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Contrast shower for colds. Is it possible to take a shower with a cold - the benefits and harms of water procedures Cold water for a cold. How hardened people get sick

I have long understood that cold water cures colds. Back in the 1980s, my wife treated our children for chronic colds with cold water.

Cold water helps with colds.

I'm sure many people will disagree with me. And do you know why? Because we have stable stereotypes from childhood. When we were constantly wrapped up and warned “do not go without a hat”, “do not sit in a draft”, etc.

I have long understood that cold water cures colds. Back in the 1980s, my wife treated our children for chronic colds with cold water. Then Tolkachev's book "Physical Education Against Illness" was published. I have not seen a more complete guide to hardening. It describes very well the procedures for treating children and adults with cold water and fresh air.

I started tempering with cold water only at the age of 55. It was during these years that it dawned on me that the body trains well and adapts to different conditions. You will feel sorry for him and pamper him and he will be weak and sick. And if you start to harden and train, he will harden and become stronger.

If you can fairly objectively assess progress with training, then how to determine the degree of your hardening?

I must say right away that diving into an ice hole is not an indicator for me. Many in Epiphany bathe in ice water and nothing. As a rule, such bathing does not lead to a cold.

You catch a cold more often comfortable conditions. It happened to me either when your feet get wet in the spring or you get out of a heated car without a hat into the breeze.

I made my conclusion about the benefits of hardening by the fact that I practically stopped catching a cold. And if I get sick, the disease passes relatively easily. And cold water helps me heal again. I no longer use pills or rinses. As an example, I will give a short diary of my cold in March 2015. And then I will tell you about how I practically harden.

Diary of my illness. The first day.

Today is Monday and I feel sick. And it pleases. What would you like to be happy about?

This is a great opportunity to check my body. By nature, I am an experimenter and for several years I have been testing various methods of healing. How long will I be sick? So heavy? Until recently, I always had a sore throat 2-3 times a year. Now these colds have become less frequent. Let's see how this will proceed after two years of dousing with cold water.

I don't know how long the incubation period was. Looks like it started on March 8, Sunday. At 6 am I was already in the pool and spent a total of 1.5 hours in the water. At first I went to 4 m depth with scuba gear, cleaning the bottom. Then I swam and trained for an hour.

After the pool, I came home and immediately went for a run. I am in the process of preparing for a triathlon. I wanted to check how I would run after swimming. I ran 2 hours, ran 21 kilometers. He dressed quite lightly - a long-sleeved T-shirt. It wasn't cold, but it wasn't particularly warm either. The temperature is about 0 degrees and at times a strong headwind.

Today I went to the bathroom. Already in the morning there was some slight malaise. Before the bath, I did exercises with a kettlebell in the sun. He was wearing a light turtleneck and no hat.

In the bath, I noticed signs of a sore throat. And even rejoiced. So let's see how a hardened body will fight infection.

Monday evening. Viruses are coming. A sore throat was clearly felt. And according to past experience, this means that in the morning the throat will hurt.

At night I brewed rosehip berries in a thermos. And before going to bed I drank 0.5 liters of this decoction with honey. All night, then went to the toilet.

I rinsed my face with cold water before going to bed. Several times and at the same time he massaged his nose well with his thumbs. It helped clear the nasal passages. He also anointed his nose and under it with a cold balm from Thailand. All procedures allowed me to breathe well, falling asleep. The night passed quietly.

Second day. Tuesday.

In the beginning, there were forces. But, I ran two kilometers and weakness and laziness piled up. I decided to relax by walking. It was about 10 degrees. The sun was warm, and I just enjoy the fact that you can go and not run anywhere.

I thought about my working moments, about trainings. He took off his hat and sunbathed. On the first spring, such a really warm sun. After a run, he collapsed to lie down, because the weakness did not let go.

Then I went to work, but I can’t say that I was comfortable. Slight pain in the temples and in the bridge of the nose. At times, snot accumulated and coughing began. Sometimes the coughing fit was strong. And then from work, when he came back to sleep, because there is no other way. Complete lack of energy and desire to do something. Appetite is bad.

How bad it is to be sick, but at the same time there is a feeling that I am not sick like before.

Day three. Wednesday.

My intermediate conclusion: I still hardened and the cold comes in a milder version. Simple morning dousing with cold water brings its result.
Today is the 3rd day since I caught a cold. Before going to bed, I took a shower with cold, cold water. Particular attention was paid to rinsing the face with cold water. I also did an exercise woodcutter that stimulates diaphragmatic breathing.

Exercise "lumberjack"

I.p. Legs wider than shoulders, arms at the top. It's like holding an axe. Inhale. You sharply bend down with the “axe” down and put your hands between your legs and exhale sharply. When exhaling, draw in your stomach and say “Ha”. And so several times. At the same time, sputum is coughed up well from the bronchi. Nothing really worked out for me, even though I tried. I went to bed - perfectly clean breathing.

I slept well at night, but I was weak. Joints hurt. It's very similar to what happens with the flu.

