POOL THERAPY AND MEDICATED BATHS
Pool therapy is doing specific exercises after immersing the body in deep water. It is very effective for the management of painful conditions such as arthritis and contraction of the muscles.
Pool therapy is often used to manage 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 legs. The main advantage of doing exercises in water is that, due to the buoyancy, you can move the affected part more quickly than on the ground.
WHAT ARE MEDICATED BATHS?
A bath in water to which medicinal substances are added is called a medicated bath. These substances include, among others, common salt, sulphur, mustard powder, foam-forming extracts, pine extracts, alkaline baths, seaweed and some antiseptics.
Medicated baths are effective because they act as counter-irritants and antiseptics. They also increase the buoyancy of the immersed body. There are several types of medicated baths. These include:
Brine bath: Artificial brine baths are prepared by adding two and a half to three kilograms of common salt to a bathtub filled with warm water. The water temperature is maintained between 90-1050F 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 usually recommended for the management of some skin diseases and rheumatism. Having a bath in seawater has effects similar to a brine bath.
Sulphur bath: In this bath, 150 to 250 grams of potash with sulphur is added to a bathtub filled with water. The temperature of the water ranges from 90-102oF. A sulphur bath is usually recommended for 10 to 20 minutes to manage skin infections, pimples, skin infestations, and some eruptions.
Mustard bath: This bath is given by adding 850 to 900 grams of mustard to a bathtub filled with water at a temperature of 96-100oF. A mustard bath is recommended for 10 to 15 minutes. The oil in the mustard irritates the skin and 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 than regular drinking water and/or its temperature is above 20oC. The type of diseases that can be managed by spa treatment depends on the mineral content of the water. In recent times, spas have either become tourist attractions or are used for relaxation purposes.
It is important to remember that using water to manage various diseases in its various forms has several advantages and contraindications. Therefore, you must avoid using water treatment without the direct supervision of a trained Nature Cure practitioner. Some of these treatments can result in severe adverse effects if not used properly.