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Heatstroke or sunstroke is an emergency, and first aid measures need to be initiated as soon as possible. In this situation there is not only an excess of blood within the cranium, but the blood is excessively hot. A person who can’t be taken to a hospital immediately should be wrapped in wet bedding or wet clothing and immersed in cool water or even cooled with ice friction and fanned while waiting for transportation (cool the individual until the heat of the skin and fever drops, but beware not to overcool them).

There is no better palliative for hemorrhoids than frequent cleansings (ablutions) with cold water, especially after a stool; this is most efficiently applied with a sponge.

EMPLOYING HOT WATER

A short hot application over the region of the stomach diminishes the secretion of HCL, at least in cases of hyperacidity. Prolonged application of heat over the region of the stomach after eating increases the amount of hydrochloric acid secreted by the organ.

Prolonged application of heat over the region of the liver and other viscera increases their activity.

Short hot application on the abdominal region relieves visceral congestion.

SITZ BATH

The sitz bath, also called the hip bath or the sitting bath, is one of the oldest and most useful of water therapy procedures. It has fallen into disuse in our professional health care system, as has hydrotherapy in general, due most likely to its relatively labor-intensive nature. Yet, with just a little ingenuity, this process can be made a vital part of domestic health care and home therapy.

Sitz Bath

The hot and/or cold sitz bath acts simply to increase circulation to the organs of the lower abdomen and the pelvis. This in turn relieves congestion in other areas of the body such as the head and lungs. At the same time, this also tonifies the organs of digestion and the sexual organs. Hot baths relax while cold baths tonify the soft tissue structures; neutral baths have a calming effect on nervous system control of these areas. It is a valuable remedy in weaknesses and ailments of the womb, prostate region, genitals, and in irritations of the pelvic organs.

During a sitz, a hot foot bath is applied to minimize possible congestion to the pelvic region by pulling excess blood and lymphatic fluid to the lower extremities. The hot phase of a sitz bath is concluded with a cold immersion. This acts to prevent congestion of circulation and to reestablish the natural tone of (heat-generated) ultra-relaxed soft tissue.

The tub that is required for a sitting bath should be of such a form and size that the individual may be comfortably seated in it by leaving the feet outside and hanging the limbs to the floor, and the feet placed in a separate and smaller tub (foot bath) during the application. Large plastic wash tubs are just about all one can find these days to use for this. I set two of them in the bathtub, one for hot, one for cold, and extend a hose from the spigot to the tubs with which to fill them and maintain their temperatures. Obviously, the larger the bath tub, the better.

It is very important that the circulation in and to the legs not be interfered with by pressure from underneath the legs by the tub’s edge. Placing a thickly folded towel on the tub’s edge beneath the legs or elevating the foot bath tub sufficiently to raise up the legs avoids this problem. When using sitz tubs that have been placed in a bath tub, the bather can use the tub’s sides to assist their movement. Otherwise, to make it easier for the bather to get up and down, it helps to elevate the sitz tub on blocks. For added comfort, place a folded towel on the bottom of tub along with one draped over the back and over the sides of the tub.

The physiological effects of a sitz, as in other baths, depends upon the temperature, the duration, and sometimes the mechanical effects (rubbing of the skin with hands or friction cloths) that are combined with the bath. The temperature of the sitz-bath may be cold, cool, tepid, warm, hot, or very hot depending on the purpose of the bath. The bath