Day four. Thursday

I woke up in the morning with clean breath. There was a desire to go for a run right in the morning, but decided to postpone. The process is clearly on the mend and there was an appetite. ate oatmeal, drank coffee. Now ready to go. Although there was still a slight French dialect. The process is clearly on the mend. What pleases? This is something that does not hurt the throat and hurt very little. As if warned, “take action, the viruses are already close.”

Although there is still a slight hoarseness and congestion of the nose. A nice plus of running is that with it all this comes out of you. The breath is cleared and sputum is expectorated from the bronchi. If she had not gone to run, it is not known how long she would have been sitting there.

Therefore, physical activity in the fresh air is simply necessary in the process of recovery and treatment of acute respiratory diseases. But actually on this my cold can be considered finished.

Life got better. So, it turned out that it takes two days to fight a cold. On Monday evening, I somehow felt uneasy. Tuesday and Wednesday I was ill, but there was no bed rest. Sleep as much as possible and go to bed early. He drank a lot, doused a lot of cold water and no medicines. That's all treatment.

Friday morning. Day five.

There are no signs of a cold anymore. Everyone is healthy and ready to pass the TRP standards, which I wish all readers.

How do I get hot.

I take a cold shower every morning. The whole procedure takes no more than 2-3 minutes. Its benefits are enormous. I wrote this article in 2015. It is now January 2016. I have never caught a cold. Although there were enough reasons for this. And wet feet, and walking without a hat in the off-season, and running in the cold in shorts and a T-shirt. It really works.

How do I do it. I write point by point:

1. I go to the bath.

2. I close the drain hole with a stopper.

3. I open the cold water tap.

4. I get ankle-deep water.

5. I undress.

6. I get into the bath. I take a flexible shower in my hands.

7. I start to wet my legs from the feet up to the waist.

8. From the belt I go higher and reach the face and head. All dousing is no more than 15-20 seconds.

9. I go down with the shower and turn off the water.

10. If desired, I repeat with p No. 7.

11. I dry myself as usual. Not red.

Every time I do a douche, I have to tune in a little. It's always stressful and hard to get used to. It is believed that it is thanks to stress and the release of hormones that immunity is strengthened.

For beginners, I can advise a gradual transition to dousing the whole body. Start from the feet and down to the knees. Don't make the water warmer. Start with the coldest one. Change the time and area of pouring.

The main thing is regularly and gradually. You can start at any time of the year. But it's better in summer. Then by winter there will already be a certain hardening base.

How long to harden? Once you start, don't stop. It's like training here. While exercising, the body keeps in shape. Threw. Everything is lost. Then you have to start over.
When it comes to the benefits of home water procedures, the first thing that comes to mind is a contrast shower. Many articles have been written about this procedure, including in the context of losing weight. But a cold (or cool) shower is not as popular. It is obviously less comfortable than contrast, has more contraindications for health and sometimes requires significant volitional efforts. At the same time, such a start to the day can awaken vitality, help achieve goals and improve well-being. Let's figure out together how good a cold shower is for health, and whether it helps to lose weight.

Cold doesn't mean uncomfortable

For supporters of cold water, the main argument is an easy start to each day. Modern people really have a problem with waking up and morning mood. As the researchers say, our brain begins to fully function only at work, and no coffee is able to start it. Cool jets of water act as a kind of "shocker", waking up not only the body, but also the psyche. Along with the mind, the immune system also starts, which perceives the cold as a sign of danger. AT Scandinavian countries, where the seasonal cold is a serious problem not only for health, but also for the economy, cold and contrast showers are promoted very actively. Lectures on the benefits of a cold shower were even introduced into the compulsory school curriculum.

Opponents of this method say that ice water is fraught with a lot of dangers, and is simply uncomfortable for the body. This is partly true, since the shock effect can cause spasms, disrupt work of cardio-vascular system. Against the background of colds, a cold shower will also not be a useful event. In the end, there are people who wake up easily and feel cheerful from the very morning, and they do not need cold water at all.

Otherwise, this hygienic procedure is not too uncomfortable either in winter or in summer. She just needs to get used to it. This process usually takes about 2-3 weeks if the procedure is not interrupted. In the future, our psyche will tune in the right way and stop perceiving a cold shower as a threat. The first conditionally unpleasant cold, of course, will remain, but the body will understand that the benefits of well-being and the influx of endorphins are greater than the damage from a second of discomfort.

What is useful?

In many countries, the effect of cold water on the body has been studied. Almost all scientists agree that cool moisture is good for health. But only in the case when a person does not have chronic diseases and congenital nervous pathologies. In the presence of health problems, a cold shower can also be extremely useful, but it is not recommended to use such a powerful tool without the permission of the attending physician. Doctors have identified the following main properties of a cold shower:

strengthening immunity;
quick start of mental processes;
normalization of heat transfer;
acceleration of metabolic processes at the local and general levels;
removal of a hangover syndrome;
destruction of subcutaneous fat deposits.

With a number of neuroses and psychological problems, morning showers with cool water temperatures also have a healing effect. The psyche, fixated on inner experiences, needs a good shake-up. Plus, the effect on the peripheral nerve endings generates electrical impulses that are responsible for the production of endorphins, which reduces all negative symptoms.

