Naturopathy or Nature Cure is the technique of following the rules of Nature and exploiting the natural resources like the sun, air, water and soil to cure the various maladies affecting man.
The branches of Naturopathy which are useful for treatment of Allergy are:-
□ Hydrotherapy
□ Mud Therapy
□ Massage.
Hydrotherapy
Water is very essential for our life. It not only quenches our thirst but also has certain medicinal properties by virtue of its rich mineral content. Water contains copper, carbon, sulphur, phosphorus, iodine, calcium and other valuable minerals and chemicals of medicinal value.
How does Hydrotherapy work in Treatment of Allergy
□ Hot water is useful in removing congestion of blood around the organs where it is applied, thereby increasing blood circulation to that area.
□ Cold water will reduce swelling and inflammation, and relax the blood vessels in these areas, hence normalising the blood circulation.
□ Hydrotherapy removes the sluggishness of the various organs and activates the function of digestion and metabolism.
□ Accumulation of toxins and waste products in the body is eliminated.
Types of Hydrotherapy Useful for Treatment of Allergy
For Dust Allergy
□ Hot/Neutral spinal bath
□ Neutral spinal spray
□ Heat compress on the chest
□ Hot foot bath
□ Alternate hot and cold bath
□ Steam inhalation
For Food Allergy
□ Cold spinal bath
□ Cold spinal spray
□ Heat compress on the abdomen
□ Friction rub
□ Alternate hip or revulsive hip bath
□ Hot foot bath
Cold Spinal Bath
A specially designed tub called spinal bath tub is used for this bath. The side of the tub is slightly elevated so that the patient can keep his head on it comfortably. This tub is made up of zinc. Three types of water temperatures are used for this bath. They are (1) Cold (2) Neutral and (3) Hot.
Method: The temperature of bath is maintained at 55°F-65°F by pouring cold water in the tub. The depth of the water is 2-2 V2 inches. The patient is asked to lie down inside the tub with the head on the elevated side and rest the legs on a small stool. Both hands can be kept on either side of the tub by the sides of the body inside the water. The duration of the bath can be from 10-20 minutes depending on the necessity.
In the absence of a spinal tub, a cold wet compress or a long rubber bag filled with cold water or ice can be applied to the entire spine. It will serve the same effect as that of cold spinal bath. After the spinal bath, the water should be wiped out immediately and the patient asked to bathe for 10-15 minutes. In case of weak patients, he is advised to lie on the bed covered with a blanket and bath to be taken after 30 minutes.
Physiological effects
Cold water is useful in reducing swelling and superficial congestion. It relaxes blood vessels and normalises blood circulation and body temperature.
Therapeutic effects
It is useful in relieving the congestion of brain, various types of vomiting, epilepsy, hysteria, insomnia, fever, constipation, sunstroke, etc. Cold spinal bath is also useful in extreme irritability of the body, e.g., burning sensation on the back in chronic eczema and psoriasis where there is no discharge. In food allergy, the symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach-ache, etc. are controlled by cold spinal bath.
Contra-indications
In sciatica, paralysis, asthma, bronchitis, spondylitis, common cold, cough, backache and colics, such as uterine and renal colic, it is not applicable.
Hot/Neutral Spinal Bath
Method/Procedure: It is same as that of cold bath. The temperature of water is 105°F-115°F and 92°F-98°F respectively. Duration can vary between 15-60 minutes.
Therapeutic effects
It releases the nerve centres in the spinal cord, thus giving a calm and soothing effect on the viscera through the nerve fdaments. It relieves nervous irritability and congestion of the brain, nervous system and cardiovascular system. It is very useful in cases of hypertension, insomnia and epilepsy. In case of dust allergy, the symptoms of sneezing, cold, cough, etc., are controlled by this method.
Spinal Spray
This is an important bath for treatment of diseases of the brain and spinal cord.
A spinal tub has been designed by Dr. Laxmana Sharma of Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu. This consists of a fibre glass tub with a perforated tube at the centre of the tub and a tank inside the tub having capacity of 40 litres. This tank is connected with a pipe to a 0.5 H.P. motor adjusted below the tub.
Ask the patient to lie down in the tub and start the machine. There will be a constant spray of ascending jet, which will give gentle massage to the whole spinal cord.
This is the most comfortable tub and also helps regulate temperature of water, i.e. cold, warm or neutral.
Therapeutic value of spinal spray
1. This procedure controls all the organs of the body, since most of the nerve roots start from the spinal cord. They are the sensory centres, temperature controlling centres, vasomotor centre and sympathetic and parasympathetic centres in the brain and spinal cord.
2. The hot or neutral spinal spray is useful for cases of dust allergy in which the small and large blood vessels of the lungs contract improving oxygen and blood supply to the lungs. It soothes the nerves and relieves the tension of the muscles and nerves after a day’s hard work, and induces sound sleep at night.
