Original Research Article
Year: 2023 | Month: January | Volume: 13 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 8-10
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230102
Immediate Effect of Steam Bath Followed by Cold Shower on Body Temperature Among the Healthy Individuals: A Single Arm Study
Dr. P. R. Asbin Birle1, Dr. Anusha2, Dr. T. W. Sowmiya3, Dr. Z. Edal Queen4
1Asst. Professor, Department of Naturopathy, Sree Ramakrishna Medical College of Naturopathy and Yogic sciences, Kulasekharam, Tamilnadu, India
2Principal, Sree Ramakrishna Medical College of Naturopathy and Yogic sciences, Kulasekharam, Tamilnadu, India
3Asst.professor, Department of Physiology, Sree Ramakrishna Medical college of Naturopathy and Yogic sciences, Kulasekharam, Tamilnadu, India
4Department of Anatomy, Sree Ramakrishna Medical college of Naturopathy and Yogic sciences, Kulasekharam, Tamilnadu, India
Corresponding Author: Dr. P. R. Asbin Birle
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Hydrotherapy is one of the basic methods of traditional treatment widely used in the system of naturopathy and this is the external or internal use of water in any of its forms (water, ice or steam) for health promotion or treatment of various diseases under different temperatures, pressure, duration and site depends on the condition. Steam bath is a form of hydrotherapy in which the person gets exposed to steam inside a wooden cabin except his head. This study aims to find out the immediate effect of steam bath followed by cold shower on body temperature among healthy volunteers.
Materials and Methods: Fifteen volunteers were randomly selected from medical students enrolled in a naturopathic programme. The participants were of both sexes aged between 18 and 20 years. A steam bath was given to each of the participants for 20 minutes followed by cold shower for 5 minutes. The outcome measure was body temperature.
Results: All the 15 participants were completed the study, all the participants have shown reduction in body temperature (p=.001) was statistically significant.
Discussion: This study reveals that steam bath for 20 minutes followed by cold shower duration of 5 minutes reduces body temperature significantly. This may be due to heat loss from body through evaporation of secreted sweat and cold shower. Further studies are required to confirm our findings in different population.
Key words: Hydrotherapy, steam bath, cold shower, body temperature, healthy individuals.