TATTVÃLOKA MAY 2013

Heat Therapy

56

DR. RAJESH VISHWANATHAN

Heat as a therapy has beenknown since pre-historictimes. Ayurvedic physicians,

Arabs, Greeks and physicians inancient civilizations have writtenabout the value of heat.

Heat therapy is based on theprinciple that warmth relaxesmuscles, dulls pain and reduces theinflammatory process in the body.Heat also promotes discharges ofboils and abscesses. Heat can beapplied to relieve stomach crampsduring periods or due to digestiveupsets. Heat helps alleviate achescaused by sudden muscular spasms.

Heat increases blood flow toinjured or inflamed part and thisincreases oxygen supply to thoseparts and promotes healing.How Can Heat Be Applied?

♦ As a hot water bag, poulticeor through electrical heat pads.

♦ Infrared lamps.♦ Hot spoon bathing (Here a

wooden spoon is heated in waterand after the drops of water areshaken off, the spoon is applied onthe affected part.)

♦ Short wave diathermy and

other methods in Physiotherapy.♦ Along with balsams in

combination with massage therapy.Heat should not be used:

♦ In patients taking anti-bloodclotting medications, as this maycause more bleeding.

♦ In patients having blood clot inthe muscles, as this clot may bedislodged and travel to the brain orthe heart and cause sudden death.

♦ It should never be applied overthe abdomen of pregnant women.

♦ In cases where a tumour issuspected.

Application of heat will allowthe tumour to spread.

♦ In cases of burns.♦ After radiation therapy in

cancer patients.Heat therapy is a safe home

remedy, suitable in minor sportsinjuries and ordinary aches and pains.The most important thing about itis not ‘when’ but ‘when not’ to apply.

Home Remedies–8

Dr. Rajesh Vishwanathan is a GeneralPractitioner in Medicine with a keen interestin spirituality and holistic medicine. He canbe contacted at drrajeshv@hotmail.com