>15 min	Graduated Shower
Addictions	>15 min	Cold Mitten Friction and Massage

Definition

A body steam bath in which there is 100% humidity, given with the person sitting on a wooden chair, covered with a non-flammable plastic sheet.

Physiologic Effects

1. To increase body temperature
2. To increase metabolism
3. To induce sweating
4. It will increase pulse rate
5. It will increase blood pressure
6. It will cause active peripheral vasodilation
7. It will increase leukocytosis and red cell count

Indications

1. Rheumatoid Arthritis
2. Gout
3. Preparation for cold procedures such as the Cold Shower or Cold Tub Bath - 43-49°C / 110-120°F, 5-10 minutes
4. To produce sweating 43-50°C / 110-122°F, 5-10 minutes
5. Hypotension - follow with Cold Mitten Friction
6. Symptoms of onset of Cold or Influenza-like disease - daily, 3-4 days
7. Sedative effects (15-20 minutes) in Nervous Tension
8. Alcoholism, Tobacco Recovery, Drug Addictions and Coffee Addiction

Contraindications or Cautions

1. Diabetes
2. Valvular Heart lesions
3. Emaciation
4. Advanced Arteriosclerosis
5. Hypertension

Equipment for Home Russian Bath

1. An old wooden chair
2. Teakettle and hot plate (or Rice Cooker)
3. Plastic cover (shower curtain sewed together does fine)
4. 3 Towels (for draping around neck, over shoulders and over knees to keep plastic from directly touching the skin.
5. Hot Foot Bath and Cold Compress equipment.
6. Ice Bag
7. Watch with a second hand
8. Drinking glass with tap water (not cold)

Procedure

Important Considerations

• Place Ice Bag over the heart if pulse is 80 bpm or above
• Stop treatment if pulse goes above 140 bpm
• Do not let steam from kettle hit the patient's legs
• Patient may become dizzy or faint.

Preparation for Treatment

• Assemble materials
• Have room warm and free from drafts.

Treatment

• Heat the teakettle on the hot plate which has been set up under the wooden chair (spout facing away from the patient's legs)
• Wrap patient in a sheet; have patient sit on chair that is over the heating teakettle
• Give patient a Hot Foot Bath to pre-warm and apply a Cold Compress to the head; maintain foot bath at the best temperature for the patient throughout the treatment (40-43°C / 104-110°F).
• Remove sheet, place a towel around shoulders and neck and over the knees.
• Drape plastic cover around the patient's neck and chair, covering the body from the neck down, like a tent, including the foot bath.
• Give patient and Ice Bag for the heart to keep heart-rate down
• Head remains out; apply Cold Compress to head
• Check pulse frequently at temple or side of the neck
• Encourage drinking of hot water, if necessary to hasten sweating
• Duration: Tonic 6 minutes, Sedative 15-20 minutes
• May give medicated inhalation by adding 2 teaspoons of eucalyptus to each litre of water in the kettle.
• Periodically allow the patient to inhale the steam.

Completion of Treatment

• Cool the patient with a Graduated Shower or Cold Mitten Friction
• Patient must rest after treatment, at least 30 minutes.
• For vigorous treatment of common cold, the strong patient can be given the Cold Tub Bath
• Finish with: Blanket Wrap if further sweating is required.

Procedure for Steam Room in clinic or hospital

Treatment

• Patient undress and wear gown
• Drape off at door
• Head out for most treatments, in for inhalation
• Cold Compress to head, change frequently
• Check pulse when change Cold Compress
• Attendant stays nearby and checks frequently

Completion of Treatment

• Close steam
• Drape as they come out.

from Dr JH Kellogg's Hydriatic Techniques...

48, 45-50°C / 118, 113-121°F 10-20min

• Usually follow with Tonic Friction or Ice Bag over heart
• Uses similar to Hot Air Bath
• if sweating is slow Massage for 3-5min

Especially useful for

• Toxaemia in
  • chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Gout
  • Uraemia
  • Dyspepsia
  • Diabetes without heart problems

Revulsives in

• Sciatica
• Joint Pain
• Skin Problems

• Use dry baths for Obesity

Contra-indications

• Fevers
• Heart Failure
• advanced Chronic Nephritis
• pulmonary Tuberculosis
• Arteriosclerosis

from Dr GK Abbott's Prescriptions...

• Head and neck kept cool
• Precordial Compress if needed.