Therapeutic Baths
Water has been used as a valuable therapeutic agent since time immemorial. In all major
ancient civilizations, bathing was considered an important measure for the maintenance of
health and prevention of disease. It was also valued for its remedial properties. The ancient
Vedic literature in India contains numerous references to the efficacy of water in the treatment of
disease.
In modern times, the therapeutic value of water was popularised by Vincent Priessnitz, Father
Sebastian Kneipp, Louis Kuhne and other European water-cure pioneers. They raised water
cure to an institutional level and employed it successfully for the treatment of almost every
known disease. There are numerous spas and "Bads" in most European countries where
therapeutic baths are used as a major healing agent.
Water exerts beneficial effects on the human system. It equalises circulation, boosts muscular
tone and aids digestion and nutrition. It also tones up the activity of perspiratory gland and in the
process eliminates the damaged cells and toxic matter from the system.
The common water temperature chart is : cold 100C to 180C, neutral 320C to 360C and hot 400C
to 450C. Above 450C, water loses its therapeutic value and is destructive.
The main methods of water treatment which can be employed in the healing of various diseases
in a do-it-yourself manner are described below.
ENEMA
Also known as rectal irrigation, an enema involves the injection of fluid into the rectum. In nature
cure treatment, only lukewarm water is used for cleaning the bowels. The patient is made to lie
on his left side extending his left leg and bending the right leg slightly. The enema nozzle,
lubricated with oil or vaseline, is inserted in the rectum. The enema can containing the lukewarm
water is then slowly raised and water is allowed to enter into the rectum. Generally, one to two
litres of water is injected. The patient may either lie down on his back or walk a little while
retaining the water. After five to 10 minutes, the water can be ejected along with the
accumulated morbid matter.
A warm water enema helps to clean the rectum of accumulated faecal matter. This is not only
the safest system for cleaning the bowels, but also improves the peristaltic movement of the
bowels and thereby relieves constipation. A cold water enema is helpful in inflammatory
conditions of the colon, especially in cases of dysentery, diarrhoea, ulcerative colitis,
haemorrhoids and fever. A hot water enema is beneficial in relieving irritation due to
inflammation of the rectum and painfull haemorrhoids. It also benefits women in leucorrhoea.
COLD COMPRESS
This is a local application using a cloth which has been wrung out in cold water. The cloth should
be folded into a broad strip and dipped in cold water or ice water. The compress is generally
applied to the head,neck, chest, abdomen and back. The cold compress is an effective means of
controlling inflammatory conditions of the liver, spleen, stomach, kidneys, intestines, lungs,
brain, pelvic organs and so on. It is also advantageous in cases of fever and heart disease. The
cold compress soothes dermities and inflammations of external portions of the eye. When the
eyeball is affected, the cold compress should follow a short fomentation.
HEATING COMPRESS
This is a cold compress covered in such a manner as to bring warmth. A heating compress
consists of three or four folds of linen cloth wrung out in cold water which is then covered
completely with dry flannel or blanket to prevent the circulation of air and help accumulation of
body heat. It is sometimes applied for several hours. The duration of the application is
determined by the extent and location of the surface involved, the nature and thickness of the
coverings and the water temperature. After removing the compress , the area should be rubbed
with a wet cloth and then dried with a towel. A heating compress can be applied to the throat,
chest, abdomen, and joints. A throat compress relieves sore throat, hoarseness, tonsillitis,
pharyngitis and laryngitis. An abdominal compress helps those suffering from gastritis,
hyperacidity, indigestion, jaundice, constipation, diarrhoea, dysentery and other ailments relating
to the abdominal organs. The chest compress also known as chest pack, relieves cold,
bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, fever, cough and so on, while the joints compress is helpful for
inflamed joints, rheumatism, rheumatic fever and sprains.
HIP BATHS
The hip bath is one of the most useful forms of hydrotherapy. As the name suggests, this mode
of treatment involves only the hips and the abdominal region below the navel. A special type of
tub is used for the purpose. The tub is filled with water in such a way that it covers the hips and
reaches upto the navel when the patient sits in it. Generally, four to six gallons of water are
required. If the special tub is not available, a common tub may be used. A support may be
placed under one edge to elevate it by two or three inches. Hip bath is given in cold, hot, neutral
or alternate temperatures.