How effective for weight loss?

Logically, the cool temperature of the water requires the body to quickly compensate for warming up the body. For this he can use body fat. But this is in theory, because the process of combating excess weight cannot be based on any one aspect. To start the mechanism of destruction of fat due to exposure to cold, you need to prepare the body. Weight loss should include diet food with a calorie deficit (not necessarily a large one), regular exercise and a positive mental attitude. It is these three factors that make it possible to use the cold shower reserve. Then a sharp start of metabolism will destroy not only subcutaneous, but also visceral fat.

The second aspect of weight loss and overall health associated with cold showers is the intensity of blood flow. Even a short stay under cool jets activates blood flow to the skin. If you stand in the shower for more than two minutes, then the blood will begin to wash almost all internal organs. The healing effect of such a procedure is clearly visible with a strong hangover. Literally 2-3 minutes of cold, and the body begins to live a full life. The toxic remnants of yesterday's "libation" are washed out by the blood from all the hidden "nooks and crannies" of the body and are utilized in the liver. Exactly the same result is obtained without the participation of alcohol, it is just not so clearly visible.

Skin rejuvenation

This aspect of the impact of cold water has long been familiar to mankind. Cosmetologists recommend washing with cold water for a number of problems, including age-related ones. Cool water makes the skin of the body softer and silkier. This effect is based on closing the pores from the cold. This method can be used both in the morning and in the evening - the result will always be the same. True, for the elderly, such a cosmetic procedure requires a doctor's consultation.

Cold showers increase libido

This effect is especially noticeable in men. It was first seriously studied in the UK. True, it was about baths, which in this country are taken regularly, and due to architectural traditions, not everyone has a shower. It is far from always possible to warm the water well, so cool water is considered almost the norm. The British noted a surge of sexual energy after such a hygiene procedure. It is based on the same acceleration of blood flow. Blood actively rushes to the pelvic organs.

In women, a hot shower or bath still has a greater effect, although cool moisture is also useful. And in men, there is a sharp influx of testosterone - the main "engine" of sexual activity and desire. This fact is associated with irritation of skin receptors on the chest and back, which affect the activation of the pituitary gland. It is this part of the brain that is responsible for the generation of male sex hormones. In any case, so say the British researchers. So if a passionate night awaits you ahead, but there is no proper mood, you can safely take a cold shower. A surge of sexual energy is guaranteed.

How does it affect mindfulness?

Many modern people have a need to work from home. For example, write or read reports, make presentations, infographics, etc. In theory, cold water is able to invigorate the body, saturate the blood with oxygen and “disperse” the tired brain. This is partly true, but the effect will be short-lived. Such a hygienic procedure contributes to the production of norepinephrine, which is responsible for short-term attentiveness. To work effectively over a longer distance, it is better to take a hot shower or bath. Heat helps our brain produce dopamine. This substance is responsible for long-term concentration. So instead of a cold shower, it’s better to take a hot one and drink a cup of strong tea for cheerfulness. And the last thing - it is better to accustom yourself to a cool shower right away. That is, do not use it from time to time. So the body will understand that cool jets bring not so much discomfort and chills as an influx of energy and active cheerfulness.

Katya Kotova
for women's magazine www.website

When using and reprinting the material, an active link to the women's online magazine is required

Taking a bath can be beneficial to your health. They add to them sea salt, herbs, oils, this will help remove fatigue, pain in the muscles, cleanse the skin of pollution. But is it possible to take a shower at a temperature or a bath?
Content:

Water procedures at elevated temperatures

A person may start to have a fever during a cold or other illness. In this case, you should be careful, as some actions can increase it even more. It is not forbidden to carry out water procedures, but doctors advise against taking a bath.

Hot water adversely affects the human condition at elevated temperatures. This is due to the fact that under its influence, temperature indicators can increase. This leads to the fact that the disease begins to progress. Therefore, people are advised to refrain from taking a bath during a cold with a fever.

But going to the shower is not prohibited. Although even it must be abandoned if the temperature rises to 39 degrees. In this case, it is better to seek medical help.

When a person takes a shower with a high temperature, he needs to do it quickly, do not stay under the jets of water for a long time. After this procedure, you should wipe yourself dry, and then wrap yourself up well and go under a warm blanket. To warm up even more, you can drink tea or milk with the addition of honey.

While taking a shower, it is better not to wet your head. Even if a person feels unwell, do not wash with cool water. This can lead to the fact that the disease only worsens. The water should be warm, not very hot. If a person went to the shower, his body should not be supercooled.

But with a cold or flu, nevertheless, doctors advise to abandon water procedures. When the body is exposed to hot water, it heats up, which provokes the active development of infection. When the lungs are inflamed, or a sore throat develops, then you can’t wash.

Some rules

Although it is not forbidden to take a shower at an elevated temperature, some rules should be considered. After all, the body is fighting the disease. If water procedures are not carried out correctly, you can worsen your condition.

