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Hot
Foot Bath
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.
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.
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