Coniferous baths
Last reviewed: 07.06.2024
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Among the water procedures that promote recovery, the most popular are considered to be coniferous baths, which use various means derived from pine needles.
Benefits of pine baths
High-quality coniferous bath remedy based on natural raw materials contains almost the entire spectrum of its biologically active compounds, which are responsible for the therapeutic effects and benefits of such baths.
The components of coniferous tree extracts (including Pinus sylvestris - common pine) include: terpenoids (resin acids, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes), alkaloids (piperidines), polyphenols (phenolic acids, flavonoids, acetophenones, etc.).
Thus, the monoterpenes β-myrcene and 3-carene have a calming effect; the monoterpene alcohol borneol anesthetizes and reduces inflammation (which makes pine baths for joints an effective additional physiotherapeutic method). And pinene not only promotes pain relief and relaxation, but also inhibits the spread of bacteria and viruses. Antibacterial and antifungal activity is characterized by terpene alcohols alpha-terpineol and linalool, aromatic phenylpropene ester anethol and conifer alkaloids (alpha-pipecolin, etc.).
Among flavonoids, quercetin, apigenin, rutin, resveratrol, pycnogenol and enzogenol play a special role, which can have sedative and analgesic effects, as well as anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. In addition, as the researchers found, flavonoids and phenolic acids of pine needles can stimulate innate immunity and inhibit the action of reactive oxygen species (free radicals), reducing oxidative stress. That is, they have antioxidant properties. Tannins (tannins) of coniferous plants have similar properties.
Indications for the procedure
As a therapeutic application of baths with an extract or decoction of pine needles can be an auxiliary means in complex therapy:
- chronic fatigue syndrome and asthenic syndrome;
- insomnia and depression;
- immunosuppressive conditions;
- of respiratory disease;
- vegetovascular dystonia;
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system and joint pain (arthritis and arthrosis);
- myalgia, fibromyalgia and muscle-tonic syndrome;
- autonomic disorders in polyneuropathy;
- neuromuscular or autonomic-vascular form diencephalic or hypothalamic syndrome;
- Meteosensitivity and Meteolability in neurotic and asthenic people.
Coniferous hand baths are recommended in Raynaud's disease (spasm of the hand vessels), in inflammation of tendon sheaths of muscles - tendovaginitis of the hand or wrist, in pathological thickening and deformation of nail plates (pachyonychia).
Coniferous foot baths can help with tired and heavy feet, heel spurs, tendovaginitis of the foot or heel tendon, mycosis - epidermophytosis of the foot and nail fungus - onychomycosis. These treatments can help relieve the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.
As a soothing and sleep-enhancing remedy pine baths work for children with increased excitability of the CNS and spasmophilia, with emotional lability, asthenovegetative syndrome with cholelithiasis, with uric acid or nerve-arthritic diathesis. Such baths are used in the treatment of rickets, congenital Farkoni syndrome, hereditary neuropathy in all varieties of Dejerine syndrome, as well as in physiotherapy for intestinal diseases in children. However, it should be borne in mind that coniferous baths are not recommended for infants under 1 year of age.
Preparation
The pine bath is taken after washing in the shower, and no other "preparatory" actions are required.
How to prepare a coniferous bath at home? Very simple: fill the bathtub with warm water, the temperature of which should not exceed +38 ° C, and add either coniferous extract for baths in briquettes (it replaced the previously produced coniferous tablets for baths), or ready-made liquid extract of pine needles, which can be positioned by manufacturers as coniferous balm for baths. For adults you need 50-100 ml per 100 liters of water, for children - 15-20 ml per 20 liters.
Pine needle essential oil is also used - coniferous bath oil. By the way, it acts irritatingly on the skin, which activates blood circulation and thus reduces congestion, relieves pain, relieves spasms and reduces nervous tension.
The standard duration of coniferous baths for adults is 15-20 minutes, for children - no more than 10 minutes. The course of procedures recommended by physiotherapists consists of 10-12 baths (which are carried out every day or every other day).
The obligatory requirement concerns the level of water in the bathtub, which should be lower than the heart area.
Combined coniferous baths
If there is no history of heart failure, coniferous-salt baths (with the addition of ordinary table salt) are prescribed for severe headaches, including those associated with external cerebral hydrocephalus, which can occur after head injuries with concussion, stroke or neurosurgical intervention.
In addition to the general sedative effect, coniferous-sea bath (with sea salt) is considered an effective water procedure for cleansing any type of skin and a good means for its revitalization in case of enlarged pores and laxity.
Coniferous baths with natural mineral water - coniferous-mineral baths - improve the general condition of the body, relieve fatigue and nervous tension, contribute to the reduction of chronic pain in joint problems.
General fatigue, nervousness, post-traumatic conditions, problems with sleep and blood pressure, muscle spasms, joint pain - a reason to appoint a patient coniferous-oxygen baths or coniferous-pearl baths (called so because of the similarity of air bubbles supplied to the water with pearls).
If you add to the water bishofit coniferous for baths - coniferous extract "Bishofit", coniferous extract BishEffect Bishofit, coniferous extract with bishofit - then this bromide chloride-magnesium solution of natural origin, acting through the skin, will help with joint diseases, disorders of the autonomic and central nervous system.
In addition, coniferous turpentine concentrate is added to the bath water, containing coniferous essential oil and purified turpentine oil from pine resin - turpentine oil, which has almost the same biologically active compounds as pine needles. Hence the name - coniferous turpentine bath, the effect of which is based on irritation of skin receptors and the subsequent activation of blood circulation, lymphatic circulation and metabolism in the tissues. Such baths are useful for problems with joints and intervertebral discs, atherosclerotic or varicose lesions of the vessels of the lower extremities, with weight gain and decreased immunity.
But coniferous-salicylic baths for hands or feet (with the addition of salicylic acid) alleviate the condition of patients with hyperkeratosis, neurodermatitis, dry eczema and palm and plantar form of psoriasis.
Contraindications to the procedure
Generally accepted contraindications to the use of coniferous baths are considered:
- acute infectious diseases;
- any diseases in the stage of exacerbation;
- feverish condition;
- bleeding;
- acute period of dermatologic diseases;
- presence of vascular and cardiologic diseases with marked circulatory disorders;
- kidney inflammation;
- Oncology.
It is not recommended to take pine baths during pregnancy and lactation.