During summer, the sweltering heat increases blood flow to upper layers of the skin, leading to loss of water and salts through the sweat pores in the skin. Further, the urine gets concentrated and acidic due to water loss, while the metabolic process becomes faster.
A cold, half-body bath beats the heat and offers relief from several ailments, while also strengthening bones, say Ayurveda experts.
Water plays a vital role in healing the body, and ayurveda suggests various baths to treat various organs of the body. Let us take a look at the various benefits of a cold water bath during summer.
A cold half-body bath can help treat certain diseases that particularly flare-up during summers. The organs in the lower abdomen are healed, while the muscles, bones and blood vessels of the legs are strengthened.
Cold water absorbs body heat and stimulates the nervous system and contracts blood vessels. Contractions also strengthen muscles, pushing blood inwards, carrying away toxins towards the kidneys. It closes sweat pores, strengthens bones, and reduces peristaltic movements of the intestines, thereby reducing wrinkles.
Cold water bath also helps tighten anal and vaginal muscles. Such a bath helps in finding relief from problems such as constipation, dysentery, diarrhoea, colitis, and appendicitis. It also treats urinary urgency, incontinence, burning sensation, sexual weakness, prostate enlargement problems, and night emissions in men, and even bed wetting among children.
A Cold half-bath also helps in reducing swelling of the feet caused by continued standing, varicose veins, bleeding and non-bleeding piles, pelvic inflammatory diseases, swelling and pain in lower abdomen, and excessive menstruation in women.
Method: For a cold half-body bath, you need a big plastic tub that is one foot deep. Fill one-third of the tub with water, add two trays of ice, and squat in the tub. Water level should be up to your navel. Ensure that the upper parts of the body remain dry. Continue this for 10-20 minutes. Then take a bath on an empty stomach or at least four to five hours after meals. Repeat the bath every few days for maximum benefit.
Note: For good health of the skin, add few neem leaves and a little sandal wood to water and leave it for a while before taking a bath.
The cold water bath is best suited for people with pitta constitution, as cold water is specifically good in treating pitta related ailments such as liver disorders, burning sensations, and indigestion.
Although the cold half-bath can be safely done at home by one and all, consult your physician in case you have a specific health problem.