3. The cold spinal spray is beneficial for cases of food allergy, wherein there is contraction of the digestive organs and their blood vessels, which relieves diarrhoea, vomiting and other gastric and intestinal disturbances.
Precautions
Very hot spinal spray can give rise to burns in the skin.
Heat Compress
A linen cloth or bandage of about 3 metres length and 30 centimetres width is kept in cold water for a few minutes. After squeezing it dry, it is bound around the abdomen in case of food allergy and chest and shoulder region in case of dust allergy. A dry woollen cloth or blanket is wrapped around it to prevent circulation of air and help accumulation of body heat. This has to be left in position for about an hour resulting in perspiration. After removing the compress, the area should be rubbed with a wet cloth and dried with a towel.
Hot Foot bath
This is the most useful and effective form of water treatment for many allergic disorders.
Procedure
A tub is filled with hot water in the temperature ranging from 102°F-122°F, depending on the tolerance of the individual. Alternately, the temperature may be gradually increased after every 2-3 minutes. The duration of the bath ranges from 10-20 minutes. Before starting the bath, the individual is asked to drink 1-2 glasses of water. A wet towel is kept on the head. After the bath, the feet must be kept in cold water for 1-2 minutes or rubbed with cold water using a towel followed by brisk drying with a thick towel.
Some naturopaths recommend a similar bath in which the hands and forearms are immersed in hot water up to the elbows. This should be done for 10 minutes twice or thrice daily.
Physiological effects
Hot foot bath dilates the blood vessels of the skin in the feet and draws blood from the congested parts of the body. By its reflex action it removes congestion from organs like the brain, lungs, digestive and genital organs.
Therapeutic effects
It is useful in dust allergy (sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis), food allergy, headaches of all types, insomnia, fatigue, mental tiredness, poor blood circulation, rheumatism, menstrual problems, renal colic, gout, neuralgia, etc.
Contra-indications
It is not applicable in high fever, hypertension, cardiac ailments, pregnancy, menstrual periods, prolonged fasting, fracture in legs, etc.
Friction Rub
The patient is made to sit at a tub with feet immersed in hot water up to the ankle. The face is washed with cold water. Some ice-cold water is taken in a basin and a coarse hand towel is dipped in the water. Each part of the body is rubbed briskly with this towel. After this, the body is covered with a bigger dry towel and rubbed again. This type of bath is very beneficial for patients with food allergy.
Alternate or Revulsive Bath
A tub is filled alternately with hot water between 105°F-115°F and cold water between 50°F-65°F. The patient should alternately sit in the hot tub for 5 minutes and in the cold tub for 3 minutes. The head and neck should be kept cold with a cold compress. The treatment should end with a spray of cold water to the body. This type of hydrotherapy is useful for both dust and food allergy.
Alternate hot and cold bath
This is done starting with a hot shower at 105°F for 4 minutes followed by a cold shower at 60°F for one minute. Repeat thrice, ending with a cold shower.
Mud Therapy
Earth provides us with food – our main source of energy. In the same way, earth, in the form of mud or clay packs or poultices or even mud baths, helps in the treatment and prevention of many diseases.
Mud therapy helps in activation of the metabolism by stimulating the endocrine and digestive organs. It also helps in the removal of impurities and toxins in the body.
How to Use the Mud
□ Use commercially available mud or ordinary white clay. Spread it in the hot sunlight and allow it to dry. If it is very sticky, add some sand to make it fine. Sieve it well and remove stones, dirt and foreign particles. For best results, dissolve mud in water in a container overnight, filter it with a clean cloth and dry the filtrate.
□ Always use mud with a clean stick or spatula and never with hands.
□ In summer, mud should be dissolved in ice or cold water for better results and in winter it should be warm enough.
□ For warm mud pack, boil water well and to it add mud.
□ Mud, which is dissolved in water overnight, should be well covered to avoid contamination by dirt, dust, stones and impurities.
□ Never re-use the mud which has been used for mud therapy.
Mud Therapy in the Treatment of Allergy
Mud Pack
□ For Food Allergy : A thick cotton cloth soaked in cold water or ice with water squeezed out of it is applied on the abdomen. To this, apply a cold mud pack for 30 minutes. After removing the mud pack from the abdomen, apply a cold cloth. Repeat this procedure 3-4 times. In case of severe colicky pain in the abdomen, this procedure is done using lukewarm water.
□ For eye problems : Apply wet clay pack on the eyes taking care to see that mud does not enter the eyes. This is a useful treatment for infections and inflammation of the eyes due to dust allergy.
□ For skin allergies : Mud pack with multani mitti is to be applied on the affected area. After the mud dries, it should be washed with warm water, never with soap.
