Warm und Kalt
Predominantly
< cold:
Abrot. Acet-ac. Acon. Agar. Agn. Alumen.
Alum. Alum-p. Alum-sil. Am-c. Apoc. Arg-m. ARS. Ars-s-fl. Asar. Aur. Aur-ars. Aur-s. Bad. BAR-C.
Bar-m.
Predominantly
< heat:
Aesc-h.
All-c. Aloe. Ambra. APIS. ARG-N. Asaf.
Aur-i. Aur-m. Bar-i. Bry. Calad.
Calc-i. Calc-s. Coc-c. Com.
Croc-s. Dros. Ferr-i.
FL-AC. Grat. Ham. IOD. KALI-I. KALI-S. Lach. Led. Lil-t. Lyc. NAT-M. NAT-S. Niccol. Op. Pic-ac. PLAT. Ptel. PULS. SABIN.
SEC. Spong. Sulph. Sul-i. Thuj. Tub. Ust. Vesp. Vib.
Remedies
sensitive to both extremes of temperature:
MERC.
(chronic: < cold/acute < heat). Ip. Nat-c. Cinnb.
Ant-cr. < both heat and cold: < overheating and radiated
heat, though many symptoms > heat.
Labiatae = Plants of warmth.
Anthroposofie
Packungen, Umschläge
und Wickel
Sie sind ein beliebtes und bewährtes Heilmittel.
Unser Körper hat normalerweise eine Temperatur von etwas 36° C. Umschläge und Wickel, die mit Wasser gemacht werden, sollten etwa 10 - 15° C darunter liegen und haben deshalb die direkte Einwirkung auf die feinen Kapillargefäße und damit das Blut, das den entsprechenden Körperteil durchströmt. Durch diese Kühlung der Hautoberfläche erreicht man einen Kältereiz - und damit wird die Durchblutung der Haut gesteigert.
Mit der Haut erwärmen sich auch die für den Umschlag oder Wickel verwendeten Tücher - es entsteht eine feuchte Stauwärme. Dabei werden Krankheitserreger und die Fremdstoffe, von denen der Körper sich zu befreien versucht, durch den Einfluss der feuchten Wärme gelockert und aufgelöst. Durch die Hautporen dringen sie nach außen. Manchmal kann man dann feststellen, dass Wickel beim Abnehmen einen starken Geruch ausströmen oder dass das Waschwasser der Tücher trüb wird. Vor allem Umschläge für einzelne Körperteile werden in kalter oder kühlender Form verwendet.
Anregende Umschläge macht man folgendermaßen:
• Das Tuch zwei-, vier- oder sechsfach zusammenfalten.
• In kühles (16 - 22° C) Wasser eintauchen.
• Gut auswringen.
• Auf den zu behandelnden Körperteil legen.
• Diesen dann mit einem Wolltuch umhüllen.
• Liegen lassen, bis der Wickel trocken geworden ist.
Kühlende Umschläge werden so angelegt:
- Das Tuch vier- bis achtmal zusammenfalten, damit genügend Wasser gespeichert werden kann.
- Das Tuch in kaltes Wasser (also unter 16° C) legen.
- Das Tuch nicht auswringen, sondern nassfeucht auflegen. Nicht abdecken.
- Ein kalter Wickel sollte möglichst oft erneuert werden.
Verwendet z. B. gegen Nasenbluten im Nacken.
Armpackungen: bei akuten Krankheiten (Lunge/Brust- und Rippenfells/Atmungsorgane). Es muss immer auch das Handgelenk mit eingewickelt werden. Die Armpackung wird in der üblichen Form durchgeführt: Zunächst ein feuchtes Tuch, dann ein trockenes, zuletzt ein Wollwickel. Die Armpackung sollte man alle halbe Stunde wechseln.
Beinpackungen: wirken ableitend und werden bei chronischen Leiden (Blutandrang im Kopf/Kopfschmerz/Schwindel/Hals- und Lungenbeschwerden/Gicht- und rheumatische Beschwerden, Blutstauungen in den Beinen) eingesetzt. Beinpackungen sollte man mit einer Wassertemperatur von 18 - 20° C durchführen. Das ganze Bein wird bis zur Mitte des Oberschenkels eingepackt, die Füße jedoch nicht. Zuerst kommt die feuchte, dann die trockene Unterlage und dann die Wollumhüllung. Immer beide Beine eingepackt werden müssen - auch dann, wenn nur ein Bein erkrankt ist.
Fußpackungen: werden bei Gehörstörungen/Augen-/Kopfschmerz (die auf Blutmangel im Gehirn zurückzuführen sind) angelegt. Man nimmt zur Fußpackung am besten baumwollene nasse Socken, die man mehr oder weniger auswringt, dann anzieht und darüber noch ein oder zwei weitere Paar wollene Strümpfe zieht. Fußpackungen legt man am besten während der Nacht an. Man kann sie (wenn sie nicht vorher lästig werden) bis zum nächsten Morgen tragen.
Fußwickel: Ungesunde Ablagerungen (im Bereich der Beine), werden durch Fußwickel ausgeleitet (Beingeschwüren). Fußwickel kann man kalt o. warm anlegen. Dabei wird ein serviettengroßes Tuch 1 - 2x um den Fuß bis zur Höhe des Knöchels gewickelt. Das Tuch sollte sehr feucht sein, jedoch nicht tropfen. Anschließend wird es mit einem wollenen Tuch umhüllt und gut abgedeckt. Fußwickel werden 1 - 2 Stunden am Fuß gelassen.
Halswickel: bei Husten und Heiserkeit, bei entzündeten Mandeln sowie Rachen- und Kehlkopfbeschwerden. Für Halswickel faltet man ein Tuch zwei-, vier- oder sechsmal und taucht es in Wasser von 19 - 22° C. Das ausgewrungene Tuch wird um den Hals gelegt, ein trockenes Tuch kommt darüber sowie ein Wollschal.
Handpackungen: einen erregenden o. beruhigenden Einfluss und wirken sich besonders auf die Durchblutung aus. Man kann die Handpackung mit der Fußpackung vergleichen. Sie wird ebenfalls warm oder kalt angelegt. Bei einer kalten Packung sollte es jedoch Voraussetzung sein, dass die Hände warm sind. Sind sie dagegen kalt, wird man immer eine warme Packung anlegen. Auch bei der Handpackung gilt: Immer werden beide Hände eingewickelt, niemals nur eine Seite.