If you take a bath or shower when you are sick, you should follow these recommendations:

It is forbidden to combine the bath with alcoholic beverages. A large number of people drink mulled wine or other alcohol when they are sick. Doctors do not support such treatment. It is recommended to give up alcohol, and in the fight against the disease, use traditional or folk methods. If a person decides to drink an alcoholic drink, then he should remember that this cannot be done in the bath.
When the temperature rises, you should forget about hot water. Otherwise, it will begin to increase even more, which will negatively affect the human condition. Water should have a temperature of about 34-38 degrees.
You should spend as little time in the bathroom as possible. Indeed, in this room the humidity is quite high. In the house, it should be about 45-65%. But during the period when they begin to heat the premises, it decreases significantly, which negatively affects human health, it is prone to colds. But even with an increase in these indicators, the disease can develop. High humidity provokes the appearance of more mucus in the nasopharynx and throat. This leads to the fact that there is an exacerbation of the common cold. For this reason, doctors advise spending less time in the bathroom. To reduce the humidity in it, you can open the door.

Bathing or showering should take place in the evening. After these procedures, a person should immediately go to bed, beforehand it is better to dress well, drink a warm soft drink.

Water treatments with herbs

If the body temperature has risen slightly, then you can take medicinal baths, in which a variety of herbs are added. They will relax the body and muscles.

With a cold, such a bath can heal the body. To do this, just add some herbs to the water. It could be:

When a person lies in such a bath, vapors will begin to evaporate from it medicinal plants, and the patient will begin to inhale them. This is a kind of inhalation, which will positively affect the state of health, and can also reduce the manifestation of some symptoms.

In addition, you can take an oil bath. For this, a mixture is initially prepared, which is later added to the water. You will need to mix 30 ml of olive oil with a few drops of essential oils. A dozen drops of cinnamon oil are added to this mixture. All this must be mixed well and combined with a mug of sea salt.

The mixture is poured into the bath. But you need to be in water at elevated temperatures for no more than a third of an hour. If the readings on the thermometer reach 38-39 degrees, then this procedure should be abandoned.

Contraindications to water procedures

It is forbidden to take a bath for those who have such diseases of a chronic nature:

Hypertension
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels
Varicose veins
Pathologies associated with blood circulation in the brain.
Do not add herbs to the bathroom if you are allergic to them.

So, it is not forbidden to carry out water procedures during an increase in body temperature. But this should be done carefully, adhering to certain rules.

Cold water for colds. How hardened people get sick.

For me, there is no doubt that cold water helps with colds. I'm sure many people will disagree with me. And do you know why? Because we have stable stereotypes from childhood. When we were constantly wrapped up and warned “do not go without a hat”, “do not sit in a draft”, etc.

I have long understood that cold water cures colds. Back in the 1980s, my wife treated our children for chronic colds with cold water. Then Tolkachev's book "Physical Education Against Illness" was published. It describes very well the procedures for treating children and adults with cold water and fresh air. The link to the book will be at the end of the article.

I started tempering with cold water only at the age of 55. It was during these years that it dawned on me that the body trains well and adapts to various conditions. You will feel sorry for him and pamper him and he will be weak and sick. And if you start to harden and train, he will harden and become stronger.
If you can fairly objectively assess progress with training, then how to determine the degree of your hardening?
I must say right away that diving into an ice hole is not an indicator for me. Many in Epiphany bathe in ice water and nothing. As a rule, such bathing does not lead to a cold.

You catch a cold often in more comfortable conditions. It happened to me either when your feet get wet in the spring or you get out of a heated car without a hat into the breeze.

I made my conclusion about the benefits of hardening by the fact that I practically stopped catching a cold. And if I get sick, the disease passes relatively easily. And cold water helps me heal again. I no longer use pills or rinses. As an example, I will give a short diary of my cold from March 2015. And then I will tell you about how I practically become tempered.

Diary of my illness. The first day.

Today is Monday and I feel sick. And it pleases. What would you like to be happy about?

I don't know how long the incubation period was. It looks like it started on March 8, Sunday. At 6 am I was already in the pool and spent a total of 1.5 hours in the water. At first I went to 4 m depth with scuba gear, cleaning the bottom. Then I swam and trained for an hour.

After the pool, I came home and immediately went for a run. I am in the process of preparing for a triathlon. I wanted to check how I would run after swimming.
I ran 2 hours, ran 21 kilometers. He dressed quite lightly - a long-sleeved T-shirt. It wasn't cold, but it wasn't particularly warm either. The temperature is about 0 degrees and at times a strong headwind.

Today I went to the bathroom. Already in the morning there was some slight malaise. Before the bath, I did exercises with a kettlebell in the sun. He was wearing a light turtleneck and no hat.

In the bath, I noticed signs of a sore throat. And even rejoiced. So let's see how a hardened body will fight infection.
Monday evening. Viruses are coming. A sore throat was clearly felt. And according to past experience, this means that in the morning the throat will hurt.
At night I brewed rosehip berries in a thermos. And before going to bed I drank 0.5 liters of this decoction with honey. All night, then went to the toilet.
I rinsed my face with cold water before going to bed. Several times and at the same time he massaged his nose well with his thumbs. It helped clear the nasal passages. He also anointed his nose and under it with a cold balm from Thailand. All procedures allowed me to breathe well, falling asleep. The night passed quietly.

