In the transitional seasons and in winter, colds occur more often than average. The first signs are cold hands and feet, tingling in the nose and scratchy throat. To effectively counteract the worst consequences in advance, it is recommended to take a cold bath.
What is a cold bath?
A cold bath is recommended as soon as the user notices the first symptoms of a cold in himself. Bath additives, such as essential oils, help to relieve the symptoms. Such a bath consists either only of 35 to 38°C warm bath water or still contains bath additives. These are various essential oils that complement each other in their effect, such as eucalyptus, mountain pine, spruce needle, thyme and peppermint oil, menthol, camphor and arnica. A cold bath is recommended as soon as the user notices the first symptoms. Because if it has already come to the flu infection, the sick person should not take a cold bath more often than every 2nd or 3rd day. In the case of health baths, a distinction is made between full, partial and alternating baths according to the Kneipp method. In a full bath, the whole body of the patient is covered with water up to the neck. In the partial bath, the person with a cold uses either a three-quarter bath tub or a sufficiently large foot bath tub. If the sick person applies Kneipp’s alternating baths, he fills one tub with cold water and the other with warm water and the essential oils. Then he alternately immerses the left arm/foot and then the right arm/foot for a few minutes each.
Function, effect and goals
Cold baths prevent colds and relieve the discomfort of the sick person when a cold is already present. The user soaks bath water at the recommended temperature and adds the cold bath mixture from the pharmacy or health food store according to the dosage instructions. He stays in the water for 10 to 20 minutes, dries himself and then wraps himself warmly in blankets. Resting after the cold bath is important to allow the weakened body to recover. People with circulation problems are best to stay in the bath water for 10 minutes. The warm bath water warms the body, which is not properly supplied with blood at the beginning of the illness, so that the viruses and bacteria cannot attach themselves so quickly to the mucous membranes and spread throughout the body. The circulation-promoting effect is further enhanced by the essential oils contained in the bath additive. The heat and the medicinal plant oils relax the smooth muscles. The initially frequent aches and pains in the limbs are thus alleviated. The rise in body temperature also increases the general feeling of well-being. The essential oils are not only absorbed through the skin, but also through the nasal and pharyngeal mucosa. They are better supplied with blood and can effectively fight the attack of invading pathogens. The warm water vapor additionally moistens the nasal mucosa. The inhaled active ingredients of the essential oils reach the bronchial tubes via the nose and throat. There they strengthen the movement of the cilia and thus promote the defense against pathogens. Some of the oils contained in the cold bath are also bronchiolytic: they promote the expectoration of the mucus contaminated with pathogens from the bronchial tubes. Coughing up the mucus clears the bronchial tubes. The person with a cold can finally breathe freely again. Eucalyptus oil and camphor not only promote the coughing up of the tough bronchial secretions. They have a decongestant effect on the mucous membrane in the nose. The nose is cleared, so that the sick person can breathe better. Thyme oil has an additional spasmolytic effect: the bronchial tubes, which are tense due to constant coughing, calm down again. The addition of arnica in the cold bath relieves tension: Headache and aching limbs are relieved. In addition, cold baths promote sleep and support the self-healing powers of the body under attack.
Risks, side effects and dangers
Despite all the positive effects, cold baths are not necessarily recommended to all people with flu-like infections. If the cold is accompanied by fever, the sick person should not bathe under any circumstances, as the warm bath water puts too much strain on the weakened circulation. People with particularly sensitive respiratory tracts should not use essential oils, but should only bathe in warm water. In addition, some users are allergic to certain active ingredients contained in the medicinal oils. This is particularly the case with the delta-3-carene found in the coniferous oils.Allergy sufferers should therefore bathe in water without bath additives. The tricky thing is that some of the cold bath additives contain fragrances such as limonene and linalool, which are not specified on the list of ingredients and are considered allergens. The water temperature can also be risky for those suffering from a flu-like infection: Even if the manufacturer advises a higher temperature, the bath water should only be as warm as he himself finds comfortable. The same applies to the duration of the cold bath. If the bather stays in the water longer than is good for him, circulatory problems can occur. The blood vessels are dilated by the heat. Blood pressure drops. People suffering from heart failure, severe high blood pressure, extensive skin diseases, open wounds, asthma or weak veins should not take a cold bath under any circumstances. Cold bath enriched with essential oils is not suitable for infants under 2 years of age: Camphor and menthol can cause laryngeal spasm in them, often leading to suffocation. Occasionally, the use of cold baths causes side effects such as skin itching, skin redness, and less frequently diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Occasionally, an increase in coughing and bronchospasm are observed. Interactions with other agents are not known when used as directed and in appropriate doses.