COLD HIP BATH
The water temperature should be 100C to 180C. The duration of the bath is usually 10 minutes ,
but in specific conditions it may vary from one minute to 30 minutes. If the patient feels cold or is
very weak, a hot foot immersion should be given with the cold hip bath.
The patient should rub the abdomen briskly from the navel downwards and across the body with
a moderately coarse wet cloth. The legs, feet and upper part of the body should remain
completely dry during and after the bath. The patient should undertake moderate exercise like
yogasanas, after the cold hip bath, to warm the body.
A cold hip bath is a routine treatment in most diseases. It relieves constipation, indigestion,
obesity and helps the eliminative organs to function properly. It is also helpful in uterine
problems like irregular menstruation, chronic uterine infections, pelvic inflammation, piles,
hepatic congestion, chronic congestion of the prostate gland, seminal weakness, impotency,
sterility, uterine and ovarian displacements, dilation of the stomach and colon, diarrhoea,
dysentery, hemorrhage of the bladder and so on. The cold hip bath should not be employed in
acute inflammations of the pelvic and abdominal organs, ovaries and in painful contractions of
the bladder, rectum or vagina.
HOT HIP BATH
This bath is generally taken for eight to 10 minutes at a water temperature of 400C to 450C. The
bath should start at 400C. The temperature should be gradually increased to 450C. NO friction
should be applied to the abdomen. Before entering the tub,the patient should drink one glass of
cold water. A cold compress should be placed on the head. A hot hip bath helps to relieve
painful menstruation, pain in the pelvic organs, painful urination, inflamed rectum or bladder and
painful piles. It also benefits enlarged prostatic gland, painful contractions or spasm of the
bladder, sciatica, neuralgia of the ovaries and bladder. A cold shower bath should be taken
immediately after the hot hip bath.
Care should be taken to prevent the patient from catching a chill after the bath. The bath should
be terminated if the patient feels giddy or complains of excessive pain.
NEUTRAL HIP BATH
The temperature of the water should be 320C to 360C. Here too, friction to the abdomen should
be avoided. This bath is generally taken for 20 minutes to an hour. The neutral hip bath helps to
relieve all acute and sub-acute inflammatory conditions such as acute catarrh of the bladder and
urethra and subacute inflammations in the uterus, ovaries and tubes. It also relieves neuralgia of
the fallopian tubes or testicles, painful spasms of the vagina and prorates of the anus and vulva.
Besides, it is a sedative treatment for erotomanis in both sexes.
ALTERNATE HIP BATH
This is also known as revulsive hip bath. The temperature in the hot tub should be 400C to 450C
and in the cold tub 100C to 180C. The patient should alternately sit in the hot tub for five minutes
and then in the cold tub for three minutes. The duration of the bath is generally 10 to 20 minutes.
The head and neck should be kept cold with a cold compress. The treatment should end with a
dash of cold water to the hips.
This bath relieves chronic inflammatory conditions of the pelvic viscera such as salpingitis,
ovaritis, cellulitis and various neuralgias of the genito-urinary organs, sciatica and lumbago.
SPINAL BATH
The spinal bath is another important form of hydrotherapic treatment. This bath provides a
soothing effect to the spinal column and thereby influences the central nervous system. It is
given in a specially designed tub with its back raised so as to provide proper support to the
head. The bath can be administered at cold, neutral and hot temperatures. The water level in the
tub should be an inch and a half to two inches and the patient should lie in it for three to 10
minutes.
The cold spinal bath relieves irritation, fatigue, hypertension and excitement. It is beneficial in
almost all nervous disorders such as hysteria, fits, mental disorders, loss of memory and
tension. The neutral spinal bath is a soothing and sedative treatment, especially for the highly
strung and irritable patient. It is the ideal treatment for insomnia and also relieves tension of the
vertebral column. The duration of this bath is 20 to 30 minutes. The hot spinal bath, on the other
hand, helps to stimulate the nervous, especially when they are in a depressed state. It also
relieves vertebral pain in spondylitis and muscular backache. It relieves sciatic pain and
gastrointestinal disturbances of gastric origin.