Second day. Tuesday.

I usually have a sore throat the morning after a cold starts, so it hurts to swallow.
And today, only a slight tickle. It gives hope that I am really a hardened person. I waited for 11 hours, when the sun was already shining in full and went for a run.
In the beginning, there were forces. But, I ran two kilometers and weakness and laziness piled up. I decided to relax by walking. It was about 10 degrees. The sun was warm, and I just enjoy the fact that you can go and not run anywhere.
I thought about my working moments, about trainings. He took off his hat and sunbathed. On the first spring, such a really warm sun. After a run, he collapsed to lie down, because the weakness did not let go.

How bad it is to be sick, but at the same time there is a feeling that I am not sick like before.

Day three. Wednesday.

I slept well at night, but I was weak. Joints hurt. It's very similar to what happens with the flu.

Day four. Thursday.

I woke up in the morning with clean breath. There was a desire to go for a run right in the morning, but decided to postpone. The process is clearly on the mend and there was an appetite. I ate oatmeal and drank coffee. Now ready to go. Although there was still a slight French dialect. The process is clearly on the mend. What pleases? This is something that does not hurt the throat and hurt very little. As if warned, “take action, the viruses are already close.”

Actually, I don’t have a cold anymore, so I went for a run. Such an easy comfortable run. It is immediately felt that the body has strength. When I tried to run on the 2nd day of a cold, it was noticeable that there was very little strength. Now I was running comfortably and relaxed. He ran to the horizontal bars. I did exercises on the press, shoulders, pull-ups. The amount of energy in the body overflowed.
Although there is still a slight hoarseness and congestion of the nose. A nice plus of running is that with it all this comes out of you. The breath is cleared and sputum is expectorated from the bronchi. If she had not gone to run, it is not known how long she would have been sitting there.

Therefore, physical activity in the fresh air is simply necessary in the process of recovery and treatment of acute respiratory diseases. But actually on this my cold can be considered finished.

Life got better. So, it turned out that it takes two days to fight a cold. On Monday evening, I somehow felt uneasy. Tuesday and Wednesday I was ill, but there was no bed rest. Sleep as much as possible and go to bed early. He drank a lot, doused a lot of cold water and no medicines. That's all treatment

Friday morning. Day five.

There are no signs of a cold anymore. Everyone is healthy and ready to pass the TRP standards, which I wish all readers.

How do I get hot.

How do I do it. I write point by point.

2. I close the drain hole with a stopper.

3. I open the cold water tap.

4. I get ankle-deep water.

6. I get into the bath. I take a flexible shower in my hands.

7. I start to wet my legs from the feet up to the waist.

8. From the belt I go higher and reach the face and head. All dousing is no more than 15-20 seconds.

9. I go down with the shower and turn off the water.

10. If desired, I repeat with p No. 7.

11. I dry myself as usual. Not red.

Every time I do a douche, I have to tune in a little. It's always stressful and hard to get used to. It is believed that it is thanks to stress and the release of hormones that immunity is strengthened.

The main thing is regularly and gradually. You can start at any time of the year. But it's better in summer. Then by winter there will already be a certain hardening base.

How long to harden.

Once you start, don't stop. It's like training here. While exercising, the body keeps in shape. Threw. Everything is lost. Then you have to start over.

Using this link, you can subscribe to the news of my blog and get a step-by-step checklist (the points that I have given above) and a hardening calendar for 60 days. Print. Hang in the bathroom and start new life. Or click on the "harden" button.

If you do not want to receive news, then just download the checklist and timesheet calendar here.

And now a question for you.

How did you solve the problem of colds? Maybe you also have an interesting experience in hardening. Please write in the comments.

And as promised, the book by B.S. Tolkachev “Physical barrier of acute respiratory infections – http://www.koob.ru/tolkachev_b_s/fizkulturnii_zaslon_orz

I have not seen a more complete guide to hardening.

And to consolidate the material of the video about the well-known supporter of hardening in the past, Mikhail Kotlyarov. He began to harden at the age of 65! In the USSR, it was often shown on TV. And my impressions of running in a T-shirt in the cold.

Is it possible to take a contrast shower with a cold?

Since last fall, I have become addicted to contrast showers. I didn't get sick all winter. Spring came and I relaxed, I did a contrast shower much less often and now I caught a cold. But now I don’t know if it is possible to continue the procedures with a cold or is it better to recover completely first?

Opinions were divided on this matter. You can often find information that a cold (including one accompanied by a high body temperature) is even treated with a contrast shower (or only cold water). But still, doctors warn that this method is very dangerous. Usually, a cold occurs just from hypothermia, as a result of which protective functions decrease, the immune system weakens, and it is much easier for viruses to enter the body. Additional cooling can only exacerbate the problem, and the cold will gradually or rapidly develop into inflammation. Therefore, nevertheless, it is better to wait a little with cold water, and as soon as the state of health improves, resume the contrast shower, as it has a very beneficial effect on human immunity.

