Hydrotherapy (Cold-to-Heating Hydrotherapies) are hydrotherapy applications of cold cloths, covered with flannel, to a body area. It involves the application of a cold/wet cloth (covered by a dry cloth) to a body part, which heats up the treated area.
The body reacts and heats up the pack and the result is improved circulation and a better flow of healing blood in and out of the afflicted area.
Benefits of Cold-to-Heating Therapies
The compress consists of two (2) parts:
1) A wet inner Cotton flannel cloth or other loosely woven Material of 1-2 thicknesses. The cold, wet inner cloth is applied directly to the Skin surface.
2) A dry outer wool cloth or other tightly woven Material. The dry outer cloth is then applied directly on top of the inner cloth. The outer cloth must be snuggly applied, and it must completely cover the inner cloth in order to exclude the air and heat up the compress.
Benefits
As the compress warms up, the heat causes the blood vessels in the Skin to expand or dilate.
* The increased blood flow to the Skin surface relieves Congestion—the accumulation of blood—in the tissues below the surface of the treated part.
Treatment Indications:
• Throat (Tonsillitis, Laryngitis, Ear ache)
• Joints (pain and inflammation of Arthritis, rheumatic Fever, Trauma)
• Chest (Congestion or Coughs from Colds or Colds (Flu), Bronchitis, pneumonia, croup, Whooping Cough, Asthma)
• Abdomen (Constipation, Hepatitis, inflammation of the small or large bowel, Nausea of Pregnancy, Colic, difficulty sleeping, nervous conditions)
• Feet (same indications as the hot foot bath)
Precaution:
* Do not use the cold, wet compress hydrotherapy, if the patient is not vigorous enough to warm it up. Use a dry or medicated compress instead.
* Do not make the compress so tight that it is uncomfortable or that it interferes with the circulation or blood flow to the treated body part.
Examples of Hydrotherapy (Cold-to-Heating Therapies)
1) Heating Throat Compress & Dry Throat Compress
2) Heating Joint Compress & Dry Joint Compress
3) Moist Abdominal Bandage & Partial Abdominal Bandage Protected Joint Bandage Wet Girdle
4) Heating Chest Pack
5) Partial Chest Pack
6) Dry Chest Pack
1) Heating Throat Compress & Dry Throat Compress
A cold compress hydrotherapy that is so covered up that warming soon takes place.
The effect produced is that of a mild, prolonged application of moist heat.
A cold, wet cloth is placed about the throat, then covered with dry flannel to prevent air circulation, thus increasing body heat in that area.
Benefits
• Reduce inflammation and bring healing to the throat.
• Mothers will often place a heating compress on a child with a sore throat in the evening and take it off the next morning, when by then the compress should be dry.
• A very common household remedy for sore throat, hoarseness, Tonsillitis, Laryngitis, quinsy, and eustaChian tube inflammation.
What you will need
• 2-3 thicknesses of ordinary Cotton cloth about 3 inches wide and long enough to encircle the neck twice (2).
• Two (2) thicknesses of flannel not less than 4 inches wide.
• Safely pins.
• Possibly a piece of bandage.
Pre-application Proceedures:
1) Preparation for hydrotherapy treatment. Ensure the room is warm and free of cold drafts. The patient must be warm before applying the heating compress hydrotherapy . (Give a hot foot bath, if needed, to warm the body.)
2) Explain to the patient that the compress will be cold at First, but that it will warm up in a short time.
3) Begin each treatment with a prayer.
4) Immerse the inner cloth in cold Water; squeeze out all excess Water.
5) Quickly apply the cold, wet inner cloth to the body part being treated.
6) Immediately cover the inner cloth with the dry outer cloth. Pin the outer cloth securely in place.
7) Check the wet, inner cloth after 30 minutes to be sure that it is warming up.
8) The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a dry or medicated cloth.
9) Make a medicated compress by applying a liniment or medicated salve underneath the dry inner cloth.
10) Leave the compress in place for several hours or overnight. If the compress is left on overnight, it will be dry by morning.
11) In the morning, remove the compress and briskly rub the treated area with a cold washcloth.
12) dry the area thoroughly. Keep the patient warm and comfortable.
How to apply:
1) Prepare your Materials for the neck compress. If it is to go on one who is too frail to warm it up, then use a dry Throat Compress, which is prepared in the same manner as the regular Heating Throat Compress, but without being First wrung out of cold Water.
