Herbal bath therapy helps enhance metabolism in the body, increase blood circulation, and improve symptoms of fatigue and muscle pain.
Dr. Huynh Tan Vu, Head of the Day Treatment Unit, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, facility 3, shared: Soaking and bathing in herbs is a method of using medicinal herbs containing essential oils that have beneficial effects. Eliminates rheumatism, activates blood, eliminates inflammation, circulates blood and affects the skin, tendons and muscles to improve health. Patients can soak each part such as arms or legs in a small basin, or soak and bathe the whole body.
“You can use dried or fresh herbs, or herbal extracts, mixed or cooked with warm water. The body area is soaked in warm medicinal water for a certain and appropriate period of time and will recover.
“Parts immersed in water must endure water pressure that affects the skin, muscles, and joints. The movements of water and the body facilitate better blood circulation, especially blood return to the body.” heart from veins and lymph. Especially good for patients who are tired, sedentary or immobile because of lying in bed for a long time, physical weakness after Covid infection,” Dr. Vu analyzed.
The whole body herbal bath also helps the digestive glands excrete better, the digestion and absorption process is enhanced, the patient eats better and eats more. When the body’s metabolism increases, it will help increase blood circulation, requiring respiration and circulation to increase, which is good for the heart.
“In addition, water acts on the skin, water pressure acts on deep tissues such as muscles and joints, like a massage, stimulating nerve receptors. The aroma of medicinal herbs also affects “Action on the olfactory nerve relaxes and soothes. Patients feel relaxed, comfortable, reduce stress, fall asleep more easily and sleep more deeply, very suitable for adjusting emotions after Covid infection.” , the doctor said.
According to Dr. Vu, depending on the purpose, there is a choice and combination of appropriate medicines. Some commonly used medicinal herbs have warming, pain-relieving or sedative properties, and have a fragrant scent such as Anise, Cinnamon, Thien Nien Event, Mugwort, Cloves, Calamus, Membrane…
For herbal baths, you will usually soak your feet. The two feet are where acupuncture points are concentrated that affect most parts of the body from the brain to the eyes, ears, nose, pituitary gland, thyroid, and pancreas; from the nervous system to the five internal organs such as heart, liver, gallbladder, lungs, kidneys; to the digestive organs: stomach, intestines, colon, spleen, bladder. Impact on acupuncture points will stimulate the activity of the above organs.
The method is to simply boil the herbs, or heat the herbs with boiling water, pour the cooked herbal water, put it in a wooden or plastic tray, adjust the heat accordingly and soak your feet in it for about 20 minutes. 30 minutes. The medicinal water acts directly on the feet, the person soaking will feel light and relaxed, and fatigue will seem to disappear. This method is suitable for the elderly, people who work in a sedentary position (sitting for a long time, standing a lot), people with rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure… to improve uncomfortable symptoms caused by Caused by Covid-19.
Herbal foot baths require the guidance of a physician to choose the appropriate herbs and remedies. You should not soak them arbitrarily. The medicine must ensure quality, not be moldy or degraded. Buy medicine at a reputable place. The appropriate temperature for safe foot bathing is about 35-50 degrees Celsius, soak for 15-20 minutes, soak 1-2 times a day.
“Do not put your feet in the water right away, but keep them a distance away from the water to steam first and then slowly lower your feet. Soaking before going to bed will help you sleep well. To ensure safety, after soaking your feet, everyone should also Be sure to dry your feet and keep them warm in blankets to avoid cold,” the doctor noted.
For patients who want to take a full-body herbal bath, they must have a doctor’s prescription and be examined and have their vital signs checked for health assessment and advice.
The bathtub temperature ranges from 40 to 50 degrees Celsius depending on the patient’s condition and appropriate treatment indications. Herbs must be cooked first and dissolved evenly with water before coming into contact with the body. Check the temperature of the bathing water to see if it is hot enough to adjust. Then the designated person must be cleaned thoroughly before taking a herbal bath. Soak in hot herbal water for 15-20 minutes, then dry with a towel.
“Soaking in a full-body bath or soaking in a local bath both helps improve symptoms of fatigue, muscle pain, induce detoxifying sweat, increase blood circulation, and help improve mental health and quality of life.” “However, you need to follow your doctor’s instructions. You should not arbitrarily soak and bathe, especially using unfamiliar medicines because of the risk of irritation and unwanted side effects,” Dr. Vu recommended.
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