Kopfwickel: besonders bei Kopfschmerz, bei Migräne, bei allen Zuständen, die auf eine krankhafte Verengung der Blutgefäße zurückzuführen sind, ein leider sehr in Vergessenheit geratenes Hausmittel. Die Kopfpackung sollte mit einer Wassertemperatur von 18 - 20° C durchgeführt werden. Vor dem Schlafengehen legt man ein nasses, gut ausgewrungenes Handtuch auf Stirn und Kopf und wickelt einen dicken, wollenen Turban darüber. Die Kopfpackung bleibt bis zum nächsten Morgen angelegt.
Schulter- und Brustpackung: bei Beschwerden der inneren Brustorgane (Lunge/Luftröhre/Bronchien). Zur Schulterpackung wird ein langes, nicht zu nasses Handtuch wie ein Schal von den Schultern und über der Brust über Kreuz gelegt. Dann legt man die Brustpackung (18 - 20° C Wassertemperatur) an. Die Schalenden des Schulterwickels reichen dabei unter den Brustwickel. Es gilt die übliche Regel: feuchter Unterwickel, trockener Leibwickel und Wollabdeckung. Bei dieser Packung sind Bettruhe und gute Zudecke besonders wichtig. Nach etwa einer Stunde kann man den Schulter- und Brustwickel abnehmen, sollte aber noch mindestens eine Stunde Bettruhe folgen lassen.
Wadenwickel: bei fieberhaften Zuständen und dient zur Ableitung von übermäßigem Fieber. Beim Wadenwickel wird nur die Wade vom Knöchel bis zum Knie eingepackt, Knie und Fuß bleiben somit frei. Das Wasser für den Wickel sollte 18 - 20° C haben. Beim Wadenwickel ist es besonders wichtig, dass die Füße warm bleiben, deshalb sollte man in Pantoffel schlüpfen, warme Socken anziehen oder eine Wärmflasche unter die Füße legen. Besonders gut hilft ein Wadenwickel, wenn er zusammen mit einer Leib-, Brust- oder Halspackung - und dann über Nacht - gemacht wird.
Vorsicht
Fieberstillende Wickel und Packungen sollte man nicht unbedingt mit sehr kaltem Wasser anlegen. Bei fieberhaften Schüben und einer zu kalten Ganzpackung etwa kann es zu erheblichen Kreislaufbeschwerden kommen. Je höher das Fieber ist, je empfindlicher und erregter der Patient ist, desto höher sollte das Wasser temperiert sein.
Spezielle Wickel
Man kann für Wickel auch bestimmte Pflanzen und Produkte verwenden, die wir aus der Küche gut kennen und die unsere Großmütter als ganz natürliche, leicht verfügbare Heilmittel ansahen:
Carpalsyndrom: Teer auf Daumenseite der Innenseite des Handgelenks
anbringen mit Pflaster aber ohne Binde. 24 Stunden bis 72 Stunden sitzen lassen.
Essig: Salv-o. ansetzen in Acet-ac, damit Haut einreiben bei kalter Nachtschweiß
Pappelrinde in Essig einlegen auf Wunden
Milch mit Essig gerinnen lassen/warm auf Haut einreiben/fest abdecken
Ton in Essig anwärmen + als Auflage gebrauchen
Essigdunst einatmen bei Atembeschwerden
Essigwickel bei Hals-/Lungenbeschwerden
Waschungen mit verdünntem Essig bei Fieber
Ricinusölpackung: Auf weiches, oft gewaschenes Baumwolltuch (so groß wie die zu bedeckende Hautstelle) träufeln/direkt auf Haut auflegen. Mit passendem Plastik bedecken und fixieren. Lange sitzen lassen (wenigstes übernacht). Für Husten/Bronchitis/Schmerz in Gelenken.
Die Kartoffelpackung wandte man gegen entzündete Hautstellen, schlecht heilende Wunden, Gelenkrheuma, Geschwülste und Quetschungen an. Je nach Größe des zu behandelnden Gebietes nimmt man bis zu einem halben Pfund gewaschene, mehlig kochende Pellkartoffeln, kocht sie weich und zerquetscht sie mit einem Gabel in einem Papiertaschentuch. Dieses legt es dann so heiß wie möglich auf die kranke Körperstelle. Mit wollenem Tuch bedecken und ab ins Bed.
Kohlwickel: Kohl und Kohlrabi wirken beruhigend auf die Schilddrüse. Nichts zieht alles „Böse“ so schnell durch die Haut aus dem Körper als ein Kohlblatt/setzte man überall dort ein, wo die Durchblutung gestört ist: bei schlecht durchbluteten Beinen, bei Geschwüren, bei rheumatischen Gelenkerkrankungen/bei Schmerz im Bereich der Lendenwirbelsäule (Hexenschuss). Verwenden kann man für den Kohlwickel alle Kohlarten, besonders gut ist jedoch der Weißkohl. Die dicken Blätter werden vom Kohlkopf abgebrochen und gewaschen. Man entfernt die harten Rippen und walzt das Blatt mit einer Nudelrolle suppig (ohne dass jedoch seine Struktur zerstört wird). Diese feuchten Blätter legt man dann jeweils auf Gelenke, Beine, Brust, Bauch oder Schulter oder auf die Lendenwirbelsäule und fixiert sie mit einem Verband. Am besten macht man Kohlwickel abends vor dem Zubettgehen und belässt sie über Nacht am Körper.
Den Leinsamenumschlag: Entzündungen aller Art (Furunkeln/Eiterherden)/zur Schmerzstillung. Man gibt gemahlenen Leinsamen in einen Beutel aus Gaze, der groß genug ist, um die entzündete Fläche komplett zu bedecken. Den Stoffsack lässt man aufkochen. Dann legt man ihn so heiß wie möglich auf die betreffende Stelle, bis er abgekühlt ist. Danach wird er entfernt, die Stelle wird aber weiterhin warm gehalten.
Der Heublumenwickel: bei Entzündungen, Muskelverspannungen und Hexenschuss, aber auch bei rheumatischen Erkrankungen, Gelenkbeschwerden und Gicht. Heublumen sind eine Mixtur aus diversen Gräsern mit einem hohen Gehalt an ätherischen Ölen. Diese werden in einen Leinenbeutel eingefüllt und mit Wasser aufgekocht. Dann lässt man sie zehn Minuten ziehen, drückt den Leinenbeutel aus, legt ihn sehr warm auf die schmerzende Körperstelle und deckt diese mit einem trockenen Wolltuch gut ab. Nach der Anwendung ist es ratsam, sich auszuruhen, da der Heublumenwickel sehr müde machen kann.
Der Milchwickel: stammt aus Russland. Entzündung der
Gallenblase helfen. Ein Tuch (groß genug, um den Raum zwischen Brustbein und r.
