Heat therapy is an effective treatment for many diseases. It can be carried out at home, which allows you to accelerate recovery without resorting to expensive drugs. But, in order to conduct the treatment correctly, you should figure out how to make dry heat and in which cases it is better to use it. It is also necessary to take into account existing contraindications in order to avoid the opposite effect or further deterioration of the situation.
What does dry heat mean?
The effectiveness of the use of thermal effects on the body in the treatment of many diseases has been confirmed long ago. But often the therapy uses the dry method of therapy, which implies the creation of a warming result without direct contact of moisture with the skin. This is achieved through the use of components that can retain heat for a long time.
An example of such therapy is a variety of heating pads, compresses made of sand, salt, paraffin, sunlight, healing lamps and other objects that generate heat. Using dry heat at home, you can prevent the further development of the pathological process and significantly accelerate recovery.
Healing properties
The therapeutic effect of heat therapy is used to treat many diseases. It is based on the ability of dry heat to soothe, relax and give a feeling of comfort and coziness. As a result of this, the cramps subside, and the pain gradually disappears imperceptibly to the patient.
When using dry heat, the temperature of the warming tissues rises by about 3 ° C. This makes it possible to increase blood flow to the vessels and accelerate the metabolism in cells. The thermal effect helps to relax muscles, stimulate the functioning of the sebaceous and sweat glands, increase lymph and blood circulation, improve the functioning of the heart muscle, and has analgesic, sedative and anti-inflammatory effects.
This method is also effective for restoring the forces of the body after a busy day. Using dry heat at home, you can increase the body's resistance to the effects of pathogens, as well as prevent the progression of the disease and facilitate well-being in chronic processes.
In what cases should I use?
Heat therapy, like any other type of treatment, has indications for use. Therefore, in order to achieve a positive result and exclude the possibility of the opposite effect, you should familiarize yourself with them in advance.
Dry heat at home is recommended in the following cases:
- chronic joint diseases;
- musculoskeletal injuries;
- bruises;
- colds, ENT diseases (otitis media, inflammation of the pharynx, larynx);
- sciatica, arthritis;
- diseases of the nervous system;
- headache, migraine;
- dystonia - to relieve muscle spasm;
- sleep disturbances;
- colic in babies.
Contraindications
Despite the positive effect of dry heat, there are certain contraindications to its use.
In the presence of the following pathological processes, it is impossible to conduct heat therapy:
- violation of the integrity of the eardrum;
- inflammation of the ear of a sudden property;
- fluid in the ears;
- high body temperature;
- the likelihood of inflammation of the appendix;
- internal and external bleeding;
- open wounds;
- impaired function of the heart, kidneys;
- a sharp increase in blood pressure;
- acute form of the inflammatory process in the body;
- pathology of mental property;
- benign and malignant tumors;
- atherosclerosis of blood vessels;
- skin diseases (eczema, lichen).
It is necessary to use dry heat at home after the recommendation of a doctor, since only in this case the beneficial properties of heat therapy will bring a positive result without harming health.
Using a dry heating pad
In this case, the treatment is carried out with the help of salt, sand, cereals or cherry seeds.
Preparation of a dry heating pad is carried out in the following sequence.
- Prepare or sew the bag in advance, where the main heating component will fall asleep.
- Pour salt, sand, or other ingredient into a dry, clean pan.
- Heat to a temperature of +60 ˚, stirring constantly.
- Pour the component into the prepared bag.
- Allow to cool slightly so that the heat is not burning.
In the future, attach a dry heating pad to the sore spot, evenly distributing the salt in it. Leave it until the warming component cools completely, which occurs within 30-50 minutes. To achieve a sustainable result, it is recommended to repeat the procedure 3 times daily.
Experts recommend warming the ear with salt for otitis media in the following cases:
- inflammation occurs in the form of a sluggish process, that is, with a chronic form of the disease;
- the presence of musculoskeletal injuries;
- for resorption of adhesions;
- in case of complications after previous ENT diseases (hearing loss, autophony).
Warming up should be carried out only after the diagnosis is established by an experienced specialist and in the absence of purulent discharge.
Feature of the application of dry heat for babies
Experts also recommend using a salt water heater for newborns from colic. But in this case, it is better to purchase a special device in the pharmacy, which is a sealed bag with a solution of salt, which guarantees safe use for the baby.
