A Therapy could be described as a non medicinal treatment that is effected by the use of internal body stimulator induced by external force or agents. Therefore a therapy that is due to heat or induced by heat is called heat therapy. How is this achieved? The body itself has the ability to generate heat, also to auto control and regulate the body’s internal heat. However, as with other organs of the body this function may not be absolute. This could happen when the body is attacked by a disease or infection. The body raises its temperature in attempt to destroy the virus or bacteria responsible. Ditto the bacteria /viruses living in the body sometimes malfunction leading to excessive build-up of unwanted body fats and toxins. In the Scandinavian countries of Finland and Russia the use of Sauna has been found useful to heat up the body to allow the stored up body fats to melt and come out as sweat, also as a means of detoxification of the skin and to keep the body warm in a very cold weather .Saunas are built as part of home or garden furniture.
However, the use of heat therapy is not known to the Finnish alone. In Africa it is part of the native intelligence to do a heat therapy. Some of us do remember that our grand parents used heat via steam for the treatment of illnesses. Where you have to cover yourself up with the “Agbo” a boiled native herb which enables deeper penetration of the herbs for effective detoxification of the deeper layer of the skin and resultant sweat out of the bacteria or virus in the body.
Therefore one can be sure that heat therapy can be carried out dry or wet i.e. steam. It must also be noted that the use of heat is not limited to the afore mentioned. Heat treatment is now being used in the treatment of cancer, as infra treatment, laser surgery and many other ways. The use of heat therapy as practiced by beauticians which is our main concern here, remain a tremendous source of help to the medical treatment of some of these diseases.
“The benefit of heat therapy was especially great in patients who had been treated with radiation in the past. Among those patients, 68% in the hyperthermia group and 22% of the radiation-only group had a complete response.” .-Duke University USA This report was made by researchers on a study on how heat therapy can boost the effectiveness of radiation treatments in people whose cancer has returned
It is important to note that, heat therapy is not only for the purpose of smooth looking skin but also serves health benefits. Hence, in the course of article we shall consider the various benefit of the heat therapy both medically and aesthetically. And also, look at the reason for it vis a vis which one is suitable? The dry or the wet.
Also we would look at the available options, that is; the Digital or analogue or manual. Which one is met for this age? What are the potential hazards and financial risk involved in each type? The various additions to this therapy– Aromatherapy, Ozone etc how are they made possible?
About the 17th and 18th century, spa became popular in England as an extension of the Roman civilization extending to the English world. The benefit of the steam and dry heat became more apparent as a means of relaxation and stress reduction. The spa therapy includes the following:
- Steam therapy
- Sauna therapy
- Mud therapy
- Thalassotherapy
- Algotherapy
- kneipp therapy
- Jacuzzi