Körperhälfte zu überdecken) wird in frische, kalte Milch getaucht. Es soll gut
feucht sein, aber nicht tropfen. Dieses Tuch wird dann so auf den r. Rippenbogen
gelegt, dass dieser etwa 2 Zentimeter überlappt wird. Der Milchwickel wird erneuert, wenn er warm geworden
ist.
Compress:
Yarrow: Make a strong tea of yarrow, and let it warm down to 102° F. Take a
cotton cloth and soak it in the tea. Wring out the cloth and place it folded
over the liver area up to 20 minutes.
Ricinusölpackung: Auf weiches, oft gewaschenes Baumwolltuch (so groß wie die zu bedeckende Hautstelle) träufeln/direkt auf Haut auflegen. Mit passendem Plastik bedecken und fixieren. Lange Zeit sitzen lassen (wenigstes übernacht). Für Husten/Bronchitis/Schmerz in Gelenken.
Der Senfwickel: bei Bronchialkatarrh, bei Erkältungskrankheiten, Lungenentzündungen und Lungenstauungen, bei Kreislaufstörungen oder Atemnot verwendet. Er wird auf Rücken oder Brust aufgelegt. Man nimmt gemahlene Senfkörner, rührt sie mit lauwarmem Wasser an. Diesen Brei streicht man direkt auf die Haut und deckt dann mit einem Handtuch und dieses wiederum mit einem Wolltuch ab. Der Wickel bleibt so lange auf der Haut, bis eine leichte Rötung entsteht (etwa 5 - 10 Minuten).
Vorsicht
Empfindliche Menschen können von einem Senfwickel Blasen bekommen. Auf jeden Fall die Haut nach dem Wickel mit kaltem Wasser abwaschen. Danach sofort warme Kleidung anziehen oder gut abdecken. Man kann dem Senfwickel auf ein Drittel Leinsamenmehl beifügen, dann wirkt er nicht so stark.
Der Quarkwickel: Hautreizungen durch Sonnenbrand, Allergien oder Ausschläge und Brustentzündung. Er kühlt, lindert das Brennen sowie den Juckreiz und bringt die Rötung der Haut rasch zum Abklingen. Außerdem pflegt er die gereizten Hautpartien durch die Eiweißstoffe und Fette im Quark. Man trägt den Quark dick auf die betroffene Stelle auf und deckt sie mit einem leicht angefeuchteten Tuch ab. Um den Kühleffekt zu erzielen, wird kein trockenes Wolltuch darüber gelegt. Die Anwendung sollte 20 - 30 Minuten dauern, wobei die Quarkauflage gewechselt werden sollte, wenn der Wickel warm geworden ist. Statt Quark kann auch Buttermilch/Joghurt verwendet werden, dann muss die Auflage allerdings öfter gewechselt werden, da die kühlende Wirkung schneller nachlässt.
Der Zwiebelwickel: wurde bei allen entzündlichen Zuständen (nicht Nierenentzündung/Diabetes) eingesetzt. Er soll auch gegen Bronchialkatarrh, chronischen Husten, Lungenentzündung, Blasenentzündung, Ohrenentzündung sowie Stirnhöhlen und Nasennebenhöhlenkatarrhen helfen.
1. Für diesen Wickel schneidet man frische Zwiebeln in dünne Scheiben und legt sie in ein Säckchen aus porösem Stoff (z. B. Gaze). Über einem Wasserbad wird es stark erhitzt; das Säckchen sollte aber nicht mit Wasser in Berührung kommen. Das erhitzte Zwiebelsäckchen legt man sofort auf die entzündete Stelle und deckt sie mit einem Wolltuch gut ab. Damit es nicht verrutscht, sollte man es gut fixieren. Zwiebelwickel wirken besonders gut, wenn man erst im Anfangsstadium einer Krankheit ist, denn sie ziehen Giftstoffe aus dem Körper heraus. Der Zwiebelwickel wird etwa 15 bis 20 Minuten angelegt. Wenn die Zwiebeln kalt sind, wird er abgenommen.
2. Rohe Zwiebeln in Ringen schneiden und auf schmerzhafte Stelle auflegen. Mit Wolltuch bedecken. Eventuell bei Erwärmung der Zwiebel erneuern.
Yarrow Compress and Nutritive Bath
‡ Folgendes hat anthroposofische Einschlüße ‡
Frei
nach: Eileen Bristol
Yarrow
Liver Compress
This
compress is useful for supporting liver function. It should be applied
regularly over a period of time. You may want to begin with daily applications
for one week and then continue for a few more weeks, 3x weekly for a month or more.
In serious chronic conditions, you can continue 1 to 3x weekly for the duration
of treatment. At anthroposophical clinics in Europe,
many patients will receive a daily yarrow compress over the liver during the
rest period after lunch throughout their entire hospital stay.
These
directions offer a simplified version which anyone should be able to do at
home, for themselves or another.
Gather the
following:
1. hot water bottle
2. dried or fresh yarrow (whole plant or
whatever is available)
3. a piece of cotton cloth (from an old sheet
or T-shirt is fine) large enough to fold and cover the liver area (on r. side,
below the breast, ext. a little below the rib cage, above the navel and ext.
around the side closest to the bed with the patient lying).
4. If you have nothing else, use a soft, clean
washcloth.
5. another piece of non-synthetic cloth for a
wrap, not too thick (so it will be comfortable underneath the patient) and
large enough to cover the area of the compress and wrap around the entire torso
1- ½ x, overlapping enough to tuck snugly or pin together comfortably with
diaper pins.
6. diaper pins - if wanted
Gather
together your supplies in advance. Pick a time which is either bedtime or a
time when the patient can lie down for about an hour. Open the long wrap and
spread on the bed, correctly placed so it will wrap around the torso and cover
the liver area. If you are doing this for someone else, have them lie down and
wait. Be sure the room is comfortably warm and there is no draft.
Fill a hot
water bottle ½ full with hot, not boiling water. Screw in the cap partway.
Carefully squeeze out the air until the water rises to the top. (Avoid burning
yourself with the hot water) and screw in the cap. If you leave the air in it
will swell up like a balloon as the air heats up. Wrap the hot water bottle in
a towel and set aside.
Boil a
quart of water and steep 2 to 3 tablespoons of the dried herb (more if fresh).
Wrap the herb in a small handkerchief or piece of cheesecloth and tie with a
string or twist-tie to create a sort of teabag. After 5-15 minutes, remove the
yarrow and then dip the compress (small) cloth into the tea and quickly wring
out, as dry as possible. You may want to wrap a towel around the compress cloth
or wear very thick, lined rubber gloves as you wring it to avoid burning your
hands. Flap it quickly against the patient's skin so that they can adjust to
the heat and then apply directly on the skin over the liver area with the
patient lying on the wrap cloth. Immediately bring the wrap around to cover the
compress and tuck or pin snugly, but not too tightly.
