Thermotherapy: 18 ways to apply heat to relieve pain and reduce ailments

Without heat, neither life nor health are possible. The heat has something that everyone likes. By soaking in a warm bath, tucking into bed or sunbathing, we feel comforted. But the heat has also been revealed as effective help to restore health and well-being.

to this end it has been used for thousands of years and current science is developing its possibilities. “Give me a fever and I will cure all diseases”, said Hippocrates in the fourth century BC.

the vvariety of heat applications shows that it is one of the main health allies. It is the element that causes all the substantial transformations –ice into water or steam, for example– and the most useful tool in the hands of the human being who seeks well-being.

Effects and benefits of heat in the body

The heat generated by the body itself or that applied for therapeutic purposes provide benefits in many areas: It can help quickly overcome common mild conditions, relieves the discomfort of chronic diseases and has a positive role in serious disorders such as cancer.

In cells moderately high temperatures increase metabolic processes, that slow down upon crossing a certain threshold. I also know accelerates tissue repair.The immune cells are more effective against viruses, bacteria, and pre-cancerous cells. Blood vessels constrict and then dilate, causing improves blood flow and cell nutrition. dilation lowers blood pressure.Besides the blood is alkalinized and that reduces the viscosity and blood glucoseas more fluid is exchanged with the lymphatic system.Helps eliminate toxic substanceseither through sweat or urine. Mitigates digestive secretions and increases bowel movements applied locally. At muscular level relaxes and softens muscles, tendons and cartilage. It is antispasmodic, increases elasticity and soothe fatigue.On the skin, its temperature increases and causes the arrival of blood, in addition to the perspiration.Reduces sensitivity to pain of the nerve endings, which is why it is sedative and analgesic.

What is good for applying heat?

These are the cases where heat treatment is indicated:

stress and insomniaapplying it in hot baths and with other techniques of hydrotherapy with hot water.Skeletal muscle injuries: bruises, muscle tears, sprains, tendinitis or fractures.circulatory problems.Autoimmune diseases like arthritis. It is necessary consult with the specialist doctor.Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, with a mild “artificial fever”. Many patients feel more energetic after the sessions.Neuralgia and angina pectoris.

The use of heat is general in all traditional medicines and its properties are currently being investigated, for example in oncology.

Can fever be beneficial to health?

The human body must maintain its internal temperature within a narrow range –between 36.5 and 37.5 ºC– so that all physiological functions are carried out correctly.

Therefore, when it is very cold or very hot, The body is endowed with mechanisms to conserve heat or lose it. The perspirationfor example, lowers the temperature, while the muscle activityincreases it.

However, in certain situations a slight increase in temperature is beneficial.

When a bacterium or virus poses a health threat, the body responds by increasing it above normal. Interestingly pathogenic bacteria and viruses they are more vulnerable to heat than healthy cells.

When the temperature is between 38 and 39 ºC, immune cells work more effectively and more easily penetrate diseased body tissue. Also improves the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the affected organs.

Therefore, fever is one of the most effective resources of the immune system and should not be cut unless it represents a risk.

The properties of heat justify its therapeutic use. Artificial fever can even be caused to promote healing or well-being in certain cases.

Artificial fever: what it consists of, how it is caused and what it is used for

By “artificial fever” is understood a significant increase in temperature inside the body, in the organs and deeper tissuesnot just on the surface.

At the end of the 19th century, the first studies relating fever caused by an infection with a reduction in the size of the tumors. The reason is that cancer cells adapt worse to heat than healthy cells because the diseased tissue does not receive enough blood supply to dissipate the temperature.

Heat is not a miracle cure, but it is considered a help in certain cases (cancer of the prostate, testicles, liver, pancreas, neck or skin for example), in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

to provoke an increase above 42.5 ºC and up to 47 ºC in the area to be treatedin oncology it has been resorted to heating the blood outside the body, wrapping the patient in hot water suits or applying microwaves and high frequency electrical waves, among other techniques. The possibility of introducing magnetic nanoparticles in the diseased cells so that they act as conductors and accumulators of heat.

Infrared stretcher to cause fever

In the treatment of other diseases, such as certain chronic pain, asthma, migraine, atopic eczema, urinary tract infections or osteoarthritisa lower “artificial fever” is caused and with softer means.

It is claimed to be useful in case of chronic fatigue and stress, fibromyalgia and in people who over the years have been losing the ability to respond with fever to infections.

A few sessions can get an arthritis sufferer off pain pills or an eczema sufferer from cortisone cream. Many people claim that after undergoing the treatment they feel more energetic.

Another property of “artificial fever” is the depurative. Through sweating, toxic agents are eliminated, which can also be broken down and reabsorbed due to increased metabolic activity.

The infrared stretcher is used, for example, to relieve muscle pain, soothe inflammations, activate circulation, increase defenses and resistance to cold or generate deep relaxation. Some experts recommend three to five sessions spread throughout the year as preventive strategy against infections.

On the infrared stretcher, the body is artificially subjected to a fever of 39ºC for 90 minutes while the doctor controls blood pressure, heart rate, and fluid loss.

Contraindications and side effects

must always be performed under medical control.

The treatment is only contraindicated in case of pregnancy or advanced cardiovascular disease.

Side effects are few, such as slight dizziness and copious perspiration which can be maintained for a few hours after treatment.

Local heat: what is the use of applying heat to the skin

“Artificial fever” is the most sophisticated therapeutic application of heat, but there are simpler treatments, where the heat does not reach deep areas but can even be done at home to treat minor problems such as sprains, contractures, bruises and other injuries.

The heat reduces pain and helps tissue regenerate more quickly. The discomforts of chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis or arthritis can also be treated in a similar way.

External applications of heat They can be done with wet cloths, baths, sachets, packages, electric blankets and infrared lamps. All these means, frequently used by physiotherapists in rehabilitation treatments, increase the temperature of the skin and the tissues immediately below.

He surface heat produces a series of effects well known, such as:

Soften collagenlessen the painstiffness and inflammation of the jointsReduce the accumulation of liquids in a certain areaEliminate the spasm muscular.increase irrigation blood, which by providing nutrients and oxygen promotes healing.

The temperature in external applications usually ranges between 40 and 45 °C and the duration of the treatments, between 5 and 30 minutes.

They do not usually have contraindications, although it is recommended be extremely careful in the case of circulatory failure, treatments with anticoagulants and pregnancy.

hot water bottle relief

By applying a hot water bottle on the painful area almost immediate relief occurs. If you want to enhance and lengthen its effects, you can wrap it in a cloth.

Scientists from University College London (UCL) have explained the effectiveness of this popular remedy. The pain of cramps, cystitis and menstruation is due to a temporary reduction in blood flow or distension of hollow organs. such as the intestine or uterus, which damages tissues and activates pain receptors.

By applying a heat of 40ºC to the skin, close to where the pain occurs, the brain receives the heat signal and this replaces the pain signal. On a biochemical level, the bag acts like a painkiller pill, but without its possible side effects.

wet compresses

It is generally considered that moist heat is more effective because water transfers heat faster than air. The heat reaches deeper levels, which increases the effects on muscles, joints and soft tissues. Muscle spasm is one of the main indications.

The optimal application consists of a sSeries of three to four compresses, leaving each one for 5 to 10 minutes. You have to be careful that the compress is not too hot because it could cause a burn.

peloids

In physiotherapy, this is the name given to products made up of water (sea or mineral-medicinal) and organic or inorganic substances that maintain temperature and provide agents with therapeutic properties.

They are peloids:

the sludge (clay and sulfated, sulfurized or chlorinated water), the slimes (clay, silica or limestone and salt water), the mobs (vegetable residues, clay and water) and the biogleas (algae and sulfur water).

They are applied locally or generally to a temperature of 38 to 45 ºC for 15-20 minutes.

Sand

It is normally applied as a general bath. The patient is covered with hot sand at a temperature between 40 and 45ºC. The duration of the application should not exceed 30 minutes.

dry wraps

Are used warm sheets or blankets in local or general applications for a longer time than in other techniques. They are easy to apply and allow more precise temperature control. They are indicated in rheumatic pathologies and osteoarthritis.

hay sack

It is very effective for relieve the pain of arthritis or osteoarthritisas well as occasional discomforts (for example, low back pain).

The bag can be found in dietetics or…