Heat is one of the oldest methods of treatment: it calms and relaxes, increases metabolic processes, improves circulation, stimulates the immune system and relieves pain. Just as diverse as the effects of heat are its forms of application. “The simplest method is wrapping the body with warm cloths. Cereal and cherry pit pillows that are heated in the oven or microwave have also proven effective,” explains Helga Freyer, a physiotherapist.
Heat against pain
For acute back pain, tension as well as painful joints, many sufferers swear by the hot roll: several guest towels are rolled up one after the other so that a funnel is formed.
About one liter of hot water is poured into this funnel. The towels are then placed on the painful area and unrolled from the outside to the inside. This allows heat to penetrate from the outside to the inside again and again.
Mud packs and hot baths
Packs and baths with peloids (Greek “pelos” = “mud”), such as mud, fango or silt have also been very important in the treatment of pain for many years. They are suitable for treating individual areas of the body or as whole-body wraps.
Infrared light is often used for sinusitis or middle ear infections. Sometimes ultrasound is also used. Ultrasound produces heating of tissues by mechanical vibrations.
But how does heat work?
The body regulates its temperature through complicated mechanisms. If the outside temperature is low, the body tries to reduce the heat loss in which it throttles the blood flow. Hands and feet then feel cold. If, on the other hand, heat is supplied from outside, blood flow to the skin and other tissues increases.
At the same time, the increase in blood flow also leads to an increase in metabolic processes. The tissues are better supplied with oxygen and nutrients. Metabolic waste products are removed more quickly. “The immune system is also stimulated,” the physiotherapist knows. The improved blood circulation allows immune cells to reach diseased tissue more quickly. Heat also relieves tension in the muscles, promotes the stretchability of tendons and ligaments, and alleviates pain.
Don’t do it if you have inflammation!
Although heat is credited with many positive effects in pain relief, caution is also advised. Heat is not effective for every form of pain. “For pain that stems from inflammation, heat may be exactly the wrong remedy. That’s because heat can promote inflammation,” Freyer warns. Anyone unsure whether heat therapy is appropriate should discuss it with a doctor.
