Naturopathy

MUD PACKSThe best way to prepare a mud pack is to take clay from about four inches below the surface of the earth. Ensure that the clay does not contain any impurities, like compost or pebbles.Mix it with cold water and see that it has a consistency like soft dough. It should stick and not be thin enough to slide down when used in the pack. If the pack is to be applied on the abdomen (from the navel to the pubes) spread the mud evenly on a piece of cloth. See that it is about half an inch thick. Then place it gently with the cloth up and the mud touching the skin. Remove the cloth and place a thick woollen piece of cloth on the mud. You may even let the cotton cloth remain over the mud, but cover it with a thick woollen. If that is done the patient can keep lying down without covering himself with a blanket or a sheet. The mud pack should be used for 20 to 30 minutes. After it is removed, clean the skin using a soft piece of cloth dipped in cold water.

HIP BATHThe hip bath can be taken in tubs made specially for this purpose. The tub is oval in shape and one end of it is raised so that the patient can rest his back against it. Fill the tub with cold water. The level of the water should be so adjusted that it touches your navel when you sit in it. Your feet will be outside the tub and you can support them by keeping a low stool in front of the tub. You can rest your back against the raised portion of the rub and remain in that half-supine position. Take a rough towel and rub your abdomen from the right to the left. Do it gently so that the skin is not scraped. Do not apply too much pressure in rubbing.A hip bath can be taken from ten to twenty minutes. Thin persons should take it for only ten minutes and the stout ones can continue for 20 minutes. During winter the duration of the hip bath should be reduced by about 25 per cent.In the beginning, the hip bath should be taken only for a minute or two; the time should be increased gradually to ten or twenty minutes.Wipe your body with a towel when you get out of the tub, dress quickly and go for a walk or take some other exercise. Those too weak to engage in any such activity should get into bed and wrap a blanket around them and rest for half an hour to bring back warmth to their body.

GENITALS BATHkeep stool onw foot long, six inches wide and six inches high in the tub. It would be all the better if there is a circular cut in front of it. If a stool is not readily available keep four bricks, two upon to raise the level and sit on them. The water level in the tub should be such that it is one inch above the stool. The water should be cold; during summer the water of an earthern pitcher can be used for the purpose.Take off your clothes and sit on the stool. Take a piece of cloth, dip it in water and gently rub your abdomen with it for two minutes. Then take hold of the foreskin of your penis in two fingers and rub it lightly with a soft piece of cloth dipping cold water often. This can be continued for ten to twenty minutes. A lean person can do it for only ten minutes, and the hefty one for as long as twenty mintes. After the rubbing of the foreskin is completed, rub the entire spine with a wet towel for two minutes.Women should rub their abdomen. They should take a piece of soft cloth, pull up the lips of vagina and rub them slowly.

HOT FOOT BATHSit on a stool and lower your feet in a bucket full of hot water. The level of the water should, ideally, come up to the knees. The tempeature of the water should not be too much above the body temperature. As the water gets cold, go on adding more hot water. Take care to see that the hot water added later does not scald the feet.Cover yourself with a blanket. Wrap it around your body; even if the bucket is covered, it will be all right. The head should be covered with a towel wetted with cold water. As the coldness of the towel cvaporates, dip it in cold water, wring it lightly and again cover you head with it.Take some hot water before you lower your feet into the bucket water. Go on sipping hot water throughout the time your feet are in the bucket.A hot foot bath should be taken for 20 minutes. Wash your feet with cold water afterwards and wipe them with a towel. If you have perspired, wipe your body with a wet towel and dress yourself. An ordinary bath can be taken after the hot foot bath.