2) In giving a regular Heating Throat Compress, wring the Cotton cloth from cold Water and place it around the neck. This should be about 2-3 thicknesses about the neck.
3) Cover it well with the flannel (single or double thick, depending on the weight of the Material). Fit the flannel snugly but not too tightly that it will be uncomfortable. Pin it securely.
4) In Tonsillitis, quinsy, and inflammation of the eustaChian tube, the compress should extend upward about the lower part of the ear. You may need to hold up this part of the compress (that is by the lower part of the ear) with a bandage that is fastened to it and goes over the top part of the head and back down to it on the other side.
5) Remove it the morning. It should be entirely dry. When First put on, it can be quite wet but should not drip. But the next morning it must be dry.
6) As soon as you have removed the compress, rub the neck with a cloth wrung out of cold Water.
Alternative Treatment Procedures (Heating Compress):
1) Throat – The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a Charcoal Poultice.
2) Heating Joint Compress & Dry Joint Compress
The hydrotherapy is similar to the Heating Throat Compress hydrotherapy, but the primary difference lies in the fact that it is applied to one of the joints (foot, ankle, knee, elbow, hand, or wrist) instead of to the neck.
Benefits
• Used in cases of rheumatism and rheumatic Fever and painful joint conditions
What you will need
• An inner cloth wide enough to completely cover the treated area and long enough to wrap completely around the body part
• An outer cloth wider than the inner cloth by 1-2 cm on each side
• Safety pins to hold the outer part of the compress in place
Pre-application Proceedures:
1) Preparation for hydrotherapy treatment. Ensure the room is warm and free of cold drafts. The patient must be warm before applying the heating compress hydrotherapy . (Give a hot foot bath, if needed, to warm the body.)
2) Explain to the patient that the compress will be cold at First, but that it will warm up in a short time.
3) Begin each treatment with a prayer.
4) Immerse the inner cloth in cold Water; squeeze out all excess Water.
5) Quickly apply the cold, wet inner cloth to the body part being treated.
6) Immediately cover the inner cloth with the dry outer cloth. Pin the outer cloth securely in place.
7) Check the wet, inner cloth after 30 minutes to be sure that it is warming up.
8) The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a dry or medicated cloth.
9) Make a medicated compress by applying a liniment or medicated salve underneath the dry inner cloth.
10) Leave the compress in place for several hours or overnight. If the compress is left on overnight, it will be dry by morning.
11) In the morning, remove the compress and briskly rub the treated area with a cold washcloth.
12) dry the area thoroughly. Keep the patient warm and comfortable.
How to apply:
1) You will need similar Materials to those of Heating Throat Compress hydrotherapy. If the one it is to be placed upon is too weak or frail to heat up a wet compress, it may be best to make it a dry Joint Compress (several layers of flannel, with or without dry Cotton beneath it).
2) You may wish to place solution (such as Camphor oil, menthol, Mustard Water, etc.) on the Cotton before it is wrapped around the joint. This helps relieve pain, and by its counter-Irritant action enhances the heating effect by increasing the blood circulation at the painful joint.
3) Two (2) thicknesses of Cotton cloth are wrapped around the afflicted joint(s). Sometimes gauze is used, but Cotton will enable you to bring the Material closer to the Skin surface.)
4) Hold in place either with a 3 inch roller bandage (or with a broad flannel cloth).
Alternative Treatment Procedures (Heating Compress):
1) Joints – The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a Charcoal Poultice or a poultice of grated raw Potato or Cabbage.
3) Moist Abdominal Bandage & Partial Abdominal Bandage Protected Joint Bandage Wet Girdle
A heating compress applied over The Stomach and intestinal area.
It is an application of cold, wet sheeting, covered up with dry flannel, which the body then warms up into a very helpful heating pack.
* The Wet Girdle (Heating Trunk Pack) is a heating compress over the front of the abdominal area and a wrap-around Moist Abdominal Bandage, in that it covers both the front, sides and back of the lower trunk. “The region to which it is applied is bounded by the nipple line above and the hip joints below.
Note:
* Moist abdominal bandage is also called a binder/girdle/pack.
* When only the front part is moistened, it is called a Partial Abdominal Bandage.
* It is generally worn only at night.
* If plastic is placed over the flannel to prevent the Cotton from drying out, it is called a Protected Binder
Benefits
• Recommended in nearly all forms of atonic Indigestion, neurasthenia, Anemia of The Liver, Insomnia, catarrhal Jaundice, Constipation, and similar conditions.
