Cryotherapy
Any treatment that uses cold as a destructive medium is called cryotherapy. In Naturopathy, cryotherapy is given either by dipping Turkish towels in crushed ice and water or ice bags filled with ice and covered with cold or large size of ice cubes. Cryotherapy is very effective for management of several painful conditions, especially after surgery and to reduce sensations in any part of the body.
Some recent studies have indicated that using ice packs after any orthopaedic procedures improves recovery of the patient. This recovery is indicated by lesser need to use pain killers and maintenance of normal blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and number of white blood cells in the blood. Massaging with ice relieves its pain.
Some doctors use cryotherapy for a wide range of disorders of the bones and the muscles attached to them. These include :
(a) acute sprain,
(b) collection of fluid in the knee joint,
(c) acute pain in the back or the shoulder joint,
(d) inflammation of the bursa,
(e) arthritis,
(f) injury to the brain, and
(g) cervical spondylosis.
Bursa is a lining of a sac like structure below the end of the muscles where it joints the bones.
Whenever movements of some part of the body, especially the limbs, are limited due to abnormal functions of the brain, cryotherapy is often recommended for several weeks before starting an exercise programme.
Pool therapy
Doing certain exercises after immersing the body in deep water is called pool therapy. It is very effective for management of painful conditions such as arthritis and contraction of the muscles. Pool therapy is often used for management of poliomyelitis and spastic muscles at a rehabilitation centre. In these pools, you can walk a few steps and perform various movements of hips, back, upper back, hands, shoulders and the legs. The main advantage of doing exercises in water is that due to the buoyancy you can do movements of the affected part more easily than on the ground.
What are medicated baths?
Having bath in water to which medicinal substances are added is called medicated bath. These substances include, among others, common salt, sulphur, mustard powder, foam forming extracts, pine extracts, alkaline bath, sea weed and some antiseptics.
Medicated baths are effective because they act as counter irritants and antiseptics. They also increase buoyancy of the immersed body. There are several types of medicated baths. These include :
Brine bath : Artificial brine bath is prepared by adding two and a half to three kilograms of common salt to a bath tub filled with warm water. The temperature of the water is maintained between 90-105°F or as much as you can tolerate.
Brine bath stimulates the skin and therefore results in profuse sweating. After having the brine bath, a blanket is often wrapped around the body to continue sweating. Brine bath is normally recommended for management of some skin diseases and rheumatism. Having bath in sea water has effects similar to a brine bath.
Sulphur bath : In this bath, one hundred and fifty to two hundred grams of potash with sulphur is added to a bath tub filled with water. The temperature of the water ranges from 90-102°F. A sulphur bath is usually recommended for ten to twenty minutes to manage skin infections, pimples, skin infestations and some skin eruptions.
Mustard bath : This bath is given by adding eight hundred and fifty to nine hundred grams of mustard to a bath tub filled with water at a temperature of 96-100°F. Mustard bath is recommended for ten to fifteen minutes.
The oil in the mustard results in irritation of skin and therefore enhances the effect of a plain immersion bath. This irritation increases blood circulation of the skin.
Spa treatment : A spa is a resort that has a natural spring with some chemicals that have medicinal properties. A mineral spring used for spa treatment has a higher mineral content as compared to normal drinking water and/or its temperature is above 20°C.
The types of diseases that can be managed by spa treatment depends on the mineral content of the water in it. In recent times, the use of spas have either become tourist attractions or are used for relaxation purposes.
It is important to remember that the use of water for management of various diseases in its various forms has several advantages and contraindications. It is therefore important that you avoid using water treatment without direct supervision of a trained Naturopathic practitioner. Some of these treatments can result in severe adverse effects if not used properly.