A few years ago, doctors generally forbade water procedures for colds. Today, much has changed, and now it is even strongly recommended to take a warm bath (but not for long) in case of slight indisposition, and not to refuse a hygienic shower in case of any illness. However, water procedures should be reduced in time, and the water temperature should not be too high or low (38 degrees is the most). And, in the end, focus on your well-being, listen to your body - it definitely will not deceive. Get well soon!

Contrast shower against colds - non-traditional therapy

A contrast shower against a cold should be used very carefully so as not to harm the body. It is important that the healing process is carried out correctly.

Caution: Diabetics with diabetic neuropathy and patients with heart disease should consult a doctor before using a contrast shower for therapeutic purposes. Water temperature during a contrast shower Contrast shower - relieve fatigue safely must be controlled with a thermometer, it is very important that the hot water temperature does not exceed 37.7-38 degrees Celsius.

Before a contrast shower, drink a few glasses of warm water and hot tea. Hot drinks increase body temperature and stimulate the removal of toxins and harmful substances from the human body.

Start the procedure with hot water, the duration of this phase is three minutes, then switch to cold water for thirty seconds. After that, turn on the hot water again for three minutes, spend three or four contrast series. The procedure should begin with hot water and end with cold.

After a shower, dry yourself dry and avoid hypothermia. Hot water has a relaxing effect, so after a contrast shower it is useful to lie down a little and relax for at least half an hour.

Contrast shower for fever

Before showering, the patient should drink hot tea or warm water. Fill the tub about halfway with warm water. Dissolve one to two cups of Epsom salt in water. The patient is immersed in the bath, for convenience, a small pillow or a folded towel can be placed under the head. The knees and shoulders of the patient should be covered with a hot towel, constantly maintaining its temperature with a jet of hot water. Be sure to record the patient's initial oral temperature and pulse rate at the start of the procedure. Raise the water temperature gradually to 38C if the patient tolerates it well. high temperatures, the water may be hotter.

Take the patient's temperature every five minutes. When the water temperature reaches 38 degrees, put a napkin on the forehead, previously immersed in ice water, and then carefully wrung out. Periodically wipe the patient's face and neck with a cool sponge. Check your heart rate regularly. If the pulse rate exceeds 140 or the patient complains of discomfort and discomfort, lower the water temperature and wait until the temperature and pulse rate return to normal.

When the oral temperature reaches 38.33C, try to keep it at the same level throughout the procedure. The duration of the procedure depends on the complexity of the disease (oncological diseases or sexually transmitted diseases require longer treatment), usually for the treatment of acute respiratory infections and influenza, contrast treatment lasts approximately 10-15 minutes.

After a salt bath Healing baths: a source of health and beauty , in order to reduce the rush of blood to the face and wash off the remaining salt from the skin, the patient should take a shower. In some cases, low blood pressure can lead to weakness and fainting, in which case the patient may need support. After the procedure, the skin should be wiped dry, rubbed well with a hard towel and prevent hypothermia.

After the water procedure, the patient should immediately go to bed and cover himself with a warm blanket. In bed, you need to lie down for 30-60 minutes and sweat well. The rest period allows you to stimulate the immune system. Research results have shown that after treatment for fever, the number of white blood cells increases from several thousand to ten to fifteen thousand. After the temperature returns to normal, you should take a neutral shower and put on clean clothes.

Infrared lamp treatment

Attention: do not bring the lamp too close to the skin. You should feel a pleasant warmth, not a strong heat.

A slight redness of the skin is quite normal, but if the redness does not disappear after an hour, then this is no longer normal.

If you plan to point the lamp at your face, protect your eyes with a damp cloth. When using infrared light to treat sinusitis or facial infections, do not hold the lamp too close to your face or ear. In most cases, the pain disappears in the first three to five minutes, after a few minutes the nasal passages open up and breathing becomes easier. With sinusitis, the duration of the procedure is 20-30 minutes.

Heating with an infrared lamp is very useful for chest colds and pneumonia. Working with an infrared lamp does not require outside assistance, so warming up can be a good alternative to moist heat treatment. Massage your chest or back with olive oil, then apply a small amount of peppermint essential oil. Heat from a lamp placed at a comfortable distance from the skin helps essential oil penetrate deeper into the skin. Such a procedure lasts about 30 minutes or a little more.

The lamp can also be used for independent hydrotherapy. The sore spot is covered with a damp towel or napkin, and then heated with an infrared lamp.

A contrast shower for a cold: is it worth getting carried away?

Many people believe that a contrast shower is a panacea for colds. Naturally, such procedures are good precisely as preventive ones. They harden the body, teach it to withstand temperature extremes. Many doctors noted that contrast douches can cure:

neuralgia;
rheumatism;
headache;
runny nose;
anemia
circulatory disorders.

They also lead to getting rid of chronic fatigue, for those who have low tone, a contrast shower is simply necessary. By the way, after regular such procedures, the condition improves much. skin. This is a kind of exercise for the pores of the skin. And if you are used to putting yourself in order with such a shower, then you must not forget that the procedure is not always useful.

