Overheating bath

Naturopathic method in which baths with hot temperatures are administered. With an overheating bath, the aim is to raise the local and systemic body temperature to over 37 degrees Celsius.
Temperature rising baths are used, starting with neutral temperatures to counteract a feeling of frost and thus lead to maximum vasodilation of the periphery. In the course of time the water temperature is increased up to 42 degrees Celsius. Hyperthermia can also be achieved with peloid baths, such as mud baths.

Overheating of the body is accompanied by pain relief and muscle relaxation. Further effects are the increase of metabolism and blood circulation even in deeper layers, also via cutivisceral reflexes. The following thermoregulatory effects occur with an increase in body temperature:

• The cardiovascular system is stressed by the increase in heart rate and cardiac output with a simultaneous reduction in diastolic blood pressure.
• The pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic system are activated and there is an increased release of catecholamines, cortisol, renin, prolactin and STH.
• Humoral and cellular immunity are promoted, although an opposite effect may also occur with extreme hyperthermia.

The main significance of a hyperthermic reaction in serial application lies in a functional adaptation with corresponding "retuning processes". The role of hyperthermia in oncological problems remains unclear at present.

Indication
:- Subacute and chronic rheumatic conditions -
Pain relief in chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tract.
- For immune stimulation in chronic recurrent infectious diseases (respiratory tract infections, urogenital infections
)- Experimental indication: tumour aftercare for thermosensitive tumour cells, e.g. gastrointestinal carcinoma.

Starting with a pleasant bathing temperature, the water temperature is slowly increased to 42 °C by the inflow of hot water, see also Partial baths rising

Circulatory stress, feelings of anxiety, hyperventilation, orthostatic dysregulation not only when getting up, malaise, weakness.

- Cardiovascular: cardiac insufficiency, hypotension, fresh thrombosis, edema-
Active inflammatory processes and swelling, inflammatory episodes of rheumatic diseases-
Skin: extensive skin injuries and acute skin diseases, skin bleeding -
circulatory disorders of the skin, thermal urticaria-
Neurology: sensitivity disorders of the skin-
fever-
fatigue after application

1. Uehleke B et al (2012) In: André-Michael Beer, Martin Adler [Ed.] Leitfaden Naturheilverfahren für die ärztliche Praxis, Urban und Fischer Verlag p. 53.