If you have
placed the long wrap on the bed with the ends that extend beyond the sides of
the patient rolled up like a scroll, it is possible to unroll it quickly and
smoothly when the compress is in place. Place the hot water bottle, wrapped in
a small towel, over the liver area. Pull the covers up over the patient and
have them rest. After 20 minutes remove the hot water bottle. Continue to rest
another 40 minutes, or go to sleep for the night. When you remove the compress
it should be dry or nearly dry. The body's heat will have dried it out
providing you have wrung it out sufficiently.
If you are
doing this for someone else, it is a wonderful help to experience it once yourself
so you will better understand the process. Always be calm, but cheerful and
gentle in your work. Remember, a rhythmical frequency of application will
increase the benefits. The procedure may seem complicated at first, but once
you have done it a few times it becomes very simple.
Chamomile wrap:
Recommended
for: Stomachache and pain.
Contraindications: Do not use when there is fever, or infection in any other
part of the body.
Materials:
Boiling water
Chamomile Flowers
Strainer
Silk/Cotton wrap
Wool wrap
Wringing Towel (tea towel)
Bowl
Wool blanket
Fork
Procedure:
Put a handful of chamomile in the strainer. Roll the silk wrap from both ends
and place it in a bowl. Pour boiling water over the chamomile into the bowl
with the wrap. Take the wrap out with a fork and put into the wringing cloth.
Wring until no longer dripping.
The patient
should sit on the blanket with the wool wrap lying flat on top of it. Apply the
chamomile wrap as tolerated, but do not burn. Start at the back and unroll as
you move around to the sides. Have the patient lie down on the wool wrap and
continue unrolling the hot wrap over belly.
Quickly
cover with the wool wrap, then cover the patient with the wool blanket. Be sure
that none of the hot wrap is exposed to the air.
Leave on for
15 minutes. At this point you can remove the whole thing or just the wet wrap,
leaving the wool wrap on the patient.
Nutritive
Bath
This bath
can be a help in restoring someone who is in an exhausted or weakened
condition. It can be repeated daily for 3 -7 days and then once or twice a week
until the patient is feeling stronger.
Supplies
needed:
*1 lemon and a knife to cut it
*1 cup best quality milk available (raw organic
if possible, otherwise the best you can obtain)
*1 best quality egg available (from free
ranging chickens if possible)
*a clock or minute timer
Have the
bathroom warm, free of drafts. Fill the tub with warm (baby bottle temperature)
water, not too cool, but not hot. Mix the raw egg into the cup of milk. Pour
this into the tub of water and stir in briefly. Place the whole lemon under
water and slice the skin in a number of places to release the oils. Squeeze it
to release the juices. Hold the lemon in one hand under water or set
temporarily on the side of the tub. With large, slow movements, bring the water
into motion in a lemniscate (figure 8) form. It
should not slosh about. If it does, slow down. Continue this movement no more
than a few minutes, only until the water begins to feel softer.
Try and
bring a helpful, positive mood to your preparations. Helping thoughts and
feelings are real and do support the effectiveness of the therapy. Place the
lemon in the water. Have the patient enter the water, submerging as much as
possible. Only stay in the bath 7 minutes maximum. This should be a peaceful,
quiet time without other stimulation than the bath itself. This allows the
patient to fully experience the qualities of the therapeutic bath. A young
child, of course, should be allowed what is needed to enjoy the bath, such as a
tub toy. It will feel good and the patient may wish to stay in longer, but it
can have a tiring effect to stay in too long.
Have the patient dry off without rinsing. Pat and don't rub. The silky quality of the bath water leaves the skin soft to the touch and is not sticky as one might imagine. Have the patient go to bed to sleep immediately, being sure that they have sufficient covers to feel snug and cozy. You do not, however, want the patient to sweat. Always be sure and to maintain a patient and positive mood. If you are doing this for someone else, it is helpful for you to experience it once for yourself. It is wonderful!
‡ Folgendes hat anthroposofische Einschlüße ‡
Frei nach: Manfred Weckenmann, M.D.
R.S. frequently
referred to external applications. Experiences with those used in natural
medicine are assessed in relation to the principles of spiritual science. The
subject will be limited to packs, compresses, partial baths, showers, etc. The
external applications under consideration always have a temperature aspect.
Issues of hypo- or hyperthermia are not considered, as these tend to be
emergency measures used in cryo- and thermotherapy.
It is
customary, but unsatisfactory, to explain those applications with biochemical
concepts such as absorption and elimination since the amount of matter
transported is minimal. There remains the principle of sensory perception. If
this is accepted, one has to think in terms of an unknown, subconscious,
sensory sphere.
Cool principle: acid, salt-like or earthy medicines
in a cool medium [cool, white cheese (= Quark), damp and cool Oxal-a.].
Used to
treat serous/diffuse/superficial/exanthematous
inflammatory changes with and without allergy (urticaria/acute
eczema/erysipelas with and without hyperreactivity in
the interval/and for ergotropic asthenics/here
is the transition to sea climate, saline and carbon dioxide therapies.
Cold
applied to the skin does not make skin grow cold because the cold penetrates
into the skin (cold temperature transport in the skin is minimal) but because
vasoconstriction develops. The body actively cools the periphery down. This is
primary imitation of the cooling principle by the organism (own coolness). The coolth principle thus addresses the powers of the
peripheral human being in the periphery. These are cooling - configuring -
perceptive (R.S.).
Warm principle: alkaline, sulfurous,
oily, acrid substances in a warm medium. [hot oil packs and mustard packs]. To
treat purulent, more granulomatous, inflammatory
processes in the periphery (whitlow/boils/purulent processes in the respiratory
tract/colics/ degenerative processes in the locomotor system.
Duration of
the application - more or less without interruption (white cheese compresses (=
Quark) until the inflammation has gone down, or in intermittent series (daily,
every second day, with cool showers and fango packs).
The
pathology reflects this division insofar as the first is used for acute
conditions close to the site of application (erysipelas, coolth
principle) and the second for chronic processes away from the site of
application (asthenia, coolth principle; metabolic
conditions, warmth principle).
