It is the immersion of the hand (or arm and hand), the foot (or leg and foot) into a basin (or tub) of Water. A Contrast Bath (Alternate Hot and Cold) is an alternating plunge of part of the body into hot Water and then into cold, and back again.

This hydrotherapy treatment may be combined with the application of a poultice or a heating compress.

* The hot and cold Water may be applied with wash cloths to body areas that cannot be easily immersed in Water.

Benefits
• The blood vessels expand or dilate with heat and contract with cold—increasing the circulation or blood flow to the treated body part.

i) The increased blood flow enhances the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the body cells and

ii) The increased blood flow also hastens removal of the cell’s waste products.

iii) The result is increased cell Metabolism and more rapid healing of the treated body part.

• It removes waste products from the body area being treated. These greatly improves rapidity of blood flow, increases the quantity of fresh oxygen, nutrients, and blood cells (white and red).
• Contrast Baths to the hands, feet, arms, or legs, are very helpful for fractures, Arthritis (both rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis), congestive Headaches, Dropsy / Edema, Sprains, Strains, Trauma (after 24 hours), Infections, Lymphangitis (2-3 times a day), impaired venous circulation, and Indolent ulcers.

What you will need

• Two (2) containers (large basins) large enough for the Water in them to cover the area being treated.
• An antiseptic (to be placed in the Water if there are open Wounds).
• A bath thermometer
• A bath towel
• Tea kettle or pitcher (to add more hot Water from time to time).
• Ice cubes (for the cold Water bucket).
• Sometimes a cold compress (hand towel wrung from cold Water) or ice bag is also needed.
• Sheet or light blanket
• Another basin of cold Water and 2 washcloths for a cold compress to the head.

Treatment Indications

• Localized Infections
• Muscle or joint injuries
• Arthritis
• Headaches (contrast bath to the extremities)
• Dropsy / Edema (swelling of a body part due to Fluid retention)
• Blood vessel disease of the veins or arteries to the legs and feet.

How to apply:

1) Place the limb in the hot Water (105-110º F.) for 3-4 minutes, then put it into the cold tap Water (or ice Water) for 30-60 seconds.

2) Begin with the hot Water and end with the cold. Change from one temperature to the other 6-8 times (34 complete cycles). Time spans are generally 3-4 minutes (in the hot), then 30-60 seconds (in the cold).

3) Begin hot immersion at lower temperature limits, increasing the temperature as you continue on through the treatment.

4) Add hot Water by pouring it over your own hand, and add it while the limb is in the cold Water. A cold compress (hand towel wrung out of cold Water) or ice bag may be needed on the head or back of neck (if a large part of the body is being treated).

5) Place an ice bag to The Heart (if his pulse is over 80 beats per minute, while in serious cases, it is best to check his pulse every 5 minutes during treatment)

6) End by drying the limb thoroughly and have the patient to rest for half an hour afterward.

* Do not normally use hot Water temperatures above 110 º F (never go over 105º F in blood vessel disease of the legs and feet).

* Avoid using extremely hot and cold Water in Diabetes (or in peripheral vascular disease).

* When working with Rheumatoid Arthritis, end with the hot instead of the cold.

Alternatively

1) Prepare treatment and have the room warm and all equipment assembled.

2) Explain the procedure; assist the patient in preparation for treatment. Encourage confidence in the divine remedies by beginning each treatment with prayer.

3) Begin with the hot Water bath. Start with milder heat; increase the heat as tolerated. After 3-4 minutes (or the specified time) transfer to the cold Water bath for 30-60 seconds.

4) During the treatment, keep the hot and cold baths at the desired temperature by adding hot or cold Water as needed.

5) Place a cold compress to the head if Sweating occurs.

6) Make 5-7 changes per treatment. Treat 1-4 times per day.

7) After the last change, thoroughly dry the treated body part.

8) If Sweating occurs, dry the entire body; remove damp clothing, and dress in clean dry garments.

9) Rest for 30-60 minutes after each treatment.

How to apply (additional):

1) Cold head and neck compresses will be needed, and perhaps an ice bag over The Heart.

2) Take 2-3 minutes in the hot followed by 20-30 seconds in the cold, for 5-30 minutes.

3) After 2-3 treatments, pieces of ice may be added to the cold Water.

4) The treatment may be concluded with heavy friction to the feet and legs.

* When used for varicose ulcer, the hot should only be one (1) minute in length-or the ulcer will become worse!

Special Contrast Baths

a) Contrast Bath to the Hand or Arm
b) Contrast Bath to the Feet
c) Contrast Bath to the Legs

a) Contrast Bath to the Hand or Arm

• It is very helpful for blood Poisoning in an infected arm or hand.
• It is also of value in controlling Nose bleed.

Additional things needed
• Two (2) very deep pails may be used and follow the above procedure. The hot Water should be as hot as can be borne.

b) Contrast Bath to the Feet

An alternate hot and cold to the feet (using two tubs) apply.

• It’s helpful in congestive Headaches, where a cold compress to the head (or head and neck) is also applied at the same time.
• It is used in treating Infections of the foot, Charcot’s joint at the ankle, Tuberculosis of the ankle or Bones of the foot.
• It is also used in gangrene (to hasten the formation of the line of demarcation).

c) Contrast Bath to the Legs

An alternate hot and cold leg bath.

• It is especially useful in treating Dropsy / Edema of the legs.

Additional things needed
• Requires two (2) tubs deep enough to immerse the legs to the knees (or deeper).

i) Special Applications for Contrast Baths on Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)

1) Begin the treatment with warm Water at temperature of 110º F for (3-5 minutes), then change to cool Water for 1 minute. Gradually increase the hot Water temperature and reduce the cold Water temperature as tolerated.

2) Alternate from hot to cold Water 4-7 times. End with the hot Water bath. The hot Water should gradually be raised to 115-120º F and the tap Water gradually lowered to that of ice Water.

3) Administer/Repeat the above treatment 1-2 times per day.

ii) Special Applications for Contrast Baths on Infections and Cellulitis

1) Begin with 110º F., and increase temperature to tolerance.

2) One can usually start with ice Water. End with ice Water.

3) Change 5- 6 times.

4) Administer 2-3 times daily.

iii) Special Applications for Contrast Baths on Poor circulation caused by blood vessel disease

(Decreased Circulation (Blood Flow) to the Extremities)

1) Begin with a temperature of 105º F for 3 minutes, then change to cold for 30 seconds.

2) Treat with mild heat for 3 minutes and cool Water (no ice) for one minute.

3) Test the hot Water with your elbow to be certain that it is not too hot.

4) Alternate from hot to cold Water 5-7 times. End with the hot Water bath.

5) Repeat the above treatment 1-2 times per day.

iv) Special Applications for Contrast Baths on Sprained ankle (Localized Infections, Muscle and Joint Injuries)

1) Treat acute muscle and joint injuries with ice or cold packs, rest, and elevation of the affected body part for the First 12-24 hours.

2) Begin the contrast bath treatment with Water as hot as can be tolerated. A temperature of 110º F hot Water and end with ice Water. (Note that an alternation of hot and cold is here used. When cold Water alone is used, both the pain and recovery time is lengthened.)

3) Alternate from hot to cold Water 5-7 times. End with the cold Water bath.

4) Repeat the above treatment 2-4 times per day.

v) Special Applications for Contrast Baths on Weak-pronated feet

1) Begin with a temperature of 110º F, then after four (4) minutes, change to tap Water for one (1) minute.

2) Change back and forth 4-6 times, and end with the hot Water. The hot Water should gradually be raised to 115-120º F and the tap Water gradually lowered to that of ice Water.

3) Administer this treatment once or twice a day.

The hot foot bath consists of placing the feet in hot Water deep enough to completely cover the ankles.

It is a continuous bath of the foot in hot Water and not a contrast bath for the feet. When the feet are placed in hot Water, the excess blood which is congesting other parts of the body is brought to the legs and feet.

It may be used alone or combined with another treatment (such as fomentations or the heating compress). The hot foot bath affects the circulation of the entire body as heat expands or dilates the blood vessels of the feet, which moves the blood from other body parts to the feet.

Benefits
• It helps stimulate the entire blood circulation in the body by increasing blood flow to the feet, thus relieving Congestion in the entire body (especially the brain, lungs, abdominal and pelvic organs).
• It also helps to ward off Infection and sickness in cold weather, when one is beginning to catch a cold, sore throat, etc. The body has become chilled, and a hot foot bath warms the entire body and stimulates the circulation.
• It will relieve the nervous tension (Headaches), lessen Congestion in the brain, and balance the circulation. When an individual is nervously fatigued, the feet are generally cold and the blood circulation is poor and unequal.

What you will need

• A foot tub (or similar container large enough and deep enough).
• Thermometer (to test the Water or use your elbow (103-110º F.).
• 1-2 large bath towels
• Tea kettle or pitcher of hot Water (and another for cold Water)
• Basin of cold Water (use ice if available for the cold compress to the head)
• Two (2) blankets.
• Cold compress (hand towel wrung out of cold Water), if needed for the neck.
• Large piece of plastic to put under the foot tub (to keep bed or floor dry)
• Glass of Water and a drinking straw.

Treatment Indications

• Prevent or shorten Colds, chest Congestion, Colds (Flu) or Coughs
• Headaches and stopping Nose bleeds
• Pelvic cramps or Prostate disorders
• Diminish pain anywhere in the body from toothache to Back Ache
• Relieve fatigue and nervous tension
• Warm the body in preparation for massage or some other treatment.

How to apply:

1) The room should be warm with no drafts.

2) Place the plastic, with towel over it, on the floor under the feet.

3) Test the Water temperature with the thermometer or your elbow.

4) Fill the foot tub with Water (about 104º F.) so that the ankles are fully covered.

5) Place his/her feet in the tub and cover him/her with the blanket. (If he is sitting up, wrap him well.) If he is lying down, do not let the calf of his leg touch the foot tub.

6) Slowly add hot Water to increase the temperature up to 112º or 115º F. Pour the Water against the inside of the tub, with your hand between the flowing Water and his feet, stirring the Water as it is added.

7) Continue the bath for 10-30 minutes, depending on the effect desired.

8) Keep his head cool with a cold compress. A cold head compress is especially important if the foot bath is continued for any length of time (or if he is in a sitting position) and always if there is a tendency to faintness.

9) When the feet are removed from the hot Water, pour a dAsh of cold Water over them quickly. This cold Water should come in contact with both the dorsal (side) and plantar (bottom) surfaces of the feet.

10) Quickly place the feet on the towel and remove the foot tub. dry the feet well, especially between the toes. If he is perspiring, dry him thoroughly with a towel.

* Do not give a Hot Foot Bath to one who has hardening of The Arteries of the feet (or if there is a loss of Skin sensation [no sense of feeling] in the feet).

Alternatively, Apply

This treatment may be given with the patient sitting on a Chair or lying on a flat surface.

1) Ensure the room is warm, free of cold drafts, and all equipment assembled.

2) Explain the procedure to the patient, and assist the patient in preparation for treatment.This treatment will be described with the patient sitting on a Chair.

3) Place a blanket over the Chair, and cover the blanket with a sheet. Put a piece of plastic under the feet, and cover the plastic with a dry towel.

4) Prepare the foot bath with enough warm Water to cover the ankles.

5) Begin each treatment with a prayer.

6) Test the Water with your elbow to determine the comfort level. Put your hands under the patient’s feet and carefully immerse them in the warm Water bath.

7) Completely wrap the patient and the foot tub in the sheet and blanket.

8) Leave the head and neck exposed.

9) When Sweating occurs, put cold compresses on the head and neck.

10) Drink Water freely throughout the treatment to replace the Water lost in Sweating.

11) Periodically, add hot Water to the foot bath to maintain heat. Place your hand between the hot Water being poured and the patient’s feet (to avoid burning the feet).

12) Lift the feet out of the hot Water and point the toes upward. Quickly pour cold Water over the feet.

13) Remove the tub and place the feet on the dry towel. Thoroughly dry the feet and toes. Put on warm socks or slippers to avoid chilling.

14) If Sweating occurs, briskly rub the Skin with a cold washcloth, and then dry the Skin with a towel.

15) Remove damp garments and replace them with clean, dry clothing.

16) The patient must rest for approximately one (1) hour after each treatment.

17) If further Sweating occurs during rest, take a lukewarm bath or shower to finish the treatment.

Special Applications for Hot Foot Bath
a) Rising temperature hip bath
b) Rising temperature foot bath, warm foot bath

a) Rising temperature hip bath

A tub filled with a hand’s breadth of tepid Water is used. Hot Water is then gradually added until the level reaches the navel. The final temperature should be 39-40’C, where the patient is wrapped warm and proceeds to bed.

Benefits
• Useful for abating Colds, Back Pain (Sciatica).

Precaution:

* It should last 15-30 minutes, not more than three times per week.

* Should be used with caution by persons with heart or circulation problems, Hemorrhoids, or varicose veins.

b) Rising temperature foot bath, warm foot bath.

The feet are immersed in a foot bath filled with Water at body temperature. Hot Water is gradually added to give a final temperature of 39-40’C.

In warm foot baths Water of this temperature is added straight away. Keep warm afterwards. The procedure should last 10-15 minutes and can be done daily.

Benefits
• Useful for cold feet, start of a common cold, for relaxation.

Precaution:

* Best avoided by people with varicose veins, Lymphostasis, or Dropsy / Edema.

The Different Arm Baths
a) Cold arm bath
b) Rising temperature arm bath

a) Cold arm bath

A basin is filled with cold Water until it reaches a depth several inches above the immersed elbow. If the treatment becomes intolerable, stop and repeat as desired.

Benefits
• Useful for Headaches, sleeplessness.

Precaution:

* Best avoided by people with heart or circulatory problems.

b) Rising temperature arm bath

Same as the rising temperature foot bath in principle. It should be followed by a cold arm douche, then 30 minutes rest.

Benefits
• Useful for Bronchitis, Asthma, incipient Respiratory Infection, circulatory problems, Angina Pectoris.

It is a foot bath in a tub of shallow cold Water.

Benefits
• It causes reflex contraction of the blood vessels of the brain, pelvic organs, and Liver.
• It also contracts the muscles of the uterus, bladder, stomach, and intestines.

Cold foot bath.

The feet are placed into a foot bath filled to calf depth with cold Water. Stop when a cold stimulus is felt or when the Water is no longer perceived as being particularly cold.

Stroke off excess Water, dress, and walk or run until dry.

A special form of this treatment is walking in Water, which involves walking stork-like on a non-slip mat placed under the Water.

Benefits
• Useful for varicose veins, susceptibility to Dropsy / Edemas, Headaches, low blood pressure, circulatory problems, sleeplessness, proneness to the common cold, Sweaty feet, or a contused ankle.

Precaution:

* Best avoided by people who suffer from cold feet, very High Blood Pressure, an irritable bladder, Urinary Tract System Infection, Diabetes, or vascular occlusion.

* The Cold Foot Bath should not be given during the Menstrual period or in case of acute pulmonary, abdominal, or pelvic inflammation.

How to apply:

1) The room should be warm with no drafts.

2) Place the plastic, with towel over it, on the floor under the feet.

3) Test the Water temperature with the thermometer or your elbow.

4) His/her feet should be previously warmed. During the bath the feet should be rubbed with the hands or one foot against the other.

5) Fill the foot tub with Water to about 2-4 inches deep, and its temperature should be about 45-60º F.

6) Place his/her feet in the tub and cover him/her with the blanket. (If he is sitting up, wrap him well.) If he is lying down, do not let the calf of his leg touch the foot tub.

7) Slowly add hot Water to increase the temperature up to 112º or 115º F. Pour the Water against the inside of the tub, with your hand between the flowing Water and his feet, stirring the Water as it is added.

8) The bath should last from 1-5 minutes.

9) Keep his head cool with a cold compress. A cold head compress is especially important if the foot bath is continued for any length of time (or if he is in a sitting position) and always if there is a tendency to faintness.

10) When the feet are removed from the hot Water, pour a dAsh of cold Water over them quickly. This cold Water should come in contact with both the dorsal (side) and plantar (bottom) surfaces of the feet.

11) Quickly place the feet on the towel and remove the foot tub. dry the feet well, especially between the toes. If he is perspiring, dry him thoroughly with a towel.

12) When completed, dry the feet well, and make sure that they are warm afterward.

Sitz bath comes from sitzen (a German word) meaning to sitting, bath. Its taken in a hip bath as a cold, rising temperature (or warm sitz bath).

Prior to a sitz bath, warm the feet (e.g. through a warm foot bath and parts of the body not immersed in Water should be covered).

Benefits
• Used the Sitz Bath in treating Constipation and other abdominal and pelvic conditions.
• Very helpful for many different pelvic problems.
• Useful for cold sitz bath for Hemorrhoids (or inflammation of the anus).

What you will need

• Special sitz tubs (with a second foot bath tub beside it), but you can use an ordinary washtub.
• A smaller tub (or bath pan) may be used to give the foot bath (which should always be given with the Sitz Bath).
• An ordinary bathtub can be used for a Hot Sitz Bath, but the Water should be deep enough to reach to the navel.

How to apply:

1) Help him/her into the tub, then cover him/her with a blanket.

2) Sufficient Water should be used to cover the hips and reach to the abdomen.

3) The temperature of the foot bath should be several degrees hotter than that of the Sitz Bath. The duration of the Sitz Bath is most often 3-8 minutes, but it depends on the temperature used and the effect desired.

4) Friction (rubbing) can be used with the Cold Sitz Bath if he feels chilly (or to intensify the effect).

5) Finish by cooling the Water to neutral for a minute or two (or by pouring cold Water over the hips and thighs).

6) Cold compresses (hand towels wrung out of cold Water) to the head and neck must be used with the Hot Sitz.

The Different Sitz Baths
a) Cold Sitz Bath
b) Cold Rubbing Sitz Bath
c) Prolonged Cold Sitz Bath
d) Neutral Sitz Bath
e) Very Hot Sitz Bath
f) Revulsive Sitz Bath
g) Alternate Hot & Cold Sitz Bath

a) Cold Sitz Bath

• It greatly stimulates pelvic circulation and the muscles of the bowels, bladder, and uterus.

How to apply:

1) Use cold Water at 55-75º F (The foot bath is 105-110º F) for 1-8 minutes. If it is only 2-4 minutes in length, the Cold Sitz Bath greatly stimulates pelvic circulation and the muscles of the bowels, bladder, and uterus.

2) Enough Water should be used to cover the hips and come up on the abdomen.

3) Rub the hips to promote circulation.

4) Friction mitts may be used.

5) If the Water is kept circulating (moving) in the tub, the effect will be heightened.

b) Cold Rubbing Sitz Bath

• It’s a Cold Sitz Bath effects intensified if the Water is 55-65º F. and vigorous friction (rubbing) is given.

• Cold Rubbing Sitz Bath is very helpful in Constipation, sub-involution, and hastening the absorption of residual thickening after pelvic inflammations.

c) Prolonged Cold Sitz Bath

• It’s a Cold Sitz Bath which has been lengthened for 15-40 minutes.

• Prolonged Cold Sitz Bath causes powerful and lasting contraction of the pelvic blood vessels and of the muscular wall of the uterus.

• It is used in sub-involution.

How to apply:

1) In Prolonged Cold Sitz Bath, Water temperature of 70-85º F is used and the foot bath is 105-110º F, but it may be started at a higher temperature and slowly lowered to that point.

2) Rubbing is not desirable, but if needed to give a sensation of warmth, a fomentation (or wrapped hot-Water bottle) can be placed to the spine.

d) Neutral Sitz Bath

• It relaxes and helps one go to sleep.

How to apply:

1) Use cold Water at 92-97º F (with 102-106º F. for the foot bath) for 20 minutes to 2 hours in length.

e) Very Hot Sitz

• Very helpful for Dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain from various causes. In Dysmenorrhea the bath should not be cooled.

How to apply:

1) Begin at 100º F and rapidly go up to 115 º F. (Foot bath: 110-120º F) for 3-8 minutes.

2) Always keep the foot bath two degrees hotter than the Sitz bath it accompanies.

3) Keep the head cool.

4) End by cooling the bath to neutral for 1-3 minutes. If Sweating has been produced, pour cold Water over the shoulders and chest.

f) Revulsive Sitz Bath

• It is a powerful help in heating chronic inflammatory pelvic problems (salpingitis, pArametritis, Cellulitis, prostatic hypertrophic nocturia, etc.)

How to apply:

1) Begin at 100º F and increase rapidly to 115º F. (Foot bath: 110- 120º F.) for 3-8 minutes.

2) Keep the head cool with cold cloths over the forehead (or around the back of the neck).

3) Finish with a cold (55- 65º F.) pail pour on the hips.

g) Alternate Hot & Cold Sitz Bath

How to apply:

1) You will need two sitz tubs, side by side.

2) Fill one with hot (106-115º F.) Water, and the other with cold (55-65º F.) Water. (Foot baths for both: 105-115º F.)

3) Apply cold compresses to the head and neck.