Hot-Cold Therapy
This therapy is used to improve and stimulate blood flow and circulation to and from a particular area. To achieve this, we use the contrast of hot versus cold. Hot water draws the blood to the surface of the skin and the ice-cold water drives it back into the body. This stimulates movement of the blood and removal of waste from the affected area whilst also bringing fresh nutrients for repair and regeneration.
What to do:
- Take two large cups / bowls / buckets.
- Fill one with hot water – as hot as you can stand it without burning yourself.
- In the other container, put cold water and some ice blocks.
Immerse the swollen / sore / inflamed finger / foot / hand / leg into the hot water bowl for 3 minutes.
Then plunge it straight into the ice-cold water and hold it there for just 30 seconds.
** During the 30 seconds in the cold water, add some hot water ( a few tablespoons to a 1/4 cup hot water) to the first container again, as it would have cooled down by this time. Have some freshly boiled water ready, the amount added depending on the container size you are using. Test the heat of the water with a healthy hand, or elbow, because an injured area will already be hot and may not gauge the temperature correctly of the hot water. You want it as hot as possible without burning yourself.
- Then take the foot / body part out of the ice-cold water and put it back into the hot water container for 3 minutes again.
- After 3 minutes in hot, plunge it again into the ice-cold water for 30 seconds.
- Check the hot water again and add a little boiling water to get the temperature up again that is hot enough. Stay mindful not to burn yourself or client. Repeat the process of alternating between hot and cold water until the 4th time the foot goes into the hot water, which is the final dip.
- We are hot blooded beings, thus we finish in the hot water, not the cold.
- Repeat several times per day for small places (like a finger or hand) and at least 4x per day (in severe congestion / pain / swelling conditions) on larger areas, such as a foot or leg, arm or backside (good therapy in the event of hemorrhoids)
PS. BE VERY MINDFUL when dealing with swollen feet or injured parts, which do not feel the heat the same way as a normal foot would due to inflammation in the area. Check the temperature with the healthy foot or with your hand to ensure it does not burn you (or your client).