vous excitability, varicose veins of the legs, toning,
and stimulating cardiac and respiratory activity. Do
not use if there is blood stasis in the pulmonary cir-
culation. (7) Back douches are useful for the treat-
ment of weakened back muscles, back pain, spinal
disease, multiple sclerosis, bronchial asthma, and
nearly all diseases of the lung. Warning:Do not use
for debilitated patients or those with neurasthenia.
Neck douches help alleviate headaches, migraines,
tension in the shoulder and neck, hypersensitivity
to changes in the weather, mild depression, tinni-
tus, vertigo, and arthrosis of the hand and finger
joints. Warning:It is not to be used by persons with
high blood pressure, enlargement of the thyroid, or
raised intraocular pressure. (8) A facial douche
should proceed from the right temple downward to
the chin, upward to the left temple, from right to
left over the forehead, and repeatedly from the
forehead to the chin, then in circles over the face.
This helps relieve headaches and migraines,
trigeminal neuralgia, and toothaches and relaxes
tired eyes. Caution:Keep the eyes closed.
Saunas and steam baths are similar. Sauna heat
acts more quickly to eliminate toxins through the
skin, though some consider the moist air of a steam
bath to have a more satisfying effect on the respira-
tory system. A sauna promotes deep relaxation
while it stimulates circulation, increases heart rate,
has an immune-modulating effect, promotes hor-
mone production, encourages mucosal secretions in
the respiratory system, opens the airways, reduces
resistance to respiration, regulates the vegetative
system, and induces a sense of well-being. Children
may take saunas from age two to three years.
Saunas are used to relieve pulled muscles in the
back, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial
asthma, unstable hypertension (stages I and 11),
and impaired peripheral blood circulation. How-
ever, saunas should not be taken by individuals
who have acute rheumatoid arthritis, acute infec-
tion, active tuberculosis, sexually transmitted dis-
eases, acute mental disorder, inflammation of an
inner organ or blood vessels, significant vascular
changes in the brain or heart, circulatory problems,
or acute cancer. To prevent ill effects of excessive
heat, wipe your face often with a cold cloth and stay
in the sauna no longer than 15 to 20 minutes.
Saunas are not recommended for pregnant women.
Baths may be warm and rising-temperature
baths or may employ herbs and other substances
added to the water. The rising-temperature hip
bath, for example, is taken in a tub filled with tepid
water. Hot water is then gradually added until the
level reaches the navel. The final temperature
should be 103–104° Fahrenheit. Afterward, the
patient is wrapped for warmth. This form of bath
should last 15 to 30 minutes, not more than three
times per week, and is not recommended for indi-
viduals who have cardiac or circulation disorders,
hemorrhoids, or varicose veins. A cold foot bath, in
which the feet are placed into calf-high cold water,
may help relieve varicose veins, susceptibility to
edemas, headaches, low blood pressure, circulatory
problems, sleeplessness, susceptibility to the com-
mon cold, sweaty feet, or a contused ankle. How-
ever, it is not recommended for individuals who
have chronically cold feet, hypertension, irritable
bladder, urinary tract infection, diabetes, or vascu-
lar occlusion. A rising-temperature warm foot bath
may work well for individuals experiencing the
onset of a common cold or cold feet or for treat-
ment of tension but is not effective for those with
varicose veins, edema, or lymphostasis. Other ther-
apeutic baths include herbal baths (using valerian,
lavender, linden, chamomile, hops, burdock root,
sage, lemongrass, and many other herbs), the cold
arm bath, the rising-temperature arm bath, and the
sitz bath.
The sitz bath is generally taken in a hip bath as a
cold, rising-temperature, or warm sitz bath. Before
a sitz bath, warm the feet in a warm foot bath. Parts
of the body not immersed in water should be cov-
ered. A cold sitz bath may help hemorrhoids or
inflammation of the anus; a warm or rising-temper-
ature sitz bath may relieve difficulty in voiding the
bladder, an irritable bladder, and inflammation or
infection of the prostate or enhance preparation for
pregnancy. Do not use warm or rising-temperature
sitz baths for hemorrhoids.
In another form of bath, the wrap is largely a
supportive measure for treating fever and local
inflammation. The person receiving treatment
should be in a relaxed position while a linen cloth
moistened with cold water (warm water for respi-
ratory diseases), well wrung out, is wrapped
tightly, but not restricting circulation, around the60 hydrotherapy