• With a hot-Water bottle placed over The Stomach, it is also useful in milder cases of Nausea and Vomiting.
• If used as a Protected Binder, it is helpful for hyperacidity and to obtain relaxation in the abdominal organs.
What you will need
• One thickness of Cotton sheeting or linen,
• 3-4 thicknesses of gauze. It should be 8-9 inches wide.
• Flannel covering that is about 12 inches wide.
• Safety pins, and possibly plastic.
Pre-application Proceedures:
1) Preparation for hydrotherapy treatment. Ensure the room is warm and free of cold drafts. The patient must be warm before applying the heating compress hydrotherapy . (Give a hot foot bath, if needed, to warm the body.)
2) Explain to the patient that the compress will be cold at First, but that it will warm up in a short time.
3) Begin each treatment with a prayer.
4) Immerse the inner cloth in cold Water; squeeze out all excess Water.
5) Quickly apply the cold, wet inner cloth to the body part being treated.
6) Immediately cover the inner cloth with the dry outer cloth. Pin the outer cloth securely in place.
7) Check the wet, inner cloth after 30 minutes to be sure that it is warming up.
8) The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a dry or medicated cloth.
9) Make a medicated compress by applying a liniment or medicated salve underneath the dry inner cloth.
10) Leave the compress in place for several hours or overnight. If the compress is left on overnight, it will be dry by morning.
11) In the morning, remove the compress and briskly rub the treated area with a cold washcloth.
12) dry the area thoroughly. Keep the patient warm and comfortable.
How to apply:
1) Prepare the sheeting for a Moist Abdominal Bandage by dipping it into cold Water.
* lf the one receiving the treatment is too frail to warm up the large wet surface of the Cotton wrapping, give him one of the two (2) milder forms of the Moist Abdominal Bandage which are variations of the Partial Abdominal Bandage, which is:
* Only wet that portion of the cloth that is over the front (over the abdomen). Or, only place a smaller, wet cloth over the abdomen, and let the rest of the encircling covering be flannel alone.
2) The dry flannel is placed across a table, and the linen (or gauze), wrung nearly dry from cold Water, is placed over it.
3) The one not feeling well now lies back on the bandage. The lower edge of the cloth and flannel should touch below his hipBones (below the iliac crests).
4) Pull each end of the wet cloth tightly over his abdomen and tuck them under the opposite side.
5) Cover quickly and snugly with both ends of the flannel, and securely fasten the ends with safety pins. Also pin darts at each side to make the binder fit better. The flannel piece should project 1 1/2 -2 inches beyond the wet gauze or linen.
* lf plastic is now placed over the flannel to keep it from drying out (for hyperacidity), it now becomes a Protected Bandage, but understand that this is not the usual way of preparing Moist Abdominal Bandages.
6) A hot-Water bottle is sometimes placed, outside the flannel, over The Stomach area.
7) When you later remove the binder, wash the area with cold Water and dry thoroughly.
Alternative Treatment Procedures (Heating Compress):
1) Ear – For Ear ache, apply the heating compress up close to the ears. Half (1/2) of a Steamed warm Onion wrapped in a loosely woven cloth may be placed directly over the ear.
3) Joints – The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a Charcoal Poultice or a poultice of grated raw Potato or Cabbage.
4) Chest – Apply the heating compress to the chest (Heating Compress for the Chest). The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a raw grated or Steamed Onion poultice.
5) Abdomen – Place the dry outer cloth on the bed. Lay the cold, wet inner cloth on top of the dry outer cloth. Ensure the patient lies on top of the compress with its lower edge below the patient’s hipBones. Wrap the compress snuggly over the abdomen. The inner cloth may be replaced with a Charcoal Poultice.
6) Feet – Before going to bed, put on a pair of thin, wet Cotton socks. Cover them completely with a pair of dry wool socks. The feet must be warm before applying this treatment!
4) Heating Chest Pack
A Heating Chest Pack is similar in some respects to a fomentation over the chest, but differ in the fact that, instead of continually applying and changing fomentation cloths (a piece of wet Cotton sheeting is wrapped around the chest and then covered) , a slow build-up of heat occurs over a longer period of time.
Alternatives are:
1) Partial Chest Pack (a wet cloth is placed only over the chest, when the person would be too frail to heat up the full wet pack) or
2) Dry Chest Pack (has no moist compress within and very helpful between other treatments such as in the early stages of pneumonia or for those who are thin, aged.Benefits
It gradually build up heat in the Skin above the chest, thus aiding in relieving various Congestions in the chest and lungs.