□ Allergy affecting the ears : Fill the ear partly with cotton followed by wet clay. Apply warm mud pack outside the affected ear as well as around the neck and throat. This is useful for treatment of pain in the ear, boil inside the ear, discharge from the ear, etc. In acute cases, mud therapy should be preceded by fomentation of ear with cloth soaked in hot water. Mud pack is to be changed repeatedly.
□ Dust allergy : A warm mud pack around the throat and neck and chest and upper back is very beneficial in controlling dust allergy affecting the nose throat and lungs (asthma).
□ For all allergies : A whole body pack is prepared using a thick bedsheet and applying wet mud on it. The whole body is covered with the blanket in such a way that the mud spreads all over the body. Another bedsheet or blanket can be applied above the first bedsheet. Another way is to dig a pit up to the size of the patient. Cover with wet mud and make patient lie with head and neck uncovered.
Mud Bath
A mud bath may be taken using mud or earth from a place which has been exposed to direct sunlight and open air with no fertilisers used, and adequately hydrated. This mud or earth is mixed with some sand and water and applied to the whole body in the morning. The person should stay in the mild sunshine for about 30-40 minutes, applying mud whenever it dries up. At the end, a bath is taken with fresh water.
In some centres, a special tub is designed which allows people to lie in it covered up to the chin in mud. This allows them to lie comfortably in the tub for about 30 minutes, followed by a bath.
Massage
Massage is an excellent form of passive exercise as well as cure for many ailments. It is an integral part of Naturopathy as well as Ayurveda.
It tones up the nervous system activating each and every part of the brain. It accelerates the elimination of toxins and waste material from the body through the lungs, kidneys, bowels and skin. It also boosts up the blood circulation, digestion and metabolism.
Massage Useful for Treatment of Allergy
□ Kneading
□ Clapping
□ Pounding
□ Pressure vibration
□ Stroking
Kneading
Kneading is a very important technique of massage used for treatment of allergy. Using both hands, deep pressure is exerted on the abdomen and lower back in case of food allergy and head, neck, chest and upper back in case of dust allergy. This is done for 10-15 minutes, preferably on an empty stomach in the morning.
This produces an increased flow of blood to the digestive and respiratory systems respectively, enhancing the process of digestion and respiration, absorption of nutrients, and removal of toxic products.
Clapping
This is a heavy movement used on the abdomen or chest, depending on the type of allergy. The patient is made to lie supine in such a way that the operator faces him from the right side. The upper abdomen is covered with a blanket. The operator (naturopath) strikes the abdomen with the inner aspect of right hand, with fingers loosely clenched and force transmitted from the shoulder.
The technique of clapping produces a mechanical stimulation of the abdomen/chest controlling their regular activities.
Pounding
This is similar to clapping except for the part that both the hands are used alternately on the abdomen/chest and the force used is slightly heavier.
This technique should be done only by an experienced naturopath.
Pressure vibration
Using one or both hands, vibrations are performed on the abdomen/chest. The movement is of fine shaking of the area by slight movements of the fingers or wrists. These movements have a soothing effect on the abdomen/chest, stimulating their activities.
Coarse vibrations can be done by keeping one hand on the back (spine) and the other on the abdomen/chest and moving the two hands with the breath held in expiration.
Stroking
For the treatment of allergy, slow and deep stroking of the abdomen/chest is recommended. It involves using finger tips of both hands slowly but with some pressure, and continuously in the concerned area. This movement relaxes the tightened and painful muscles and nerves, which in turn produces a soothing effect in these areas.
Medicated oils
For treatment of food allergy, massage may be done using almond oil, olive oil, mustard oil, sandalwood oil, coconut oil or pure “desi” ghee. These oils may be massaged on the abdomen and back preferably after warming, and on an empty stomach.
Medicated oils containing brahmi (Herpestis monniera), bala, amruta, ashwagandha, shatavari, gotu kola, bhringaraj and mandukparni have a cooling effect on the digestive system. Aromatic essential oils like lotus, peppermint, angelica, rose, mogra, lemon grass, khus, blue chamomile, clary sage, laudanum, rose gardenia, jasmine and lavender are also very useful in treating food allergy associated with vomiting and diarrhoea.
For dust allergy, massage with certain oils gives excellent results. The oils commonly used are cottonseed oil, sesame (til) oil, castor oil, mustard oil, olive oil and coconut oil. For better results, these oils are combined with eucalyptus, camphor, musk or myrrh.
Jojoba oil, along with essential oils such as cedar, pine musk, cinnamon, juniper, basil, ginger, cumin, cayenne, clove, yarrow, grapeseed, avocado and canola also give very good results in these patients. These oils are applied on the chest and back for 15-20 minutes, preferably on an empty stomach, followed by a warm water bath. For skin allergy, coconut and olive oils are very soothing.