If you do not want to bring yourself to such a state that you have to call a doctor at home, you need to beware of taking a contrast shower during a rise in temperature. Why is it so? The body raises body temperature for a reason. And if doctors previously unequivocally recommended to bring down the temperature with drugs, today there is a different approach: the body is allowed to “burn through” the infection. The main thing is that the process is controlled. It is not necessary to let the body overheat too much so that the internal organs do not suffer.

How does a contrast shower affect thermoregulation

According to doctors, it is not necessary to resort to a contrast shower during a fever. Not only low temperatures can be harmful, since the body is already having a cold, but also high ones, since they will contribute to an even greater increase in body temperature. Many people in extreme heat can not even stand on their feet, experience weakness and dizziness. Going to the bathroom in such a state is simply dangerous. Especially if you are doing it alone.

Another good alternative might be folk way, also practiced by emergency doctors. This is rubbing with alcohol-containing preparations or vinegar. This procedure must be carried out correctly, that is, rub the person from the torso to the feet and palms. In this way the blood will rush to the extremities, which often become cold in feverish conditions. In this case, the temperature will be distributed evenly throughout the body, and internal organs no more severe overheating. Heat will be given large surface body, since both hands and feet are already included in the process, and rapidly evaporating alcohol or vinegar will contribute to cooling.

The crushed patient should be left under the sheet, but not wrapped up so that he does not overheat. How to grind correctly, you can one day be shown by a doctor called to the house, after which you will master this simple and effective method lowering the temperature.

Everyone experiences a cold and, as a rule, they treat a cold at home. As a result, many myths have arisen around this. One of them is that it is absolutely impossible to wash during an illness, since water procedures will only exacerbate the symptoms of the disease. However, doctors have their own point of view on this matter.

The common cold is commonly referred to as a viral disease with a specific set of symptoms. The most common causes are hypothermia, reduced immunity and, of course, the pathogenic viruses themselves.

Hypothermia itself would not cause a cold without the virus. But when we freeze, immunity weakens, it is easier for viruses to attack the cells of the body.

The main reason why people are afraid of getting ARVI is not its danger or, but an unpleasant condition when it is difficult to breathe, eat, sleep. Often working people do not take sick leave due to colds and have to endure the illness on their feet.

There are a huge number of folk recipes against and advice on whether it is possible to take a shower with a cold, how to eat right and what to drink.

Everyone knows the symptoms of a cold. However, they can vary depending on the strength of the disease, the virus itself, the organism:

and sore throat. A cold may begin with this symptom, or it may not occur at all throughout the illness. The throat turns red, it hurts, it hurts to swallow and speak, there is a tickle, a cough that intensifies at night.
, sneezing, copious secretion of mucus. A cold without this symptom is not complete. Nasal congestion manifests itself in different ways, for some it is a complete inability to breathe through the nose, severe swelling that goes away only with the help of sprays and drops, while for others it is a tolerable condition, when it is even quite possible to do without medication. The secretion of mucus also has varying degrees. Sometimes the disease is limited to swelling.
. The temperature does not always appear, but if it is, then with ARVI it is low, 37.2 - 37.5. The elevated body temperature lasts about 2-3 days, after which it should subside. If it continues to hold up to a week, we can talk about a bacterial infection, which is usually treated.
Weakness, body aches. An unpleasant symptom, when the whole body aches, fatigue, drowsiness appear, it is difficult to quickly react and think. It usually appears on the second or third day of illness, and then decreases.

Shower with a cold: when and how to do it right

Many remember from childhood that mothers forbade washing during illness. No matter how long it lasted, you could only soar your feet, but not wash. Doctors consider such restrictions unreasonable.

During a cold, we sweat a lot, drink raspberry tea and other diaphoretics. Sweat clogs pores. It becomes more difficult for the body to remove toxins. Therefore, it is necessary to wash in order to clean the pores, but it must be done correctly.

How to take a shower with a cold:

The water temperature should not be very high, preferably not higher than body temperature. This will avoid unnecessary overheating and increased heat.
You can take a shower and bath. Under the shower, we usually stand for a short time, but in the bath you can lie as long as you like. But it is not recommended to do this during an illness. Excessive moisture is harmful, it increases the formation of sputum, a strong or increased flow from the nose may begin.
It is possible and even useful to take a shower in the heat. That's what the doctors think. A warm shower will reduce the fever, alleviate the condition and reduce. However, it is desirable that it was a shower and in no case hot. After a shower, it is important not to allow hypothermia. You need to carefully wipe yourself with a towel and put on warm socks and a bathrobe.
When you shower, don't forget your shower cap. Washing your hair during a cold is not as healthy as washing your body. Hair dries for a long time, which leads to hypothermia, you can get into a draft and catch a cold even more. If you wash your hair, immediately wrap it in a towel and then dry it with a hair dryer.
It is better to take a shower or bath not in the morning, but at night, so that after water procedures, immediately put on warm socks and lie under the covers.
You can add herbs to the bath, for example, chamomile, St. John's wort. This is not only good for the skin, but will also serve to cleanse the lungs from.

