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Hot & Cold Therapy
Both heat and cold can be used to heal and soothe many different conditions and everyday issues you may come up against...sometimes it is all you need.
Heat Therapy
There are several ways you can use heat as a therapy. The most common way is to soak in a tub of hot water to induce sweating. Make sure you drink fluids while doing this, you want the body to sweat, but must replace those fluids. Drinking sweat inducing herbal teas (diaphoretics) will add to the effect. A sauna or hot tub can also be used for sweating, just remember those liquids. Other ways to use heat is through external contact with areas of concern using a heating pad, hot water bottle, compress, or warming herbs in a poultice.
Here are few reasons you may want to use heat, along with whatever you feel your body may need. Whenever my hubby comes down with any kind of bug he takes several hot baths a day until he feels better. That is the only thing he does to aid his body in recovery.
Increase circulation
Stimulation, used in short intervals
Vasodilator - opens blood and lymph vessels
Opens up the channels inside the body for more flow and fluid movement and efficient waste removal (warm herbal tea is the best way to do this).
Relaxing effect which in turn can alleviate pain
Burns off toxins and relieves congestion (using the sweating bath method)
Draws energy/blood to the surface which relieves and heals
Drives out cold
Relaxes tissues which relieves pressure on nerve fibers
Relaxes muscle spasms and sore muscles (don't use if inflammation is a factor).
Opens pores to absorb nutrients and excrete toxins (use herbal bath or foot bath for this).
High temperatures will kill off viruses (although it is important to be putting lots of fluids into your body when using this method).
Fevers (only when incorporating diaphoretic herbs as well).
Diaphoretic Herbs (sweat inducting)
Elder flowers
Yarrow
Ginger
Catnip
Lemon balm
Heat Pads
There are many versions of heat pads available. I grew up with the basic plug in square heat pad with the blue cover. You can now find all kinds of different heating pads available. Search around and see what may work for your family. You can also make your own heating bags with rice (or any grain) and some material, these you can make in different shapes and sizes. A quick google search will bring up instructions for all kinds of heating bags. We've made some with socks that you just tie up the loose end to make it real simple and you can even heat a slightly damp, rolled up towel in the microwave.
Cold Therapy
The opposite of heat, cold therapy, includes using cold water, ice and cooling herbs. You could use this method like the heat, having a cold bath or shower. Ice packs, cold water bottle, compress, chilled herbal poultice and herbal pillow kept in the freezer. When using cold therapy you generally want to apply cold for 10 minutes on, then 10 minutes off and repeat as often as necessary. There are also herbs that are cooling that can be used to bring temperature down in the body due to overheating and cooling down hot conditions in the body. Here are some times you may want to consider using cold therapy.
Cooling, use for burns and hot skin conditions.
Astringent to arrest hemorrhaging and bleeding.
Bloody noses, place an ice cube in the hand until bleeding stops, usually within seconds.
Contracts arteries and vessels, this forces blood deeper into internal organs and away from the surface.
Anti-inflammatory, use for any type of inflammation in the muscles, bones and joints. (10 min on 10 min off)
Anesthetic for temporary pain relief as it numbs.
Headache relief due to contracting of vessels, anti-inflammatory action and pain relief.
General stimulant when exposed for a short period of time (1-3 minutes).
Cooling Herbs
Mint
Lemon balm
Chamomile
Basil
Dandelion
Combining Hot and Cold
Many versions of combining heat and cold have been used over the centuries for healing different ailments as I went over in the Cold Sheet Treatment section. Combined heat and cold does not need to be as complicated as Dr. Christopher's version, you could simply take a hot, steamy bath, then get in a cold shower or sponge the body with a cold cloth after. You can alternate hot pads and cold packs, or hot and cold compresses for 10 minutes each, for a period of time. Benefits of combining heat and cold include but are not limited to:
Restore poor circulation
Bone and joint complaints
Aches and pains
Cold and flu
Fevers
Skin eruptions and diseases
Burn off excess toxins in the body
Headache, soak feet or body in a hot tub while placing a cold cloth over the back of the neck and forehead.
Congestion and inflammation relief as the blood vessels contract, sending blood deep into organs (5-8 minutes) then applying heat does the opposite, pulling the blood from the organs to the skin. "Alternate hot and cold applications, continued for thirty minutes, will relieve congestion more quickly than any other remedy" Jethro Kloss, Back to Eden
Dr. Christopher used his cold sheet treatment for bones and joints, degenerative and chronic diseases as well as colds, flu and pneumonia.
References
Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss
Herbal Home Healthcare by Dr. John R. Christopher
Planetary Herbology by Michael Tierra