FULL WET SHEET PACK
This is a procedure in which the whole body is wrapped in a wet sheet, which in turn is wrapped
in a dry blanket for regulating evaporation. The blanket should be spread on the bed with its
edges hanging over the edge of the bed. The upper end should be about eight inches from the
head of the bed. Then spread a linen sheet wrung out in cold water over the blanket so that its
end is slightly below the upper end of the blanket. The patient should lie on the bedsheet with his
shoulders about three inches below the upper age. The wet sheet should be weekly wrapped
round the body of the patient, drawn in, tightly tucked between the legs and also between the
body and the arms. The sheet should be folded over the shoulders and across the neck. Now
the blanket should be drawn tightly around the body and tucked in along the side in a similar
manner, pulling it tightly. The ends should be doubled up at the feet. A turkish towel should be
placed below the chin to protect the face and neck from coming into contact with the blanket and
to exclude outside air more effectively. The head should be covered with a wet cloth so that the
sculp remains cold. The feet should be kept warm during the entire treatment. If the patient’s feet
are cold, place hot water bottles near them to hasten reaction. The pack is administered for half
an hour to one hour till the patient begins to perspire profusely. He may be given cold or hot
water to drink.
This pack is useful in cases of fever especially in typhoid and continued fevers, and benefits
those suffering from insomnia, epilepsy and infantile convulsions. It is useful in relieving chronic
cold and bronchitis and helps in the treatment of rheumatism and obesity.
HOT FOOT BATHS
In this method, the patient should keep his or her legs in a tub or bucket filled with hot water at a
temperature of 400C to 450C. Before taking this bath, a glass of water should be taken and the
body should be covered with a blanket so that no heat or vapour escapes from the foot bath.
The head should be protected with a cold compress. The duration of the bath is generally from 5
to 20 minutes. The patient should take a cold shower immediately after the bath.
The hot foot bath stimulates the involuntary muscles of the uterus, intestines, bladder and other
pelvic and abdominal organs. It also relieves sprains and ankle joint pains, headaches caused
by cerebral congestion and colds. In women, it helps restore menstruation , if suspended, by
increasing supply of blood especially to the uterus and ovaries.
COLD FOOT BATH
Three to four inches of cold water at a temperature of 7.20C to 12.70C should be placed in a
small tub or bucket. The feet should be completely immersed in the water for one to five
minutes. Friction should be continuously applied to the feet during the bath, either by an
attendant or by the patient by rubbing one foot against the other.
A cold foot bath, taken for one or two minutes,relieves cerebral congestion and uterine
hemorrhage. It also helps in the treatment of sprains, strains and inflamed bunions when taken
for longer periods. It should not be taken in cases of inflammatory conditions of the
genito-urinary organs, liver and kidneys.
STEAM BATH
Steam bath is one of the most important time-tested water treatments which induces perspiration
in a most natural way. The patient, clad in minimum loin cloth or underwear, is made to sit on a
stool inside a specially designed cabinet. Before entering the cabinet, the patient should drink
one or two glasses of cold water and protect the head with a cold towel. The duration of the
steam bath is generally 10 to 20 minutes or until perspiration takes place. A cold shower should
be taken immediately after the bath.
Very weak patients, pregnant women, cardiac patients and those suffering from high blood
pressure should avoid this bath. If the patient feels giddy or uneasy during the steam bath, he or
she should be immediately taken out and given a glasss of cold water and the face washed with
cold water.
The steam bath helps to eliminate morbid matter from the surface of the skin. It also improves
circulation of the blood and tissue activity. It relieves rheumatism, gout, uric acid problems, and
obesity. The steam bath is helpful in all forms of chronic toxemias. It also relieves neuralgias,
chronic nephritis, infections, tetanus and migraine.
IMMERSION BATHS
This is also known as full bath. It is administered in a bath tub which should be properly fitted
with hot and cold water connections. The bath can be taken at cold, neutral, hot, graduated and
alternate temperatures.
COLD IMMERSION BATH
This may be taken for four seconds to 20 minutes at a temperature ranging from 100C to 23.80C.
Before entering the bath, cold water should be poured on the patient’s head, chest and neck and
the head should be protected with a cold moist towel. During the bath, the patient should
vigorously rub his or her body. After the bath the body should be quickly dried and wrapped up in
a blanket. If the climate is favourable, moderate exercise should be undertaken.
This bath helps to bring down fever. It also improves the skin when taken for five to 15 seconds
after a prolonged hot bath, by exhilarating circulation and stimulating the nervous system.
