SHOWER BATHS FOR HEALING

WHAT IT IS-Special showers are used in natural-healing sanitariums, but the shower in the average home can give similar results. This article will therefore endeavor to teach you how to use shower baths for healing.

1 -HOT SHOWER

HOW IT CAN HELP YOU-The Hot Shower is mainly used as a preparation for a Cold Shower, or a Cold spray Douche.

HOW TO APPLY IT

1-Begin the Hot Shower with very warm water (100-105º F.), and gradually raise the temperature to 110-115º F., or slightly higher. Time: thirty seconds to two minutes.

2-A Cold Compress (page 45) to the head may be needed during the shower.

3-1f no other treatment is to follow the Hot Shower, then conclude by rapidly cooling the water to 90º or 85ºF.

4-Dry quickly with towels and a sheet. You may wish to finish by fanning the patient cool with a dry sheet.

2 - CONTINUOUS HOT SHOWER

WHAT IT IS- This is a continuous finestream of hot water for several hours to a body part.

HOW IT CAN HELP YOU- This shower is used for sciatica, brachial neuritis, refractory lumbago, and similar conditions. It is also used with good success on limbs that have painful edema. It does not matter if open ulcers and unhealed wounds are present.

HOW TO APPLY IT

1-Make him comfortable on a chair, couch or mat. Over it, a special shower head produces a fine (not course) stream of water. Special precautions must be taken that the water will not appreciably change in temperature throughout the shower (particularly that it cannot burn him).

2- The temperature is kept at the upper limit of comfort, and the shower will continue for 24 hours.

3-Conclude by drying him. Sometimes a dash of cold water from the shower is used before drying.

3 - COLD OR COOL SHOWER

HOW IT CAN HELP YOU- This shower is used for its tonic effect of strengthening the body.

HOW TO APPLY IT

1-Give him a Hot Shower. When he is sufficiently warmed, lower the temperature rapidly from hot to as much cold as he can take. This will be about 70-90º F. for a cool shower, and 55-70º F. for a cold one.

SPECIAL POINTS-A series of cool or cold showers are often given. When this is done, the first one should only be cool, and then, in subsequent showers, gradually lower the final temperature.

4 - NEUTRAL SHOWER

HOW IT CAN HELP YOU- This shower is given at a lukewarm temperature, and is chiefly used to calm, relax, and help one go to sleep.

HOW TO APPLY IT

1-Begin the shower at 100º F., and very slowly lower it to 97 to 94º F.

2- The shower should normally last about 3-5 minutes.

3-Dry him quickly, without any percussion or unnecessary friction. You may then wish to place him in a warm bed so that he can go to sleep.

5 - GRADUATED SHOWER

WHAT IT IS- This is a shower bath that employs a greater variety of temperature changes.

HOW IT CAN HELP YOU- The objective is to gradually lower the temperature of the body, with as little shock effect as possible.

HOW TO APPLY IT

1-Give a prolonged or vigorous sweating bath. Place a Cold Compress on his head before he leaves.

2-Begin the Graduated Shower with very warm water (108-110º F.), and then quickly raise it to a hot shower (115-118º F.).

3-Maintain this temperature until he feels warm and is ready for the cold. Then, slowly lower the temperature until it is fairly cool (80-90º F.)

4-Conclude the shower in 2-6 minutes, and then quickly dry with sheets and towels.

5-Do not let him be exposed to cold air or drafts for at least one hour afterward.

6 - REVULSIVE SHOWER

WHAT IT IS- This shower is like the Graduated Shower, described just above, in that the water temperature is first raised and then lowered. It is different, in that the temperature IS not slowly, but quickly, lowered to cold.

HOW IT CAN HELP YOU-The purpose is to cool and stimulate the body. Thus, a mild tonic effect is the result. The Revulsive Shower is also used in order to build up the body so that it can take an alternate hot and

cold shower, in order to help build resistance.

HOW TO APPLY IT

1-Begin the shower at 105-108º F. Then gradually raise it to 110-115º F., or slightly higher. Continue at this temperature for two minutes.

2-When he is fully warm, turn the valve quickly to a cold temperature of about 60-85º F.

3-After 5-10 seconds, turn the mixer valve back to the earlier temperature (110-115º F.) for 1-2 minutes.

4-Do this cycle three complete times (three complete changes from hot to cold).
5-Dry quickly with sheets and towels.

SPECIAL POINTS-As a preparation for beginning to take Alternate Hot and Cold Showers, one should become accustomed to Revulsive Showers first. And, gradually, the cold partof the Revulsive Shower should become longer.

7-ALTERNATE HOT AND COLD

WHAT IT IS-Abrupt changes back and forth from hot to cold.

HOW IT CAN HELP YOU-This is a vigorous tonic and physical stimulant. It should not be taken without much preliminary taking of less intense showers.

HOW TO APPLY IT

1-Begin with the hot water at a temperature of 106-110º F., then quickly raise the temperature to the upper limit of tolerance. Hold it there about one minute.

2- Turn the valve quickly to full cold. Hold it there for 15-30 seconds.

3-Reverse again to hot for about one minute; then back to cold for 15-30 seconds again.

4-Do three complete cycles of hot and cold, finishing with the cold.

5-Dry well with sheet and towels, and fan dry with a sheet.

Shower baths are very effective try them and you will be surprised at their effectiveness. I have personally tried a shower bath and I know from experience that they do work.