Uninterrupted use for acute processes close to site of application
Concerning the effect of cold applications, the ability to perceive needs to be
restored, replacing the pathologic irritation (serous, superficial inflammatory
change). In physiologic terms, this means that protopathic
(sensing pain, pressure, heat, or cold in a nonspecific
manner, usually without localizing the stimulus) sensation should become epicritical [relating to sensory nerve fibers
that enable the perception of slight differences in the intensity of stimuli
(touch/temperature)] perception again. We also may say that with superficial,
serous, exudative, catarrhal inflammation, the
inherent form process is "broken", and foreign form enters too deeply
[lesions in the catarrhal mucosa during colds/hayfever/eczematous
and urticarial surface changes with the "natural
process imposing form"].
Serous
inflammation, which is loosening and diffuse, is "structured in cold"
in response to a coldness stimulus by the organism's own cooling process (cool
lemon juice poultice as example). The inflammatory process is "slowed
down" to the point of sense-organ development [development of an eye
(R.S.)] or: acid acts forward from behind (R.S.), i.e. via the nervous system,
to give form, or: the astral body is introduced into the ether body again [hayfever (R.S.)]; or: the I is connected with its
peripheral supporting structure again and consolidates it (R.S.). Therefore,
this is treatment consisting of an imitative, local counter-effect imitating
the initial stimulus given by treatment, (active cooling following the
application of cold; counter action, own forms versus foreign forms/locally:
peripheral stimulus for peripheral disease processes.
Warmth
works in an analogous way. Granuloma is a typical
inflammation with focal development. It is an organ-like form (organoid) of some duration in a functional sphere that
should still be largely flowing by nature - seen in the metabolic process, a
premature organ or micro-organ development (R.S.). A different form is imposed
(segregation from the blood circulation by stasis, (migrant) cells settling in the
granulation wall, increased density, central necrosis (imitation of
gastro-intestinal organs) in a connective tissue region which otherwise is more
fluid. Local heat is applied in this case (alkaline substances such as a
"soft soap bath").
"Self-digestion"
is stimulated by the inherent heat of the primary reaction, with the organism's
heat core decentralized. A kind of intermediate digestion is stimulated
(change/movement/will = fluxion instead of stasis). With this treatment, the
organism again imitates, as with a cold stimulus, but this time a warming
process triggers the heat stimulus (self-warming) but locally stimulates a
counter process to the pathological changes - form is dissolved.
Hot
applications for purulent inflammatory changes often meet with objections, as
people think that when something is hot and you add more heat you get extreme
heat; considering heat equal to inflammation, they think the inflammation will
increase. That is not the case. Even Kneipp wrote
that heat limited the inflammatory focus. I can confirm this for the heat of
inflammation and natural body heat differ in quality. With heat therapy,
blue-red stasis changes to pale red fluxion, with the granulomatous
process dissolving. Application of ice to any inflammation should be avoided.
Serial applications
to treat chronic processes distant to the site of application
The secondary reaction to the coolth principle is a
reactive hyperemia taking the form of
contra-regulation. It follows a circadian pattern. During the day (morning),
reactive hyperemia is weak; toward evening and at
night it is marked because the warmth organism tends to centralize in the
mornings and decentralize at night In other words, sensitivity to cold stimuli
is greatest in the mornings, sensitivity to heat greatest at night. This is why
procedures to induce sweating (sauna) are effective at night, ischemic
(decrease in the blood supply to a bodily organ/tissue/part caused by
con-/obstruction of blood vessels) reactions in the mornings; (R.S.) thus, the
stimulus can be kept to a minimum. The physiological warmth pattern becomes
excessive in pathologically ergotropic asthenics (and a rise in temperature brings rigors).
Heat has a
counter-regulation similar to that of cold. The skin does not grow hot in a
site where local heat is applied because heat penetrates but because the
organism is decentralizing its own heat. More heat then radiates off, i.e.
secondary cooling as a reaction. This is why people like hot showers rather
than cold when they have grown overheated in endurance sports. This goes to
extremes in trophotropic (the movement of cells in
relation to food or nutritive matter) pyknic (short
stocky physique) patients (and when a temperature goes down).
Serial
applications of cool or warm material have a polar opposite action. Application
is made in the periphery, the effect is in the central, metabolic sphere. This
is evident in someone with a metabolic condition who has problems coping with
matter, which provides the basis for colics and
degenerative changes in the locomotor system. It is
always a matter of movement being inhibited.
What kind
of metabolic disorder do we have in an asthenic? His
metabolism is rapid, e.g. with ingested fluids rapidly eliminated, tendency to
run a temperature, stage fright, etc. but the metabolism does not manage trophotropic body building, so the individual is
underweight, weak and easily exhausted. Anabolism cannot extend to the form
processes. How does this relate to the world?
Cold is the
sense form that enables us to take root in the temperature aspect of the world.
Our senses are rooted in the world (R.S.). [The corresponding part of the plant
is the root (R.S.)]. It roots in the soil; we root in the temperature aspect.
Cold is its sensory sphere. When R.S. spoke of heat he was always referring to
both hot and cold temperatures. He said, for instance, that a cold was heat
poisoning (in light of the above: poisoning with an aspect of heat). Cold is
the sense form with which we root or are rooted in cosmic heat. What is the situation
if we have a pathologically ergotropic asthenic? He seems to me to be poisoned, overcome by the
world's coldness. But why? Because his own heat is too centralized; he
therefore tends to overheat at the center, develop
stage fright, get heated over his work and on movement, but he does not let
this go out toward the world. His periphery is cold, "painfully"
exposed to sensory impressions. In other words, the heat configuration of an asthenic is not sufficiently embodied as "heat
substance, heat energy". This is a disorder of anabolism at heat level.
The
following show differentiation. With eczema and catarrh, the form principles of
heat themselves fail = the cold side of self-configuration [heat ether of the
upper organization (R.S.)]? These powers are not weak in the asthenic, but they cannot embody properly because
insufficient metabolic heat is there to meet them (measurable temperature) -
peripheral "heat malnutrition". The slight build is a consequence of
this. It is a weakness of the I acting from inside, struggling to gain mastery
again in the central fever (R.S.), mastery of all the external stimuli that
beset the asthenic. Ergotropic
asthenics like to be warm, but heat does not have
healing properties for them, just as cold does not for trophotropic
pyknics who like it cool.
The
therapeutic principle is as follows. Asthenics
treated with carefully-measured, serial, cold stimuli will increasingly develop
an adaptive tolerance to cold, "learning" to decentralize their body
heat in response to a cold stimulus. As a result, they respond to a cold
stimulus by warming up the periphery and not with "shock-like cold".
It is an exercise and must, therefore, be done in series. It is the method used
in natural medicine. Thus, we have a therapy based on polar opposition, the aim
being reactive warming. The principle is that the patient must never feel
chilly or be cold afterward. Kneipp made his cold stTimuli more and more subtle, having found that the most
important aspect is getting warm again afterward for this indicates a healing
process.