This bath should not be given to young children or very elderly persons, nor be taken in cases of
acute inflammation of some internal organs such as acute peritonitis, gastritis, enteritis and
inflammatory conditions of uterus and ovaries.
GRADUATED BATH
The patient should enter the bath at a temperature of 310C. The water temperature should be
lowered gradually at the rate of 10C per minute until it reaches 250C. The bath should continue
until the patient starts shivering. The graduated bath is intended to avoid nervous shock by
sudden plunge into the cold water. This bath is often administered every three hours in cases of
fever.
It effectively brings down the temperature except in malarial fever. Besides, it also produces a
general tonic effect, increases vital resistances and energises the heart.
NEUTRAL IMMERSION BATH
This bath can be given from 15 to 60 minutes at a temperature ranging from 260C to 280C. It can
be given for long duration, without any ill-effects, as the water temperature is akin to the body
temperature. The neutral bath diminishes the pulse rate without modifying respiration.
This treatment is the best sedative. Since the neutral bath excites activity of both the skin and
the kidneys, it is recommended in cases relating to these organs. It is also beneficial for cases of
organic diseases of the brain and spinal cord, including chronic inflammatory conditions such as
meningitis, rheumatism and arthritis.
A neutral immersion bath taken for 30 to 60 minutes is highly beneficial in general dropsy, due to
cardiac or renal diseases. It also helps those suffering from multiple neuritis, alcoholism and
other narcotic habits, chronic diarrhoea, peritonitis and chronic affections of the abdomen. In
such cases the bath may be given daily for 15 to 30 minutes. This bath is also useful in the
toxemic conditions caused by dyspepsia and pruritus. The neutral bath should not be prescribed
in certain cases of eczema and other forms of skin diseases where water aggravates the
symptoms, nor in cases of extreme cardiac weakness.
HOT IMMERSION BATH
This bath can be taken from two to 15 minutes at a temperature from 36.60C to 400C. Generally
this bath is started at 370C and the temperature is then gradually raised to the required level by
adding hot water. Before entering the bath, the patient should drink cold water and also wet the
head, neck and shoulders with cold water. A cold compress should be applied throughout the
treatment. This bath can be advantageously employed in dropsy when there is excessive loss of
tone of the heart and blood. This bath also relieves capillary bronchitis and bronchial pneumonia
in children. It relieves congestation of the lungs and activates the blood vessels of the skin
muscles. The bath should be terminated as soon as the skin becomes red.
In pneumonia and suppressed menstruation, the bath should be administered at 37.70C to 400C
for about 30 to 45 minutes. This bath should be given when the menstruation is due and may be
repeated for two to three days in succession. In dysmenorrhoea, this bath should be given at
380C to 44.40C for 15 minutes.
In chronic bronchitis a very hot bath taken for 5 to 7 minutes should be accompanied with
rubbing and friction. This relieves congestion of the mucous membrane and provides immediate
relief After the bath, oil should be applied to the skin if necessary.
The hot bath is a valuable treatment in chronic rheumatism and obesity. It gives immediate relief
when there is pain due to stones in the gall bladder and the kidneys. The hot bath should not be
taken in cases of organic diseases of the brain or spinal cord, nor in cases of cardiac weakness
and cardiac hypertrophy.
EPSOM SALT BATH
The immersion bath tub should be filled with about 135 litres of hot water at 400C. One to 1 1/2
kg. of Epsom salt should be dissolved in this water. The patient should drink a glass of cold
water, cover the head with a cold towel and then lie down in the tub, completely immersing the
trunk, thighs and legs for 15 to 20 minutes. The best time to take this bath is just before retiring
to bed. This is useful in cases of sciatica, lumbago, rheumatism, diabetes, neuritis, cold and
catarrh, kidney disorders and other uric acid and skin affections.
Precaution
Certain precautions are necessary while taking these therapeutic baths. Full baths should be
avoided within three hours after a meal and one hour before it. Local baths like the hip bath and
foot bath may, however, be taken two hours after a meal. Clean and pure water must be used
for baths and water once used should not be used again. While taking baths, temperature and
duration should be strictly observed to obtain the desired effects. A thermometer should always
be used to measure the temperature of the body. Women should not take any of the baths
during menstruation. They can take only hip baths during pregnancy till the completion of the
third month.
