Sauna Bath

Modern Sauna bath chambers are improved replacements of the old time Turkish Bath Chambers. A cabin specially made with pine wood is used for this purpose. Depending on the size of the cabin, two to ten patients could be treated at a time.

Duration: 20 minutes.
Procedure: Before entering the chamber, the patient should drink plenty of cold water and take a cold shower. While in the cabin, the person should frequently rub himself to encourage dilation of the surface vessels. When the person feels sufficiently hot, he should take a cold shower and return to the cabin. Finally, after inducing perspiration for the second time, the patient should take a cold shower and quickly dry himself. This should be followed by relaxation for 30 to 40 minutes. A glass of cold lemon juice will be refreshing.
Precautions: The treatment should be stopped if the patient feels giddy during the treatment and should be given a cold shower immediately. Rest for 20 to 30 minutes will relieve the unpleasant symptoms.
Uses: This bath is useful in treating a majority of chronic disorders such as rheumatism, toxemia of chronic, dyspepsia and biliousness, obesity, sciatica, lumbago, all painful afflictions involving large nerve trunks.
Contra–indications: It is contra–indicated in all cardiac diseases, eruptive skin disorders, diabetes with emaciation, exophthalmia, goiter, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, advanced cases of nephritis, in fever and in weakness.

Spinal Bath

The spinal baths are given in tubs specially made for them. Like the hip bath, it is also given at cold, neutral and hot temperatures. A perforated tube is provided at the center of the tub in order that the constantly emanating ascending jet will give a gentle massage to the whole spinal column. This tub is not only comfortable, but also helps to maintain constant water temperature. The gentle massage of the fine water columns are capable of giving quick results. The patient has to lie down in the tub so that the whole spinal cord will receive the water columns.

Sponge Bath

Sponge bath is given to bed–ridden patients who are very weak, suffering from prolonged fever/illness.
Requisites: A bucket, a Turkish towel or gloves made of Turkish cloth, a rubber sheet to cover the bed.
Duration: 3–5 seconds for each part of the body.
Procedure: The patient should be covered with a bed sheet. The towel/gloves is frequently dipped in water and the body parts are rubbed in this order: legs, hands, chest and abdomen. The patient should be gently turned to the other side and the back is sponged. The face and the head should be washed and dried quickly. The patient should then be covered with a sheet. The temperature of water depends on the effect sought and the condition of the patient. In cases of high fever, cold sponge (18–24°C.) helps to bring down the temperature. However, for very weak patients and in fever with chills (when the patient is averse to cold) warm water may be used. Frequent sponging with warm water increases the moisture of the skin and evaporation and thus brings down the fever.
Uses: While using this bath for getting tonic effects, the temperature of the bath should be about 10°C. and the patients should be rubbed vigorously for a duration of not more than 5 minutes. Cold sponge is helpful for the patients suffering from myxoedema, cardiac and renal dropsy.

In hot sponging, the temperature should be as high as bearable and applied for a short duration. It helps in severe cold associated with body pain and fever, in spinal irritation, headache, urticaria, itching (pruritis) and sleeplessness. Alternate hot and cold sponging of the spine excites the cardiac and respiratory centers and hence is useful in treating all cases of toxemia. In nervous headaches it relaxes the central nervous system and relieves pain. It also helps in treating sprains, bruises and rheumatoid arthritis.