Bathing during a cold can also be harmful if you do not follow the rules or there are certain:

So, for example, people with diseases of the heart and blood vessels should not take hot baths in general, and even more so with a weakened immune system and a cold.
You can not take baths for people with varicose veins, heart failure, high blood pressure, as well as circulatory disorders of the brain. However, the shower is still not contraindicated. If you rinse quickly and do not hot water, there will be no harm.
It is worth remembering that any bath is a load on the heart. Hot water increases pressure and increases the load on the vessels. If the heart is already weak, replace the bath with a shower. It is useful during colds. If you have chosen a bath, do not lie in it for more than 20 minutes.
You can not interfere with the bath and alcohol. Often we hear such advice as "you need to warm up with vodka, and then immediately soar your legs." This is completely false. It's one thing to take a shower before going to bed, and another thing - thermal baths after strong drinks. Alcohol does not cure diseases, it weakens the body and immunity. Sometimes they drink mulled wine to keep warm, but this does not apply to viral diseases in full swing. Moreover, it is not recommended to take baths or soar your feet after alcohol. This can lead to sudden pressure drops.
Do not take hot baths with diabetes. They can cause a drop in blood sugar levels. However, the shower is also not contraindicated.
No need to get involved in taking a bath during. If a pregnant woman has a cold, you can take a warm shower, or a warm bath for no more than 5-10 minutes with the permission of the doctor. Soaring legs and taking hot baths is strictly prohibited. They can cause miscarriage.

Useful video - how to properly treat a cold.

How to properly treat a cold so as not to harm yourself? Newsroom24 learned about ten "effective" recommendations.

1. Drip onion juice (beets, soapy water) into the nose “for a cold”.

Alas, it will not be possible to cure a runny nose in this way. You will simply dry out the already injured nasal mucosa. A runny nose will not go anywhere, a burn of the mucous membrane will also be added to it.

2. Drink a course of antibiotics "to be sure."

Antibiotics - greatest invention humanity, but you can not treat them as a cure for everything. Taking these medications without consulting a doctor is like shooting sparrows with a cannon. Antibiotics are completely useless in a viral infection, and their frequent and uncontrolled use will sooner or later lead to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and resistance of microorganisms to the action of the drug. It is especially dangerous if a person interrupts a course of taking antibiotics - if you have already started drinking them, drink them to the end.

3. A glass of vodka with pepper (honey, horseradish, garlic).

The benefits of alcohol at the first sign of a cold are very doubtful, only one thing is certain: alcohol clearly relieves stress and reduces sensitivity. That is a sore throat and a runny nose glass strong drink will not cure, but the illusion that you feel better, perhaps, will create. It is especially dangerous to "mix" alcohol with drugs. Another common use of alcohol for colds is to rub it on the body. Alas, there is no benefit from this. If you wipe the body, then with water, if you already drink, then tea, compote and fruit drinks - in large quantities.

4. Lemon or soda to "disinfect the throat."

Here is the same as with onion and beetroot juice. If it hurts and perches in the throat, it means that the mucous membrane is irritated, injured. Don't dry it out any more. You can gargle with special means, you can use sprays, you can just drink warm liquid more and more often.

5. Dress warmly, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and lie down.

The most harmless, at first glance, advice will lead to overheating of the body, an increase in temperature.

6. Stop coughing with expectorants.

Antitussive drugs in pharmacies sold a huge amount. But, like antibiotics, they require a doctor's recommendation. We must not forget that cough is a protective reaction of the body, and before treating it, it is necessary to determine the cause and type of cough. Today, over-the-counter sputum thinners are very popular. They only make the cough worse, and there is no point in using them if your cough is "productive", i.e. the body itself copes with the excretion of sputum. Another popular type of antitussive medicine, on the contrary, suppresses coughing. You can imagine what will happen in your lungs if you take these drugs at the same time.

7. Stop a runny nose with vasoconstrictor drugs.

A runny nose is an excellent defensive reaction against infections. The nasal mucosa itself “washes away” unexpected guests, preventing them from entering the body further. By drying the mucosa, depriving it of this function, you say “welcome!” to infections. As doctors advise, it is best to moisturize the nose, both for treatment and for prevention. It is possible to treat a runny nose with vasoconstrictor drugs only in extreme cases and only after consulting a doctor.

8. Breathe over boiling potatoes.

The effect of such inhalation is very short-lived - the vapors do not heal, they act only on the upper respiratory tract and the maximum that they are capable of is to “breathe” for a while stuffy nose. But getting a steam burn is real.

9. Do not wash, so that there is no hypothermia.

Avoiding hypothermia during illness is very important. However, you should not refuse hygiene procedures. A warm shower will increase the tone and even temporarily normalize the temperature, and in order not to overcool, you just need to thoroughly dry the body and hair immediately after taking it.

10. Close the windows so that "it does not blow through."

The room where the patient is located should be periodically ventilated, humidified and cool. In a closed room with dry stale air, viruses will multiply, and there will be much more patients in the house.