The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook_ A Home Manual - James Green [146]
QUICK COLD-HOT SITZ
The quick cold-hot sitz bath is also referred to as a revulsive sitz. It is a very short cold sitz, a simple dip in the cold water for a few seconds followed by a very hot sitz of 115° to 120° F. for 3 to 8 minutes duration. This extreme contrast of temperature is a powerful sedative measure in painful affections of the pelvic viscera. It has been used quite successfully in cases of ovarian or uterine pain that has a severe throbbing or stabbing characteristic, cramps, colic, severe pain in the intestine, often accompanied by spasmodic contraction of the muscles, and in painful conditions of the prostate, bladder, and rectum.
WARM (NEUTRAL) SITZ
The warm (neutral) sitz bath is 92° to 97° F., and the duration may be from 15 minutes to an hour or two if you have the time. There is no appreciable thermic or circulatory reaction produced, which is the beauty of this sitz. It exercises a pronounced calmative effect upon the viscera of the pelvis and lower abdomen, and the genitalia.
The neutral sitz is an exceedingly useful means of relieving nervous irritability and congestion of the pelvic viscera. It is of great service in the treatment of painful and inflammatory affections of the genito-urinary organs in both men and women, such as itching of the vulva and anus, hemorrhoids, frequent urination from irritability of the bladder, spermatorrhea arising from excessive irritability of the genito-urinary center, nervous irritability of the spermatic cord and testicles, and also chronic backache from rectal and uterine disorders.
The neutral sitz subdues inflammation and may be employed in subacute and even acute inflammatory conditions of the abdominal and pelvic regions, such as acute catarrh of the bladder and urethra, subacute inflammations of the uterus, ovaries, and tubes. It is especially helpful for relieving nervous pains of the fallopian tubes and the testicles. It is indicated as a sedative means in cases of spermatorrhea accompanied by excessive sensibility or painfulness to touch of the urethra and ejaculatory ducts.
This sitz bath is highly useful in all cases of pelvic disease in which cold applications feel inappropriate on account of pain or the inflammatory conditions that may be present.
VERY HOT SITZ
The very hot sitz bath is 106° to 120° F., and the duration is 3 to 8 minutes if the bather can handle it. It is suggested to begin with a temperature of 100° F., rapidly adding hot water until the maximum temperature is reached. A hot foot bath of 110° to 120° F. is taken with it. At all times, keep the head cool with cold compresses. Following this bath, cool the surface of the body gradually and be sure the bather does not experience any chilly sensations to the area being treated, for this will undo the benefits of the bath.
The general effects are essentially the same as those of the hot immersion bath. At temperatures above 110° F., especially if the bath is continued beyond 3 or 4 minutes, the effect is to excite the pelvic circulation, and to concentrate the blood in this portion of the body. This bath is an excellent means of restoring the menstrual function when it has been suspended as the result of general chill or from other causes.
The hot sitz bath is a powerful analgesic, an effective in-home, non-drug measure for the stilling of pain. For the best effects, it should be followed by a short cold application. Therefore, this bath is of great value in relieving the pain and discomfort of sciatica, and neuralgia or nerve pain of the ovaries, testicles, and the bladder. In general, this hot sitz is of great help for relieving pain in all affections of a non-inflammatory character involving the viscera of the pelvis and lower abdomen.
A shallow, very hot sitz is an excellent measure in relieving the pain of inflamed hemorrhoids.
FOOT AND LEG BATHS
HOT FOOT BATH