This was referred to earlier in passing, but for completeness let us consider it a little more fully. Alternating applications of hot and cold to the spine, at the base of the neck, can bring great relief in many cases of extreme tension. Prolonged nervous strain, such as that produced by anxiety or other emotional stress, often shows itself as great hardness of the muscles in this area. Pressures thereby exerted on nerves can embarrass the working of the heart. Conversely, if there is cardiac distress — as indicated by precordial pains or spasms of angina — the base of the neck is involved. To break into this situation, which so easily becomes a vicious circle, the simple hydropathic routine can be extremely effective.
In most households, the most convenient equipment consists of: two ordinary bowls or basins, ‘washing-up’ size; two face-cloths or other pieces of Turkish towelling about one foot square; a kettleful of boiling water.
The method is to have one basin half-full of water as hot as can be comfortably borne by the hand, the other full of water as cold as can be run from the tap. The cloths are each folded into thickish pads, about 4 inches by 6 inches in area, and each is immersed in one bowl. Take the pad from the hot water, and squeeze it out firmly, then apply it closely over the base of the neck, between the shoulders. Keep it in contact for fully half a minute, then replace immediately with the other pad, freshly squeezed out from the cold bowl. The second pad should be kept in place for a similar interval, meanwhile the hot bowl is topped up with a little boiling water so that the following application from it is a little hotter than the first. Hot and cold pads may be alternated for anything up to twenty minutes although often half this time will be found gratifyingly effective.
It is important to start with the hot pad and finish with the cold.
In less acute conditions, other forms of simple hydrotherapy may be at least as effective. For example, the use of the waist compress, with or without a neck compress, may produce a marked and lasting reduction of excessive nervous and cardio-vascular tensions.
*82\253\8*
HEART DISEASE: EXERCISE FOR HOME TREATMENT – HOT AND COLD
Posted: March 3rd, 2011 under Cardio & Blood-Cholesterol.
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