Tempering is a natural and effective method of maintaining health and improving the condition of a weakened body. Just need to carry out this procedure correctly, so as not to harm. After reading this article, you will understand how to harden properly, where to start and what methods exist, as well as find out what people most often make mistakes and what are the possible consequences due to incorrect actions.
Factors affecting human immunity
The human immune system is directly related to external factors, such as:
- ambient temperature
- the presence of bacteria and viruses in the air;
- water condition;
- seasonality;
- microclimate in rooms and vehicles.
And also internal factors influence immunity:
- food;
- Lifestyle;
- psycho-emotional load.
If the body's defenses are weakened, then, as a rule, various diseases occur. Deviations in at least one of the above factors may contribute to their appearance.
For example, some people get a cold when the weather gets wet and cold, while others don't. Why? Because those who managed to resist the weather have stronger immunity. Many people know about this, but have no idea how you can help yourself and loved ones. Therefore, below we will talk about how to properly temper at home, so that the body itself can fight against pathogens.
Why is hardening necessary?
Before starting the topic of hardening, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the concept of immunity. Each person has a thymus gland (thymus), which is responsible for the immune system. Initially, at birth in a healthy baby, this gland can be large (about the size of a walnut), but over time, if the body weakens, the thymus becomes very small. Most middle-aged people have virtually no iron. Accordingly, immunity is weakened or almost destroyed by modern chemicals, radiation, a sedentary lifestyle and nutrition. Not all parents teach children from an early age to take care of health, often because they themselves do not know and do not understand why this is necessary.
To restore the function of the thymus gland, to force it to increase again or to maintain normal sizes, respectively, to raise or maintain immunity, that is, the body's defenses, it is necessary to temper. How to do it right, talk below.
Sudden change in temperature
The human body is a very subtle and complex matter, requiring a careful attitude. No drastic action should be taken. Even nature is designed so that any external changes occur gradually. For example, it does not happen that the air temperature sharply changes from +30 ห to โ10 ห. The body can then react negatively with unpredictable consequences that will become irreversible. Why is there a similar example with temperature? The fact is that hardening involves a sharp change in temperature in order to accustom the body to stability. But the strengthening of immunity does not occur due to exposure to cold or heat, but due to an increase in the thymus, which just โwakes upโ.
Therefore, let's talk about how to start tempering at home.
Gentle start of hardening
To begin this procedure, you need to understand that there should be gradualness in everything. In no case should you accept the advice of people to plunge into an ice-hole in the winter or to pour yourself with melt water if you have no experience. It is one thing when a person is tempered from birth, another - if he is chronically ill. Organisms respond differently.
Therefore, let's make a plan on how to start tempering properly. In this procedure, water is almost always used. To test your abilities, you can make it 3-4 ยฐ C colder than usual during a shower. For example, you are used to pouring water at a temperature of 38 ยฐ C. Now make her a little cooler. Let the body get used to new conditions. This is best done several times until the discomfort disappears. You can return the comfortable temperature again, then change it again to a colder one.
Cold and hot shower
It is advisable for a beginner to start the procedure at home. Therefore, we consider the question of how to properly temper in the soul. Our task is to smoothly lower and increase the temperature of the water alternately in the "hot-cold" style, if possible, but in the first days and even weeks it is better to make the water warm and cool. In no case can you dramatically change the temperature, especially if you like to wash under a hot stream.
It is advisable to purchase a thermometer with which you can control the state of the water. But if there is no opportunity to buy a device, then be guided by the sensations of "warm - a little cool" or "hot - a little warm." When you get used to such a contrasting soul, you can gradually change the temperature. For example, you started with a temperature range of +38 ห and +30 ห, and now try to make it colder from +38 ห - up to +25 ห.
Contrast shower is considered the most gentle method that is suitable even for seriously ill people. It is effective if you adhere to the recommendations above.
108 steps along the creek
Consider another example of how to properly begin to temper at home. It will be about the favorite among the eastern peoples method - "108 steps on a cold stream."
Such hardening is also gentle for beginners, but provided that the following rules are followed:
- you need to draw ankle-deep water into the bath;
- water should be cool but at a comfortable temperature;
- the room should not be cold and damp;
- 108 steps should be taken while keeping your feet under water.
When the legs begin to get used to the procedure, the temperature of the water can be reduced. As a result, after some time, you can use cold water.
Douche
How to start tempering with popular pouring? Many people know and even saw how healthy people in winter, having collected a bucket of cold water, poured it on themselves. If you have no experience, then in no case do not repeat! It is better to start training at home in the shower or in the bath. Water should be cool but comfortable for the body.
Wiping with a wet towel
If neither a douche or douche is suitable, you can use another method - wiping with a wet towel. A similar method is suitable even for young children. It is necessary to check with the pediatrician how to properly temper the child so that he remains healthy.
Wet a terry towel with cool water, squeeze it well and attach to the body. Start rubbing them as if wiped dry. The skin should become reddish, but not pale and bluish.
Less warm clothes!
Earlier we talked about how to properly temper with water. Now let's discuss what other methods exist that are not related to the shower. No wonder they say that even a baby should not be wrapped up strongly in warm. Otherwise, immunity will weaken, and the child will constantly catch a cold. The same applies to adolescents, adults.
It is recommended to gradually discard sufficiently warm clothing. You need to start at home. Accustom yourself to walk without slippers, in thin socks or without them at all. If the room is not warmer than +22 ห, do not rush to put on a warm sweater or terry bathrobe. Dress in summer clothes.
Walk on the balcony
Many of you must have seen brave people walking down the street in winter in a light jacket or even a T-shirt. But do not rush to repeat their feat. It takes a lot of time to become seasoned. Start by staying on your homeโs balcony or terrace. The temperature should not be lower than +10 ห. How to temper at home, so as not to get sick after the first session?
Put on a warm wool sweater, but without a jacket. Do some simple exercises on the balcony. Then gradually increase the time for walking, and reduce the amount of warm clothes.
Listen to yourself
It is very important to carefully monitor the condition of the body during exercise. How to temper properly so as not to harm yourself? We list the basic rules:
- body temperature should be normal (with increased tempering is prohibited);
- classes are held outside periods of exacerbation of diseases;
- there should be no chills after the procedure.
If the latter occurs, then the temperature of water and air is too sharply reduced .
Consequences of Mistakes
Often, people with weakened immunity, out of ignorance, immediately begin to temper with cold water. In fact, we found out how to do the right thing before. What happens to the body when a stream of cold water falls sharply on it? As a rule, an exacerbation of colds appears, the body temperature rises. In more severe cases, bronchospasm or cardiac arrest can be provoked.
Therefore, before you begin to intensively engage in your health, carefully study how to properly temper, be extremely careful! Remember that the body is well susceptible only to gentle procedures. As for the duration of the restoration of immunity, it all depends on the severity of the disease, age and state of the human immune system as a whole. If you quench every morning, then the result will not be long in coming. Be healthy and do not get sick!