The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook_ A Home Manual - James Green [141]
Hot baths are contraindicated in cases of organic diseases of the brain or spinal cord, such as sclerosis and inflammation of the spinal cord, and in cases of cardiac weakness and hypertrophy, and arteriosclerosis. In feverish disorders, as the body temperature is rapidly increased, hot baths are naturally contraindicated.
COMPARATIVE SUMMARY OF THE CHIEF EFFECTS OF
COLD AND HEAT
From Rational Hydrotherapy by J.H. Kellogg
COLD HEAT
General General
Primarily a depressant. Short application is an excitant by tonic reaction. Prolonged application is a depressant
Primarily an excitant. Short application is a depressant by atonic reaction. Prolonged application is excitant and then depressant
Special
Special
Skin: Action, diminished activity. Reaction, increased activity, diminished sensibility
Skin: Action, increased activity. Reaction, diminished activity, diminished sensibility
Heart: First quickened, then slowed. Increased force
Heart: First slowed, then quickened. Decreased force
Vessels: Action, contraction. Reaction, dilation
Vessels: Action, contraction then dilation. Reaction, contraction
Nerves: Benumbs and paralyzes Excites by tonic reaction
Nerves: Excites. Depresses by atonic reaction
Muscles: Short application increases excitability and capacity Prolonged diminishes capacity and excitability
Muscles: Short application lessens fatigue effects. Prolonged lessened excitability and capacity
Lungs: Slows and deepens respiration. Increases amount of respired air. Increases CO2
Lungs: Quickens and facilitates respiration. Diminishes amount of respired air. Decreases CO2
Stomach: Increased HCL and motor activity
Stomach: Decreased HCL and motor activity
Kidneys: Congests and excites
Kidneys: Renders anemic and lessens activity
Body heat: Short application increased heat production. Prolonged, diminished heat production
Body heat: Short application diminished heat production. Prolonged, increased heat production
Blood: Increased blood count, especially leukocytes
Blood: Decreased blood count, especially leukocytes
Metabolism: Increased CO2. Increased urea and improved oxidation
Metabolism: Decreased CO2. Increased urea and general protein waste
Reaction consists of a series of vital processes following the application of either a hot or cold medium to the skin or the mucous membrane. The reflex vital activities induced by cold applications are much more pronounced than those by heat, and they differ in their character, depending on a variety of circumstances as discussed above in the section titled “The Cold Bath.” However, the vital reactions produced by applications of heat are clearly defined and quite constant in character, and these may be advantageously utilized.
Tonic reaction of body to cold Atonic reaction of body to heat
1. Vasodilatation 1. Vasoconstriction
2. Skin red 2. Skin pale
3. Pulse slowed 3. Pulse rate increased
4. Arterial tension increased 4. Arterial tension diminished
5. Skin action increased 5. Skin action decreased
6. Temperature lowered 6. Temperature lowered
7. Feeling of invigoration 7. Languor
8. Muscular capacity increased 8. Muscular capacity decreased
9. Amount of respired air increased 9. Amount of respired air decreased
10. Heat production increased 10. Heat production decreased
From the above it is apparent that the general and usual reaction effects of heat are of an atonic or depressant character. For most purposes it is doubtless true that the tonic reaction effects resulting from quick cold application are to be preferred to those from hot applications; nevertheless (as discussed in the section—“The Hot Bath”), the peculiar effects obtainable from heat are sometimes better suited to the case in hand than those arising from cold. Often the dread of cold water on the part