The
situation appears to be similar with the application of heat, though as far as
I know there is not so much experimental evidence. The reactive periods seen
with thermal baths do, however, suggest that a principle of polar alteration
lies at the back of it. The organism normally produces sufficient heat in the
metabolism to enable the I to interiorize the will and change it into action in
metabolism (R.S.). People with metabolic disorders do, however, have problems with
intermediary "digestion": matter lies inactive in it [as a
"parasitic heat focus" (R.S.)]; (parasitic, meaning not the body's
own); fat, not heat and, therefore, cool - the latter because heat is radiated
out in a process of decentralization, cooling down centrally, which has been
established by thermometry.
During the
night, the decrease in body heat reaches a maximum physiologically
(pathologically) if there is pathology, the central organism becomes subject to
matter. Hence the problems people with metabolic diseases have during the night
(colic/arthritic pain at night > from movement). In my opinion, the
treatment goal is to achieve adaptive alteration of the organism with serial
heat therapy so that the central body will not cool down so much during the
night. Because of the circadian phases, the treatment should be done at night
(vs.), but the patient should not develop a sweat. R.S. prescribed the
application of heat at night (which is often a problem in hospitals). He also
said, however, that adipose subjects should not develop a sweat (in my opinion,
because sweating will enhance the warming-up effect).
Such serial
treatments are polar by nature:
1. because
the stimulus is applied in the periphery while the effect is directed at the
central (metabolic) human being;
2. they
involve a secondary reaction which is the opposite of the primary reaction;
3. the
interval between stimuli is the actual therapeutic principle.
Respiratory tract diseases.
Sea climate
as a therapeutic principle for the above-mentioned respiratory tract conditions
in the catarrhal/allergic subacute/chronic stage
points to the cold principle. Local and polar actions appear to combine (if one
uses saline and lemon packs) - "almost locally" to enhance the lung's
own form principles (not those of respiration) and "almost polar" in
terms of form nutrition coming from the metabolism in accord with ergotropic asthenia (v. pink puffer).
Purulent
bronchopneumonia, is often seen in trophotropic pykno-athletic types. Here, the heat principle seems
indicated (oil/volatile oil/mustard pack). As with the cold principle, the
approach to treatment appears to be "almost local" and "almost
polar" - resolution of inflammatory changes that are more granulomatous, chronic and destructuring
and stimulation of a metabolism tending to be sluggish (blue bloater).
Crises
Crises must always be expected, certainly with polar serial treatment utilizing
the secondary reaction, because reactive periods are set in motion. In view of
this, aggravation does not mean the wrong treatment has been chosen.
The above is meant to encourage individual inventiveness and experience. The principle has proved effective for me but has to be checked in each individual case. Questions that remain include:
To apply
cold things to the body (cool, damp Oxalis compresses R.S.), initially
goes against the grain. R.S.: says somewhere that all external herbal
applications should be of body temperature up to cool, otherwise the action of
the herbs is destroyed.
Only
volatile oils (oils - sulphurous?) might be applied warm. It needs the right
dosage for cool Oxaliy pack on the abdomen. They
should have a slightly cooling action that is local and acute, but the patient
should never feel chilly; otherwise, the body's own cooling process maybe
replaced by foreign cold. Asthenics need serial
applications, possibly also to the abdomen, but in such a way that reactive
warming occurs.
A personal
experience may illustrate this. I tried to take cold showers all through the
Winter because of cold extremities. And I did something even "worse"
and tried to walk barefoot in the snow to the hospital every day, hoping to retrain
my cold feet so that they would be "Eskimo" feet and immediately
develop reactive warmth in the cold, more or less like dogs' paws. It did not
work. The reason was that I did not take account of something which I have now
taken into account this winter. I put my clothes on the central heating body
and immediately put on warm clothes after the cold shower. Then it worked well.
Kneipp said one should use cold applications but then
put the patient to bed once more in the morning (this was something I could not
do).
Derivative
(copied) treatment tends to be seen as a mechanical matter of blood
distribution. I do not think so. As stated above, all thermal stimuli address
primarily the human heat organization, with the blood taking its lead from
this. It will follow warmth and "shy away" from cold. 1. is a process
of interiorization taking the form of movement, 2. a
process of exteriorization taking the form of stasis (R.S.). The stimulus
applied on the outside always encounters the human I, for the action of the I
via the warmth organization is in will and metabolism or in sensory perception
and form processes. This may indeed be the reason why R.S. considered external
applications so important.
‡ Folgendes hat anthroposofische Einschlüße ‡
Frei nach: Margaret Rosenthaler, R.N.
We live in
a time when there is urgent need to concern ourselves with the question of
warmth in the human organism and in social relationships. Because we are
educated to believe that warmth is a result of the vibrations of molecules, and
therefore a by-product of matter, a consideration of this subject must be prefaced
by some clarification as to just what warmth is.
For the
ancients, warmth was the highest of the physical elements because it formed a
bridge by which the soul/spiritual could descend into and work in a physical
body. In ancient times such preliminary discussion would not have been
necessary.
The Greek:
4 elements or states of matter: fire, air, water and earth, behind which they
perceived the workings of differentiated spiritual principles.
"Earth" included anything solid. For
instance, frozen water was "earth".
"Water" described any liquid
substance (water and mercury being the only inorganic liquids of which I am
aware which one would experience in nature),
"Air" was any gaseous substance,
"Fire" anything made of warmth or
heat.
The earthly
element was the element of death. For a substance to be "earth" it
must have been abandoned by all the other spiritual principles. Take, for instance,
the human body. There are only very limited circumstances in which you would
perceive a human "physical body" without its being penetrated by the
other 3 principles; this you would see only in the corpse. The whole mineral
realm is, from this point of view, a corpse of something which was once living
and from which life has been withdrawn.
The forces
of life find their home or their medium or their field of activity, in the
watery element. Our folklore recognized this in tales about the "the water
of life". All living plants and creatures are formed out of these forces
of life which use fluids as their vehicle.
Other
invisible forces become active in the element of air. As we walk out of our doorstep
in the morning that which most strongly meets us, aside from the temperature,
is a mood brought about by various conditions in the air and light. We
experience the raging anger of a storm, the oppressive sultriness of a hot
humid day and the quickening effect of clear, light-filled air. All this has to
do with feelings, awakeness, and movement (soul
characteristics which distinguish the animal from the plant). Just so, we
experience our feelings mainly in our chest region where we breathe.
