Alternating Bath: Treatment, Effect & Risks

In many spa clinics, water treatments according to Kneipp, of which there are about 120 different ones, are an important part of the cure. One of these water applications is a change bath.

What is an alternating bath?

In many spa clinics, water treatments according to Kneipp, of which there are about 120 different ones, are an important part of the cure. One of these water treatments is an alternating bath. An alternating bath, which is one of Kneipp’s treatments, marks an alternation between warm and cold baths. The water should be warm, but not hot. The fact that alternating baths also have a certain meaning in linguistic usage can be seen, among other things, in the expression “alternating bath of feelings”. An alternating bath always ends with cold water. However, cold water must always be applied only to warm skin, otherwise it is perceived as unpleasant. Therefore, the skin must always be warmed up before cold water applications, either by exercise or by warm water. There are ascending and descending alternating baths. In the descending alternating bath, the temperature is changed slowly from warm to cold; in the ascending alternating bath, the temperature is changed accordingly from cold to warm.

Function, effect and objectives

Alternating baths are considered to have the best health-promoting effect of all the water applications of hydrotherapy. It always depends on the nature of the disease. Alternating baths can be supportive in the case of a serious illness, but they also help with milder health problems, and are also good for healthy people to rest and keep the body healthy. Because of their gentle effect, alternating baths are also recommended for children and elderly people. They have a particularly good effect on these complaints:

  • Circulatory disorders
  • Cold hands / cold feet
  • Headache
  • Sleep disorders
  • Inner restlessness
  • Menopausal symptoms

An alternation of heat and cold stimulus boosts the metabolism, increases blood flow, thereby provides the body with better oxygen and boosts the immune system. However, hardening training should first be started slowly in a healthy state. After the body is warmed up, it can be slowly exposed to the alternating stimuli, which should not be too intense at the beginning, so that the body gets used to it. It is better to stop when it feels uncomfortable. Regular, short applications several times a week are better. People with medical conditions should rather consult their doctor beforehand. A warm bath in the alternating bath lasts 5 minutes and immediately after it passes into a short cold bath or a cold shower of 10 to 30 seconds. This process is repeated 2-3 times and ends with a cold bath. After each water application the body should be kept warm. Alternating baths have a good effect on the heart and circulation and can also be used with bath additives. There are several types of alternating baths:

An arm alternating bath stimulates the circulation from above, strengthens blood flow in the head and helps with headaches. It can be used even on the go, for example, at sinks or fountains. Depending on the additive, a different effect is achieved, e.g. rosemary is pleasant for the respiratory tract, sea mud for the joints. The foot bath stimulates the circulation from below. It helps with cold feet and exercises blood vessels. Warm water dilates blood vessels and promotes blood circulation, but it is also a strain on the body. The cold water stimulus causes the vessels to contract again. The sitz bath is suitable for the treatment of bladder weakness. It circulates blood to the abdomen and stimulates circulation.

Risks, side effects and dangers

Alternating baths and other hydrotherapy applications such as alternating showers, treading water, etc., are risk-free if used properly and have only positive side effects. Father Kneipp, who was ill with tuberculosis and whom doctors could not help, studied medicine and discovered the positive healing power of water. He developed these applications into a so-called Kneipp cure, which today is a component of spa treatments in many spa clinics. Important for a positive effect on health is the observance of certain rules:

  • Before a cold application, the body must be pre-warmed.
  • The cold stimulus must be shorter, the colder the water.
  • 15 – 20 minutes after a water application, the body should be warm again.
  • The water is only stripped after cold applications, the skin is not dried, to prolong the effect by evaporative cooling.
  • A warm bath should always end with a cold wash or a cold shower.
  • A warm rising bath should be followed by a rest period of at least 30 minutes.
  • It makes sense to take a break of 1 to 2 hours between different applications and between applications and meals, so that the effect can subside at rest, unless they are intended to support the action of the preceding application or to aid digestion.
  • Alcohol and nicotine may interfere with the beneficial effects of water applications.

In the strength of the heat and cold stimuli, the subjective well-being should be the standard. If these rules of conduct are observed, alternating baths and other water applications are a good and natural measure for healing, maintaining health and strengthening the defenses.