To heat a dry heating pad, just press the special start button, after which the temperature starts to rise to a maximum of +54 ° C. Before use, it should be wrapped initially in a diaper and attached to the problem area. Cooling occurs within 4 hours. After use, the heating pad should be boiled for 10 minutes.
Salt hot water bottle for newborns from colic helps the baby calm down and switch to a distracting factor.
Warming compress
Sometimes, treatment requires a longer heat exposure. Therefore, in this case, it is recommended to use a warming compress with an algorithm for conducting in several main stages. They must be strictly observed to achieve the maximum effect of therapy.
The most commonly used heat therapy in the treatment of inflammation in the ears. The warming compress algorithm consists in the following actions:
- Fold sterile cotton in several layers.
- Wrap gauze on top and make a cut in the center.
- Put the resulting compress on the ear, but so that the hole falls on the auricle.
- Fix the bandage with a bandage, applying it over the ear.
You can use dry heat at home in the treatment of lower back. For a warming compress, a bandage from a woolen scarf or scarf is applied, which is fixedly fixed on the belt.
Dry heat therapy in this case is used to delay the natural heat transfer of the body.
Blue lamp treatment
This type of heat therapy helps to increase blood flow, expand blood vessels and improve metabolism in tissues. For this, a special blue medical lamp is used, which helps to warm the problem area. This type of treatment is used at the first signs of an inflammatory process.
For the procedure, it is necessary to position the lamp at an angle of 60 °, so that the thermal rays fall on the desired place at an angle. But at the same time, the distance between the light source and the skin should be at least 50 cm. This allows you to get a pleasant sensation from the session with the maximum therapeutic effect. The duration of therapy is 5-20 minutes, depending on the complexity of the disease. For a complete recovery, you need to conduct 10 sessions, one per day.
Heat therapy with a lamp should be performed in the evening before bedtime. For children, the duration of the procedure should be 5 minutes, while the skin condition is regularly checked, since there is a possibility of getting a burn.
Dry shower
This method is the simplest. For it, you will need to use an electric hairdryer, which can be found in almost every home. For treatment, it is necessary to position the heating device at a distance of 30 cm from the sore spot and turn on in a moderate mode. In this case, the outgoing heat should be pleasant, without a burning effect. The duration of exposure to heat is 15 minutes.
Experts recommend the use of the dry shower method for diseases of the joints, as well as to eliminate adhesions and scars in the inner ear.
Wrapping up
This type of dry heat therapy is used for people suffering from increased excitability of the nervous system. For wrapping, a dry sheet is used, one edge of which should be wrapped around the patient with his arms raised to the axillary fossae. After this, the second edge wraps around the body to the neck. But the arms must be lowered along the body. The upper end of the sheet is laid behind the back, and the lower - under the legs. From above it is necessary to wrap a woolen blanket and lay the person on the couch.
The duration of the procedure depends on the final goal:
- to reduce heat - 15 minutes;
- for the treatment of the initial stage of hypertension and as a sedative for insomnia - 35-40 minutes;
- in order to detoxify the body and normalize metabolism - 55-60 minutes.
The full course is 15-20 times during the sessions every other day. It is best to conduct treatment in the afternoon.
Paraffin Wraps
This dry heat method is recommended for the treatment of hip dysplasia, colds, SARS and joints.
To prepare the application, it is necessary to use medical paraffin of a light shade, not containing additional impurities.
Procedure:
- Transfer the main component to the container.
- Melt it to a liquid consistency using a water bath.
- Remove and allow to cool to a temperature of +50 ˚.
- Put a layer of sterile bandage on the problem area.
- Use liquid paraffin with a paintbrush.
- After the first layer has hardened, apply the next.
- Repeat manipulations until the thickness of the paraffin layer is 2 cm.
- Cover with cling film and wrap with a woolen scarf.
- After cooling the component, remove the application.
The duration of the home procedure is 30-60 minutes. A full course of 15-20 sessions with daily use.
Despite the effectiveness of heat therapy, it should be understood that all methods of home treatment are preventive or auxiliary. It is necessary to carry out dry heat treatment purely on the recommendation of a doctor in order to avoid the opposite result and not cause harm to health.