The warmth
element carried a higher principle still than the air. Consider how we
experience warmth. We feel that a thing is hot or cold depending on its
temperature in relation to our own bodily warmth. We can experience temperature
through touch on virtually every surface of our body.
The other
three elements are not perceived by us in the same way. Only warmth is
perceived outwardly and inwardly.
There is
another aspect of warmth. We have all experienced a "warm greeting"
or walking into a room with a warm, inviting atmosphere as opposed to a cold
one. It is not uncommon to describe a person as being "warm" or
"cold.” These qualities are readily perceptible in the soul atmosphere
around us but not perceptible to our physical senses. However, an interplay can
exist between the soul and physical levels. Being interested in something or
filled with enthusiasm can physically warm us, whereas we have all experienced
the chilling numbness of fear.
For the
ancients, warmth was the highest of the physical elements because it formed a
bridge by which the soul/spiritual could descend into and work in a physical
body.
Our science
acknowledges only three states of matter and denies the fourth - the warmth.
Significantly, scientific dogma which denies the spiritual also is unable to
recognize the significance of warmth. This has resulted in cultural ignorance
regarding the proper care and nurturing of that warmth and is leading to many
aberrations both physiological in terms of illness, and on the level of
individual and social soul experience.
Modern
medicine plays a crucial role in contributing to this dysfunction. Think of the
drugs given for acute illness: antipyretics (against fever), antiinflammatories, anti-diarrhea
drugs, steroids, antihistamines, and antibiotics. These have their
consequences. We tend to think that human immunity is something we are born
with, but actually, the protection we have at birth is our mother's (we carry
her antibodies). Our individual immune system is only gradually developed over
the course of time out of our interaction with the world. Increased warmth,
fever, or inflammation is characteristic of the enhanced activity of our immune
system. Our immune function works in the warmth and serves our individuality or
the spiritual part of us. It recognizes what is "ours" and protects
the domain of the "I". It also distinguishes what is "not
us" and removes it from our organism.
An
inflammation in the body is a kind of gesture of enthusiasm (over-enthusiasm
perhaps). The effect of repeatedly extinguishing it through suppressive
treatment has the ultimate effect of "cooling us down" both on the
soul and bodily level. Its ultimate effect is that the spirit of the human
being finds it harder and harder to express itself in the physical body and to fulfill its tasks on earth. We see it expressed in the
"cool" attitudes of our adolescents (who in earlier times were more
full of the fire of idealism), and in the increasing difficulty of human
relationships. Also, balance in the realm of soul warmth is lost so that it
often gives way either to coolness or indifference or goes to the opposite
extreme in excessive sexual activity.
Physiologically
we see an escalation of illnesses which are the result of inappropriate
cooling. Auto-immune illnesses of increasing variety are on the rise; immune
deficiencies, blood dyscrasias, chronic fatigue
conditions, and other chronic illness are all increasing. Children are not
dressed warmly enough. Literally because of a "fear of fire" one has
great difficulty finding natural fiber (woolen) clothes for children.
A new way
of looking at illness must be learned. Obviously, the object is not that a
person should seek to have a fever all the time. But if febrile illness and
inflammations are an attempt by the human individuality to take better hold in
the organism we should try to find a way to support the sick person without
inappropriate use of suppressive treatment so that a greater state of health
can be attained after recovery.
Frei
nach: W.A. Edmonds
Moist Heat
As Therapeutic Agent 1893
Fever and
inflammation are practically constant in symptomatic and pathological
association.
Define
inflammation: heat, pain, swelling, tenderness, and redness. Of course
suppuration, ulceration, gangrene, atrophy, hypertrophy, and the various dyscrasias.
Every case
of inflammation consists essentially and primarily in a capillary blood stasis
of the part. Physiologist teach us that that innumerable mesh-work known as the
capillaries stands as the half-way place between the veins and arteries.
Whether the motion in these little radicals is a vis
a tergo from the heart, or by capillary attraction,
or by a sort of successive vermicular contraction, is still matter sub judice. We know, however, that upon the successful
transition of the blood through these little tubules depends the suitable
performance of that covert, mysterious performance known as assimilation and disassimilation - the repair after waste and wear and the
removal of physiological debris. Now, any hurt or adverse agency, whether traumatic
or toxic, which interferes with the capillary motion is at once announced by
inflammatory manifestations-heat, pain, tenderness, swelling, and redness.
I believe
the theory or idea has been generally conceded that the excess of blood in a
part under inflammation depends an invitation of the circulation to take
direction to the particular locality of the part under affection. I confuse I
have never been able to see either fact or sense in such explanation. Of
course, there is an excess of blood in the part. How does it occur? I should
say it depends upon a failure of the capillaries to send it along. They have
received a hurt, either traumatic or toxic, and fail of the part of their
function. At first it may be slight; stasis adds to the obstruction; until,
after a short while, obstruction and capillary failure become so complete as to
arrest all motion, to be followed by extravasation,
death of tissue, suppuration, ulceration, gangrene.
Common-sense
would seem to say or indicate that whatever helps the disabled capillaries in
an effort to send the blood along must be palliative, curative, helpful.
Leeches, blisters, cupping, blood-letting have heretherefore
been supposed to be the means to this desirable end.
Moist heat
has a range of power and opportunity for such a purpose unequalled by any
therapeutic agent in the whole resource of the curative art, whether we
consider it in reference to power of action or wide range of applicability.
The vapor bath: nervous disorders, insomnia, rheumatism and cutaneous affection. Submerging the entire body in hot
water is in the same line and of very great value. In the early part of the
present century an ignorant, illiterate new York well nigh revolutionized the
then prevalent modes of treating disease by the introduction of what soon came
to be known as the "Thompsonian Practice,"
Thompson being the author of the plan. He came upon the stage of professional
action at a time when poor sick humanity was in agony and despair from the heroical uses of the lancet, the scarificator,
the blister, plaster, salivation, purging and vomiting. Taking advantage of the
odium attaching to these modes, Thompson and his coadjutors had for a time a
wonderful run of success. His treatment consisted almost exclusively in the use
of the vapor bath coupled with the abundant ingestion
of hot drinks; so that the patient had moist heat galore internally and
externally. He made abundant cures, but the system gradually fell into disuse
from certain crudities and excesses attending its administration.
The success
of hot springs in various parts of the world, of which "Hot Springs"
Arkansas is a reliable example, is simply attributable to free bathing in hot
water and the free drinking of the same on an empty stomach. Precisely the same
results might be attained in the private family home if method and persistency
could be accomplished in the use of the hot water internally and externally,
with exemption from worry and business cares. The "Turkish Bath," now
so popular as a luxury as well as in the cure of disease, has its chief
resource in the moisture and heat, together with certain manipulations incident
to the administration.
