Hydrotherapy is a useful way to heal and ease a range of ailments and it has been used in different ways. Previously, I have written one particular post on cold shower. Today, I will be expanding on the 3 types of baths to help you understand how hot, cold and neutral baths works in hydrotherapy.
Hot baths
Hot baths is an indulgence type of hydrotherapy. You know it and experience its benefits in your bathroom. Hot baths or showers can help to ease muscles, joint pains and inflammation. Typically, a bath with the temperature between 36.5 Deg C and 40 Deg C is very useful to relax your muscles, dilate the blood vessels, open the skin pores and stimulate perspiration. In fact, hot bath is sedative, acts on the surface nerves as well as the autonomic nervous system and will reduce the activity of the hormonal glands, especially the adrenal. Some of us might not be aware that ten minutes of hot bath is good enough; beyond that, it can result in the opposite effect. So remember to time your hot baths time to reap its benefits.
Cold baths
If you are seeking to improve blood flow to internal parts of your body, cold bath may be the answer. It can constrict the blood vessel and divert the blood to internal tissues and organs to maintain the normal body temperature to function. The cold can also reduce swellings from bruises as well. You can splash or immerse in water, particularly on the inflammed or sore area to reduce the swelling. However, just as the principles of tepid sponging (to reduce fever) in nursing, it is essential to dry yourself quickly to prevent chilling. From my personal experience as a cold shower convert, I have mild breathless after a cold shower. Now, I didn't feel the breathlessness anymore and I also felt my body more resistant to common colds as well.
Neutral baths
It is said that the water used that has the same temperature (33.5 Deg C to 35.6 Deg C) with the body can also provide a sedative and relaxing effect on your body. The use of cold and hot baths targets at our stimuli that can affect our hormonal system. Thus, with neutral bath, it can calm a person in a state of stress. While hot and cold baths can provide two extreme effects on your body, the neutral bath does not strain too hard on the blood circulation, particularly the heart. A reccomended time for immersion in neutral bath requires at least 30 min and can be longer than that.
My previous related blog post
1) Cold Shower is good for health
Showing posts with label blood circulation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blood circulation. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, January 15, 2007
Cold shower is good for health
Do you know that cold shower helps to stimulate your blood circulation? With the improvement in blood circulation, it can also help when coping with depression. I am a living example. Recently I went into a depression and I found this dramatically improved my overall wellbeing.
Not only was I able to cope with the depression, I felt more energy and less prone to the viral flu and cold that is most vulnerable during these rainy season. I feel so good that I want to share about it. In the past, if you were to suggest a cold bath, I would put off that idea as I always take hot shower, and I mean really hot (almost scorching sort that fills the room with steam).
There is also study that shows taking cold shower is also good for your hair. And also the heat from the hot shower can spoil the hair strands too.
There was also a research done in 1990 at the Hannover Medical Scool where 50 medical students volunteered in a 6-months trial, where only half of the group takes cold morning shower. The results show that cold shower does have a significant resistance to cold as compared to the group that didn't take the cold shower.
In addition, cold shower that help boost sex hormone production, increase energy drive, improve blood circulation and immune system, prevent heart disease, improve nails and hair growth. I was also glad to find a yahoo group sharing about the benefits they found with cold shower.
Not only was I able to cope with the depression, I felt more energy and less prone to the viral flu and cold that is most vulnerable during these rainy season. I feel so good that I want to share about it. In the past, if you were to suggest a cold bath, I would put off that idea as I always take hot shower, and I mean really hot (almost scorching sort that fills the room with steam).
There is also study that shows taking cold shower is also good for your hair. And also the heat from the hot shower can spoil the hair strands too.
There was also a research done in 1990 at the Hannover Medical Scool where 50 medical students volunteered in a 6-months trial, where only half of the group takes cold morning shower. The results show that cold shower does have a significant resistance to cold as compared to the group that didn't take the cold shower.
In addition, cold shower that help boost sex hormone production, increase energy drive, improve blood circulation and immune system, prevent heart disease, improve nails and hair growth. I was also glad to find a yahoo group sharing about the benefits they found with cold shower.
Stimulate Blood Circulation
You must have heard the benefits of stimulating blood circulation. You understand that it can boost your energy, increase oxygen intake, relief stress and depression, and it can help your blood carry away toxic materials in your body. You have been searching for different ways to stimulate your blood circulation to keep yourself healthy and you know that a healthy living always begins NOW and not until you caught yourself into serious accumulative illness.
Let us review on the list of things that can help stimulate your blood circulation to health.
1) Breathe deeply
The simplest step to begin is to consciously breathe deeply in to a count of five, and then exhale slowly. Doing this a few times and you should be able to feel the difference. If you find this too boring, you can do the other methods that help you do the deep breathing more naturally as it adds excitement to variety.
2) Have a cold shower
Brrrrr!! Cold shower may truly be cold but undeniably stimulating. The thought of it already brings chills on my arms as I share this blog. There has been clinical study on students to evaluate its benefits so why not brave the cold water and try it? For the ladies, I won't encourage you to take the cold shower during menstruation period. If you are aching on your back, it would be good to start with a warm shower to relieve the pain before you switch to the cold tap.
3) Bare-feet-walk on stones with various shapes and sizes
If you can find them in your neighbourhood garden, do take some time to walk down the stone path barefooted. It is an economical alternative to foot reflexology. Though the position of the stones are cemented and fixed on the ground, you can customised the stimulation points on your feet where it is most tender. After the walk on the stones, it is good to rest your feet for a minute and remember to drink water.
4) Go for a exercise
It has always been reccomended by many doctors and other professionals that jogging helps to relief stress, depression, fatigueness and you are virtually jogging your path to good health. If you are unable to jog due to some medical reason, swimming or walking is a good alternative as well. If it is too boring, trekking to mountains or waterfalls may fit your lifestyle.
6) Go for a body massage or foot reflexology
If you are looking for a no sweat alternative, you can always pamper yourself to body massage. Thai massage is said to help rejuvenate while Javanese massage uses oil to massage and ease muscle and joint pains. When you are travelling in Thailand or Indonesia, I encourage you to look out for their massage service. However, if you are pregnant or have some serious back injury, I would not reccomend this treatment unless it is done by a professional who understands your condition. To receive the full benefits, it is also not advisable to eat large portions of food for at least two hours before the massage as it may take longer for the body to relax. However, if there is a need, take some light food instead.
7) Invest on a foot or body massager
If all else is too much of a hassle and you prefer to enjoy it in your cosy home, you can always invest in a good foot or body massager. Usually, it should take about 15 to 20 minutes for each massage. Remember to drink lots of water after the massage.
For the above methods, it is also not advisable to eat large portions of food for at least two hours before the massage as it may cause indigestion and for massaging, it may take longer to relax especially if caffiene or highly sugared food is taken. However, if there is a need, take some light food instead.
Let us review on the list of things that can help stimulate your blood circulation to health.
1) Breathe deeply
The simplest step to begin is to consciously breathe deeply in to a count of five, and then exhale slowly. Doing this a few times and you should be able to feel the difference. If you find this too boring, you can do the other methods that help you do the deep breathing more naturally as it adds excitement to variety.
2) Have a cold shower
Brrrrr!! Cold shower may truly be cold but undeniably stimulating. The thought of it already brings chills on my arms as I share this blog. There has been clinical study on students to evaluate its benefits so why not brave the cold water and try it? For the ladies, I won't encourage you to take the cold shower during menstruation period. If you are aching on your back, it would be good to start with a warm shower to relieve the pain before you switch to the cold tap.
3) Bare-feet-walk on stones with various shapes and sizes
If you can find them in your neighbourhood garden, do take some time to walk down the stone path barefooted. It is an economical alternative to foot reflexology. Though the position of the stones are cemented and fixed on the ground, you can customised the stimulation points on your feet where it is most tender. After the walk on the stones, it is good to rest your feet for a minute and remember to drink water.
4) Go for a exercise
It has always been reccomended by many doctors and other professionals that jogging helps to relief stress, depression, fatigueness and you are virtually jogging your path to good health. If you are unable to jog due to some medical reason, swimming or walking is a good alternative as well. If it is too boring, trekking to mountains or waterfalls may fit your lifestyle.
6) Go for a body massage or foot reflexology
If you are looking for a no sweat alternative, you can always pamper yourself to body massage. Thai massage is said to help rejuvenate while Javanese massage uses oil to massage and ease muscle and joint pains. When you are travelling in Thailand or Indonesia, I encourage you to look out for their massage service. However, if you are pregnant or have some serious back injury, I would not reccomend this treatment unless it is done by a professional who understands your condition. To receive the full benefits, it is also not advisable to eat large portions of food for at least two hours before the massage as it may take longer for the body to relax. However, if there is a need, take some light food instead.
7) Invest on a foot or body massager
If all else is too much of a hassle and you prefer to enjoy it in your cosy home, you can always invest in a good foot or body massager. Usually, it should take about 15 to 20 minutes for each massage. Remember to drink lots of water after the massage.
For the above methods, it is also not advisable to eat large portions of food for at least two hours before the massage as it may cause indigestion and for massaging, it may take longer to relax especially if caffiene or highly sugared food is taken. However, if there is a need, take some light food instead.
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