PHMD 6054 Quiz 2 Review: Cold Water Application (Week 3)

Benefits of Cold Water Application

• Tonifies skin
• Stimulates neurotransmitters to increase mood
• Reduces inflammation
• Tonifies muscles ("Anti-aging")
• Increases vessel tone and improves circulation
• Enhances immune response to infection and cancer
• Stimulates brown fat & metabolism
• Increases stress tolerance

Neurotransmitter Relations

• Beta-endorphin
  • Binds to opioid receptors, dulls pain, and enhances relaxation
  • Slows cancer cell growth
  • Involved in stress, alcoholism, obesity, diabetes, and psychiatric illnesses
• Noradrenaline
  • Treats ADD, depression, and low blood pressure

Cold Water as Preventative Medicine

• Used in various cultures to strengthen body, mind, and immune response
• Swedish practice of cold exposure for babies believed to increase disease resistance and enhance sleep quality

Applying Cold Packs

• Brown adipose tissue can develop with cold exposure, helping with calorie burning and cold tolerance

Precautions

• Avoid inducing hypothermia or worsening infections with extreme cold
• Avoid inhaling very cold air if respiratory issues exist
• Gradual adaptation to cold treatments is necessary to prevent exacerbation of conditions
• Can induce cardiac failure

Hot Fomentation, Cold Mitten Friction (CMF), and Nasal Lavage (Week 4)

Hot Fomentations

• Application of moist heat via towels or hydroculator packs
• Can be combined with other treatments such as steam inhalations or cold mitten friction
• Medicated salves and Epsom Salt can be used for various conditions

Mechanism of Action

• Very Hot Application: Triggers vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation
• Mildly Hot Application: Induces local vasodilation and derivative effects
• Increases tissue metabolism and helps in detoxification
• Relieves muscle tension and spasmodic pain

Indications

• Pain due to congestion or spasm
• Muscle tension, bronchitis, asthma, colds, flu
• Preparation for massage or manipulation

Contraindications

• Excessive bleeding, inflammation, or tachycardia
• Conditions affecting the ability to respond to temperature changes

Cold Mitten Friction (CMF)

• Involves short cold applications causing vasoconstriction and then vasodilation
• Benefits include improved circulation and immune function
• Indicated for fatigue, detoxification, and to finish hot treatments

Nasal Lavage

• Involves irrigation of the nasal cavities with saline
• Used for rhinosinusitis and post-operative cleaning
• Benefits include moisturizing, removing debris, and reducing medication reliance

Conclusion

• Nasal irrigation is effective and safe, reducing physician visits and potential antibiotic resistance

Weeks 3 and 4 PowerPoint Notes – PHMD 6054 (HYDRO)