The hot
"size-bath," so useful in various pelvic disorders, has a marked
influence upon the condition of the patient generally, while acting well upon
parts locally.
Much the
same may be said of a hot "foot bath," doubtful if the same amount of
hot water could be applied to the same amount of external bodily space
elsewhere with the same good result. In a violent acute brain disorders a
protracted hot head douche will sometimes act like magic. In the thirst, nausea
and vomiting attending many cases of strong fever, nothing so quickly allays
the symptoms as constant sips of hot water repeated for ten or fifteen minutes.
Hot irrigations of the intestines, with hot abdominal fomentations, bring great
relief in acute dysentery. In cerebral and cerebro-spinal
meningitis hot-water bags to the head and spine will be found far better
practice than the habit of freezing the patient to death with ice-packs and
ice-bags. Chronic dyspeptics who suffer from eructations,
furred tongue, bad breath, bad taste in the mouth, constipation of the bowels,
scanty urine, may be greatly benefited by drinking a large goblet or two of hot
water on an empty stomach at early rising and at bedtime. The water may be
mixed with fresh lemon juice. In very obstinate cases of this kind much may be
gained by systematic hot fomentations over the epigastrium
for two hours at, say, from 19 – 21 h. the applications being renewed every 20
minutes. A good hearty sip of hot water should be taken with each renewal of
the compress. This plan of hot-water drinking on an empty stomach with the
evening fomentations should be continued every evening from 2 - 4 weeks, according
to the needs and obstinacy of the case. I remember very distinctly getting this
plan and idea some 30 years or more ago from a book on Water Cure, by an
English author, Dr. Gully who enjoyed much celebrity and practice at the time.
It is very remarkable how much hot water may be taken on an empty stomach, with
little or no inconvenience to the individual.
In cool or
cold weather it pours away through the kidneys and bladder; in hot weather it
finds additional outlet through the skin in the form of perspiration, bringing
a peculiar sense of cleanliness and bodily renovation, with improved secretions
and excretions everywhere. I have come to attach importance to the lemon acid
addition to the water, as rendering the water more palatable, and, besides, exerting
a good influence on the stomach and other organs which it may reach. I usually
prescribe the juice from half a fresh lemon to a point of water. Should so much
juice put the "teeth on edge," the quantity must be reduced or taken
less frequently.
The whole
range of poultices and poulticing, whether in
domestic or professional practice, would seem to depend for efficacy upon the
heat and moisture contained. Every old mother or nurse knows full well that the
poultice cases to do good when it gets cold. In mastitis, peritonitis, pneumonitis, pleuritis, and the
whole family of furuncles, the good to be derived from the time-honored "mushpoultice"
is attributable to the heat and moisture in the application. A flannel out of
hot water might do just as well, except that it loses its heat and moisture too
soon, necessitating the trouble of too frequent reapplication. I remember very
distinctly a case of infantile pneumonia which I had visited and prescribed for
daily for a period of ten days or more without success. When I came to make my
morning call I was agreeably surprised to find the child bright and almost
well, fro being quite ill at my last visit. The mother told me in a sort of
beg-pardon, apologist manner, that she had applied a poultice to the patient's chest
the night before. By the way, the best material of all others, for a poultice,
is flax-seed meal. It retains heat and moisture well, and has oil enough to
prevent adhesion to the skin surface.
We come not
to speak of a most valuable use of moist heat in the management of the various
uterine disorders. The use of this agent in the domain of gynaecology does not
seems to have received any special, systematic attention until within the last
ten or fifteen years. Now, it is the fad of the hour, and, like many other good
things in the hands of indiscreet zealots, has received some misuse in the
house of its friends. Many a poor woman is to-day being soused, drenched and
irrigated, beyond all reason and propriety, at the hands of those without
wisdom or discretion. The abuse to which a misdirected zeal has brought it, is
only an argument or fact that there is much in it for good as well as misuse.
To-day, if I should be offered the alternative to give up very other known form
of local application, or accept hot water, as my only resource in such cases. I
should unhesitatingly adopt the hot-water treatment as against everything else
in the local line. Not that I underrate other agencies and modes, but this much
by way of indicating the importance I attach to the agent I am now commending.
I have now arrived at the point in my daily professional experience where I may
say that I begin the treatment of every case of sexual disorder in the female
with hot water irrigations. These are prescribed for morning and evening
observances, from ½ gallon to 1 gallon being used at each application, from a
fountain syringe. In every obstinate cases I add the
use of the hot sitz-bath for 10 minutes every 24
hours.
In
constipation of the bowels the colon should be filled with hot water, once in
24, to be retained as long as possible, jointly for help to both constipation
as well as the uterine disorder. The colon full of hot water for the time acts
much as a poultice might in behalf of the sick uterus and its appendages. In
the adoption of this mode I do not stop at nice distinctions as to whether the
case be one of cervicitis, endometritis,
perimetritis, ovaritis,
uterine displacement, or sub-involution. In most cases of long standing,
several, or al of these conditions, exist. Each and all are benefited by the
treatment. Usually this mode of treatment embraces and exhausts its
opportunities in from 2 - 4 weeks. Protraction beyond this probable limit will
not only be useless but may prove a source of defeat or even draw-back. Any powerful
agent in the treatment of disease has its limit as to usefulness, beyond which
an adverse result may be expected. I beg you to indulge a slight digression
while I say in most cases I conjoin the glycerole
cotton tampon with the hot water, and with great seeming advantage. Indeed, I
sometimes find myself almost at the conclusion that these two agencies are well
nigh equal to the relief of any and every form of sexual disorder peculiar to
the female. In this sweeping declaration, of course I provide exception for the
demands of surgery in case lacerations, abnormal growths and malignant
troubles.
As a
haemostatic, hot water has come to be a valuable resource in violent
haemorrhages (from one of the body cavities:
stomach/bladder/uterus/intestines). In such cases it should be used just as hot
as will not endanger tissue integrity, and in bold, large quantities, thrown in
forcefully with a syringe in a continues stream, until some effect shall seem
to have been reached. It is noteworthy that in cases where the hot water may
seem a failure, the other extreme of cold water will almost surely succeed. Hot
# cold water will almost surely succeed. The alternation of hot and cold water
in bad uterine haemorrhages is sometimes of the very first moment.
As a disinfectant
and general renovator about the sick room, it would be hard to overestimate the
value of steam and hot water. They have absolutely all the elements of success:
cheapness, efficiency, promptness, harmlessness.
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum