The Tribune

By Dr Monique Thompson

AS A brief review, last week we looked at the amazing hot foot bath home therapy for congestive headaches, chest congestion, infections and detoxification. This week, we dive into the just-as-easy therapeutic world of the heating compress.

A heating compress is achieved when a cold compress (55-65 degrees Fahrenheit) is applied to the body and covered with wool. I know what you’re saying , “What is a compress?” and “Why, oh why, is it called a heating compress if you are applying something cold?”

A compress is a moist pad of folded material (linen) applied to an area with pressure; sometimes medicated. The therapy is called a heating compress even though cold is initially applied because your body loves homeostasis, that is, being balanced. It doesn’t like being too cold, neither does it appreciate being too hot. As a result, when the cold compress is applied to an area of the body the body reacts by increasing circulation to the area to warm it up.

The heating compress works in two stages. First, the initial cold on the body causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels), decreased metabolism, and increased heart and respiratory rates. In the second stage, the blood vessels open, there is increased cellular metabolism and diaphoresis (sweating). Who would have thought that the body can react in such a way from something as ordinary and simple as a cold application?

The four main effects of the heating compress are that it draws blood from a congested area to a different part of the body; it increases blood flow leading to increased movement of nutrients; it boosts the immune system and white blood cell activity, and it increases circulation which leads to increased metabolism.

The indications for this therapy depend on where the compress is being applied. When used on the chest, it is good for chronic bronchitis, mastitis, pneumonia, chest colds, coughs and the flu. On the abdomen it helps diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis. On the joints it is used for non-rheumatoid arthritis, and on the throat for swollen lymph nodes, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and laryngitis (the latter three being causes of sore throats).

Although this therapy is quite safe, it should be avoided in persons who are weak or debilitated to the point that they are unable to heat the compress, persons with low body temperature, and in persons with skin conditions that may be made worse by having a prolonged moist application.

Two specific examples of this therapy are the application of a wrung out, cold, wet, cotton T-shirt to the chest covered with a snug wool sweater, and putting cold, wet, cotton socks on the feet and covering it with wool socks. The person having this treatment done should be wrapped in a sheet or blanket after the compress is applied.

The wet T-shirt is used for those conditions listed above with the chest compress, while the cold wet socks are great for colds, flus, coughs and chest congestion, especially in kids. Anytime our son, who is in preschool, begins to show any signs of an infection or not being well, we pull out the cold wet socks. And they have not failed us yet.

It is important to note that both the coldness of the compress and the degree of moisture must be based on the patient. It does more harm than good to put a very cold, very wet heating compress on an elderly individual whose body does not have the ability to warm and dry the compress during the process.

Both treatments are applied right before bed, and it is essential that the individual remains in bed after the compress is applied. It is also very important that the compress stays on until it is warm and dry. If the socks are not warm and dry when taken off, the process is depleting.

This modality has existed for hundreds and hundreds of years and continues to be effective even today. Although some of the applications, none that we discussed, can be quite complicated, others are straightforward, effective, and easily employed in the home. It is my hope that these articles on hydrotherapy have been informative and empowering.

• Dr Monique Thompson is the founder of Cornerstone Healing Institute, an integrative family medicine clinic, and can be contacted at 356-0083 with any questions/comments. Visit www.chibahamas.com for more information. This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.