Heating Compress

The first time I heard about heating compress I thought it was all about heat. While it results in heat the first application is that of a cold compress to an affected are which results in an initial cooling which lasts about five minutes. This is immediately followed by warming up and increase in circulation. The heat results from the reaction of the body against the cold that has been applied to the concerned tissue.

The heating compress may be applied to the throat to treat sore throats, to the chest  for coughs, to the abdomen for constipation or abdominal pain, and to any body part for pain or infection. Used at night on the abdomen and back the heating compress can sedate and help in treating chronic active hepatitis, backache, ulcerative colitis, chronic indigestion, and chronic stomach problems.

Equipment Used in a Heating Compress procedure

• One to wo thicknesses of cotton or linen, or two to four thicknesses of cotton gauze cut to fit the areaa to be covered, about 2x14x20" for throat.
• A plastic covering about 3" x 14" for throat, or large enough to cover the wet cotton piece by at least one-half inch on all sides.
• Wool flannel or synthetic material cut to fit the area and large enough to cover all of the cotton and plastic. A piece 3"x4" x 34" will wrap around the neck twice. A wool or synthetic scarf or sports sock will suffice.
• Mosist abdominal bindeer. Use strip of woolen acrylic material such as wool flannel or men suiting material made from a grade of wool not as stiff or thick as felt, but relatively thin and easily workable. The length should be 55 inches and the width 12 inches. A cotton piece used under the woolen or acrylic piece should measure approximately 50" x 10". Short strips may be sewed togeher.
• Chest heating compress. Woolen or acrylic piece should measure approximately 10"x100" and the cotton underpiece approximmately 9" x 100".
• Safety pins
• cold or ice water.

After wringing the cotton or linen compress from cold water it should be mold over the part we are treating. cover it complettely with plastic . The compress should be left for half an hour or overnight.