HEALTH: Hot and cold treatments can ease the pain

Hot and cold treatments can ease the pain

Aromatherapy

Ellen Cox

SINCE the 1700s hot and cold treatments (Thermotherapy and Cryotherapy) have been practiced and documented around the world for treating a whole range of ailments - and no doubt long before that for general health and well being. 

Scandinavia and Eastern Europe have long been fans, you know, a dip in the hot thermal spring and then a quick roll in the snow!  

Hot and cold therapies however can be administered from the comfort of your own home.  They have been used to help reduce spasms and relieve rheumatic, muscle and joint pain. 

Ice is an appropriate treatment immediately following and injury that is causing pain, inflammation or both.  The ice works by reducing the amount of blood pooling into an area (swelling).  A bag of the old reliable frozen peas works fine but should never be placed directly onto the skin, cover with a towel first.  Ice is also reputed to block pain receptors.

Heat can generally be used 48 hours after an injury (never use heat where there is burn involved).  Hot and cold therapies work together as a type of physiological pump to assist moving the blood out of an injured area.  Stimulating the movement of blood like this helps the process of removing damaged cells and tissue and bringing nutrients and oxygen to help the healing.

With regard to alternating hot and cold treatments, it is recommended to start and end with cold e.g. three cold treatments and two hot in between.  I have found this method of alternating particularly useful to speed healing in pulled muscles, sprained ligaments and bruises or with an ache or pain that is not responding to other types of treatment. 

This can also be done using essential oils alone.  Peppermint (cold) and Cinnamon (hot), it can be more practical for larger areas or when you are stuck for time.