• It is the most powerful pack (but not as immediately powerful as Fomentations to the chest). The Partial Chest Pack has far less strength and the dry Chest Pack is the mildest.
• Used for bronchial and Respiratory Colds that hang on such as Influenzaof the Respiratory type.
• Only use a dry Chest Pack during the acute stage of pneumonia and a Heating or Partial Chest Pack during later convalescence from it. During pneumonia, the Skin does not have its normal ability to adjust to changes in outside temperature.
• When treating Pleurisy condition, use the heating pack immediately after an application of heat (such as a Fomentation if he is robust), but if he has lessened Vitality, only use a dry Chest Pack, with a hot-Water bottle applied outside the pack.
• Also helpful for Whooping Cough, croup, Asthma, and similar conditions.
What you will need
• The chest pack can be made in several ways, but we will here describe the simplest (the fitted chest pack).
• Take flannel Material and cut it with scissors into two (2) fitted pieces.
Note:
* One will go over his chest, upper shoulders and sides; the other will cover his back and lower shoulders and side. Allow for overlapping under the arms and on the shoulders. This will be pinned together each time it is used.
• You will also need a Cotton cloth (such as old sheeting Material)
* If a wet cloth (inside a regular Heating or Partial Chest Pack) is to be used. You will not need it if a dry Chest Pack is being applied.
• An inner cloth wide enough to completely cover the treated area and long enough to wrap completely around the body part.
• An outer cloth wider than the inner cloth by 1-2 cm on each side.
• Safety pins to hold the outer part of the compress in place.
Pre-application Proceedures:
1) Preparation for hydrotherapy treatment. Ensure the room is warm and free of cold drafts. The patient must be warm before applying the heating compress hydrotherapy . (Give a hot foot bath, if needed, to warm the body.)
2) Explain to the patient that the compress will be cold at First, but that it will warm up in a short time.
3) Begin each treatment with a prayer.
4) Immerse the inner cloth in cold Water; squeeze out all excess Water.
5) Quickly apply the cold, wet inner cloth to the body part being treated.
6) Immediately cover the inner cloth with the dry outer cloth. Pin the outer cloth securely in place.
7) Check the wet, inner cloth after 30 minutes to be sure that it is warming up.
8) The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a dry or medicated cloth.
9) Make a medicated compress by applying a liniment or medicated salve underneath the dry inner cloth.
10) Leave the compress in place for several hours or overnight. If the compress is left on overnight, it will be dry by morning.
11) In the morning, remove the compress and briskly rub the treated area with a cold washcloth.
12) dry the area thoroughly. Keep the patient warm and comfortable.
How to apply:
1) Warm up his chest with fomentations, or a heat lamp over his chest.
2) If a moist cloth is to be applied, wring it thoroughly from tap Water and place it on his chest (Partial Pack), or wrap it about his chest and upper back (Heating Pack).
3) At this point, you may wish to put warm Camphor oil, or something similar, on the wet sheeting over his chest.
4) If you wish to increase the Sweating, place plastic over the moistened cloth.)
5) Cover quickly with the fitted flannel. Patient should be covered well, but not too tightly.
6) Pin securely.
How to apply (Heating Compress for the Chest):
1) Wrap the chest with a cool, moist flannel cloth. A sleeveless Cotton undershirt may also be used.
2) Completely cover the moist compress with a dry wool or tightly woven cloth. Avoid air spaces by pinning the outer cloth securely in place.
3) Apply a heating compress to the throat.
4) Cover the entire chest and arms with a snug, long-sleeved Sweater.
Alternative Treatment Procedures (Heating Compress):
1) Chest – Apply the heating compress to the chest (Heating Compress for the Chest). The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a raw grated or Steamed Onion poultice.
Precaution:
* The wet compress should be wrung our thoroughly, and then covered well to avoid chilling and to aid in a prompt reaction.
* The pack must be snugly applied at all places, but not so tight as to restrict the movements of the chest in breathing.
* The pack should be comfortable and should feel warm in a very short time. If not, remove it and apply a milder pack (a Partial or dry Chest Pack).
* Use a dry Chest Pack (not a Heating Chest Pack) during the acute stages of pneumonia.
* When caring for Pleurisy, it is best to only use the dry Chest Pack. Both the Partial and dry Chest Pack.
5) Partial Chest Pack
It’s identical to the Heating Chest Pack, with the exception that the wet cloth is only placed over the chest.
Benefits
• Used to give a heating-type chest pack to one would be too frail to warm up the full wet pack (the Heating Chest Pack).
What you will need
• An inner cloth wide enough to completely cover the treated area and long enough to wrap completely around the body part.
• An outer cloth wider than the inner cloth by 1-2 cm on each side.
• Safety pins to hold the outer part of the compress in place.
Pre-application Proceedures:
1) Preparation for hydrotherapy treatment. Ensure the room is warm and free of cold drafts. The patient must be warm before applying the heating compress hydrotherapy . (Give a hot foot bath, if needed, to warm the body.)
2) Explain to the patient that the compress will be cold at First, but that it will warm up in a short time.
3) Begin each treatment with a prayer.
4) Immerse the inner cloth in cold Water; squeeze out all excess Water.
5) Quickly apply the cold, wet inner cloth to the body part being treated.
6) Immediately cover the inner cloth with the dry outer cloth. Pin the outer cloth securely in place.
7) Check the wet, inner cloth after 30 minutes to be sure that it is warming up.
8) The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a dry or medicated cloth.
9) Make a medicated compress by applying a liniment or medicated salve underneath the dry inner cloth.
10) Leave the compress in place for several hours or overnight. If the compress is left on overnight, it will be dry by morning.
11) In the morning, remove the compress and briskly rub the treated area with a cold washcloth.
12) dry the area thoroughly. Keep the patient warm and comfortable.
How to apply:
1) The Cotton covering for the partial pack can be cut to any desired shape.
2) Wring it out wet and apply it over the chest.
3) Cover it with the flannel. Since most of the chest is covered with dry Material, this pack is quite similar in effect to the dry Chest Pack.
Alternative Treatment Procedures (Heating Compress):
1) Chest – Apply the heating compress to the chest (Heating Compress for the Chest). The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a raw grated or Steamed Onion poultice.
Precaution:
* Only use the dry Chest Pack during the acute stage of pneumonia and a Heating or Partial Chest Pack during later convalescence from it.
6) Dry Chest Pack
It’s identical to the Heating Chest Pack, with the exception that it does not have any wet cloth between the Skin and the blanket.
Benefits
• Helpful between other hydrotherapy treatments.
• Well adapted to the special needs of the thin and the aged who are not able to react and heat up the moist cloth used in the Heating Chest Pack.
• The best method for the early stages of pneumonia.
What you will need
• An inner cloth wide enough to completely cover the treated area and long enough to wrap completely around the body part.
• An outer cloth wider than the inner cloth by 1-2 cm on each side.
• Safety pins to hold the outer part of the compress in place.
Pre-application Proceedures:
1) Preparation for hydrotherapy treatment. Ensure the room is warm and free of cold drafts. The patient must be warm before applying the heating compress hydrotherapy . (Give a hot foot bath, if needed, to warm the body.)
2) Explain to the patient that the compress will be cold at First, but that it will warm up in a short time.
3) Begin each treatment with a prayer.
4) Immerse the inner cloth in cold Water; squeeze out all excess Water.
5) Quickly apply the cold, wet inner cloth to the body part being treated.
6) Immediately cover the inner cloth with the dry outer cloth. Pin the outer cloth securely in place.
7) Check the wet, inner cloth after 30 minutes to be sure that it is warming up.
8) The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a dry or medicated cloth.
9) Make a medicated compress by applying a liniment or medicated salve underneath the dry inner cloth.
10) Leave the compress in place for several hours or overnight. If the compress is left on overnight, it will be dry by morning.
11) In the morning, remove the compress and briskly rub the treated area with a cold washcloth.
12) dry the area thoroughly. Keep the patient warm and comfortable.
How to apply:
1) Only the flannel is used and should be applied over a thin undergarment that he is wearing.
2) The dry Pack is necessary for thin, weak people, because it is almost impossible to pin the wet pack tightly enough to prevent air from circulating under the edges of the pack and yet be loose enough to be comfortable and not restrict the breathing.
Alternative Treatment Procedures (Heating Compress):
1) Chest – Apply the heating compress to the chest (Heating Compress for the Chest). The cold, wet inner cloth may be replaced with a raw grated or Steamed Onion poultice.
Precaution:
* Only use the dry Chest Pack during the acute stage of pneumonia; only use a Heating or Partial Chest Pack during later convalescence from it.
