Hydrogen sulfide baths: peculiarities of application

Hydrogen sulphide baths can safely be called one of the most common balneological procedures. They are actively used to treat cardiovascular, joint, nervous, dermatological and genitourinary diseases.

Hydrogen sulphide baths are distinguished not only by a specific therapeutic effect: they strengthen the body as a whole, rejuvenate the body and give a boost of energy and health for several years.

Hydrogen sulfide is not only popular, but also accessible. That is why special attention should be paid to the specifics of the application of procedures, since it is necessary to take into account contraindications, possible consequences and complications. Only with the right approach will the baths provide the expected benefit, prevent and cure many diseases.

How to take hydrogen sulphide baths?

Hydrogen sulphide baths are recommended to be taken only after a complete examination of the patient, and only after such treatment has been approved by a doctor.

The course of treatments usually includes 10, 12 or 14 baths. The frequency of taking is every other day, or once every three days, or two days out of three. Hydrogen sulphide baths are taken in a specially designated room with a good ventilation system. The water temperature for the bath is usually 36°C on average, and the duration of stay in the bath is from eight to twelve (sometimes up to fifteen) minutes.

You should not take a bath on an empty or full stomach. It is best to have a light snack about an hour and a half before the session. In addition, you should avoid intense physical activity on the day of the procedure (both before and after the bath).

A hydrogen sulphide bath is taken by immersing yourself in the medicinal water approximately to the nipple line, not higher. This rule applies even if the treatment is aimed at eliminating pain in the neck and collar zone. During the procedure, you should relax as much as possible, your breathing should be even. You should not be nervous or overly worried, or fussy.

After the session is over, you need to dry your body, put on light clothes and go to rest. Eating is allowed 1.5-2 hours after leaving the hydrogen sulphide bath.

Hydrogen sulphide baths for children

Most specialists do not recommend using hydrogen sulfide baths to treat children under seven years of age. However, in some cases, it is possible to prescribe baths with a low concentration of hydrogen sulfide for children from three years of age. The possibility of such a prescription is assessed individually, directly by the attending physician, who is aware of the composition of the water at a particular resort or sanatorium.

Independent use of hydrogen sulphide baths for the treatment of children of any age is strictly prohibited!

Hydrogen sulphide baths for pregnant women

Due to the high probability of toxic effects of hydrogen sulfide on the body, baths with this component are contraindicated during pregnancy. Moreover, all women of childbearing age should make sure that they are not pregnant before starting balneotherapy.

The lactation period is also a contraindication to taking hydrogen sulfide baths.

Hydrogen sulfide baths at home

If desired, hydrogen sulphide baths can be taken even at home, after consulting with a doctor. To carry out the procedures, you only need to buy a special product at the pharmacy - this is hydrogen sulphide bath salt. It is sold without a prescription, but before buying, you should carefully read the instructions and assess the presence of contraindications.

The bath will have the expected effect if it is carried out correctly:

• pour 100-200 liters of hot water into the bath;
• dilute the salt and add it to the bath, following the instructions;
• add cool water, bringing the total volume of the bath to body temperature;
• immerse yourself in the bath and stay in it for 10 minutes (more or less, depending on the doctor’s instructions);
• You should go into the water up to your chest, no more;
• At the end of the procedure, dry your body with a towel or sheet, rest in a lying or reclining position for at least 20 minutes (better - more).

It is better to discuss the number of procedures with your doctor: usually the course includes 10-14 baths, every other day, no more than once every six months.

If you feel unwell or have a fever, it is better to postpone taking hydrogen sulphide baths.

Matsesta remedy for hydrogen sulfide baths

Matsesta is a special bath product named after the resort district of the same name in the city of Sochi, famous for its healing hydrogen sulphide springs.

The balneological remedy is intended for independent and outpatient use, it is easy to prepare and has a valuable health-improving effect.

How to perform the procedure of hydrogen sulphide baths with Matsesta?

• Fill the bath with 150 ml of water at a temperature of approximately 36°C.
• Open the package with the product, pour the contents into a separate basin with water, stir, and only then pour into the bath. Stir again.
• They take a bath for an average of ten minutes, dry their body and rest for one and a half to two hours.
• A full course of therapy requires ten procedures.
• Before carrying out such treatment, a doctor's consultation is mandatory.

In general, the Matsesta remedy has an effect similar to natural hydrogen sulphide baths. It has a calming, anti-inflammatory, restorative effect, slows down the aging process of the body, cleanses the skin, increases tone, optimizes blood circulation.

Contraindications to the procedure

Before starting a course of therapeutic hydrogen sulphide baths, any patient should first consult a medical specialist. This is necessary, first of all, to identify contraindications, the existence of which even the patient himself does not always suspect.

Hydrogen sulphide baths are not permitted in the following conditions and pathologies:

• elevated temperature, fever;
• any form of tuberculosis;
• bronchial asthma;
• inflammation of the hemorrhoidal veins;
• cholelithiasis;
• some blood diseases in which the patient has a tendency to bleed;
• decompensated conditions;
• malignant and some benign tumor processes;
• wounds, burns on the body;
• severe stages of diabetes mellitus or angina pectoris, post-infarction conditions;
• severe decrease in blood pressure;
• decompensated heart defects;
• wetting of the skin;
• hyperthyroidism;
• any inflammatory processes in the acute stage;
• gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer;
• candidiasis, mycosis;
• epilepsy;
• individual hypersensitivity to hydrogen sulfide;
• severe mental disorders;
• alcohol, drug, toxic addiction.

The use of hydrogen sulphide baths in children and the elderly is limited, and such procedures are contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women.

Consequences after the procedure

During the course of therapeutic hydrogen sulphide baths, patients may experience the following side effects:

• temporary deterioration of general condition;
• lethargy, feeling of fatigue, weakness;
• slight increase in temperature;
• sleep disorders;
• exacerbation of chronic pathological processes.

Although the above-mentioned consequences are often transient, treatment must be monitored by a doctor. Self-medication during and after a course of treatment with hydrogen sulphide baths is unacceptable.

If during the procedure the patient experiences nausea, dizziness or severe weakness, or difficulty breathing, then the bath must be left, the session must be stopped, and the patient must be provided with access to fresh air.

Complications after the procedure

If hydrogen sulfide baths are not used correctly, hydrogen sulfide intoxication may develop. From a chemical point of view, hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic nerve poison, it can not only irritate the mucous tissue of the respiratory and visual organs, but also inhibit tissue respiration, causing oxygen deficiency in the tissues.

Clinicians usually distinguish three stages of hydrogen sulfide intoxication:

1. The mild stage is characterized by the appearance of pain and burning in the eyes, a hacking cough, hoarseness, sharp pain in the head, and a general loss of strength.
2. The middle stage is manifested by signs of pneumonia and tracheobronchitis. The patient may be excited or, on the contrary, depressed. Pulmonary edema and acute cardiac insufficiency may develop within a short time.
3. The severe stage differs from the previous ones by the rapid development of acute heart failure with the rapid death of the patient.

In sanatorium or outpatient settings, the probability of hydrogen sulphide intoxication is virtually zero. However, this danger should be remembered by everyone who is going to undergo a course of procedures. If you feel unwell during a hydrogen sulphide bath, you should immediately inform a medical professional - a doctor, a nurse. Timely medical care will help preserve not only health, but also life.

Care after the procedure

After taking a hydrogen sulphide bath, the patient should dry himself off: do not try to rub the body with a towel, it is enough to simply blot the skin and get rid of traces of moisture. Drying yourself off after the bath is a must!

After the procedure, you should not immediately run for a walk or run errands: the body needs rest in a calm state, lasting at least twenty minutes. It is best to lie down or sit down near the procedure room for 20 minutes, then move to the ward or rest room and lie there for some more time. You should not put on tight-fitting clothes, go into cool rooms or outside immediately after the hydrogen sulphide bath. It is also not recommended to stay alone: this is especially true for the elderly. If for any reason you feel unwell, you should immediately inform the health worker about it.

You can't repeat the courses of procedures too often. It is optimal to repeat them twice a year, with an interval of at least 4-6 months.

Patients who are prescribed hydrogen sulphide baths should refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol for the entire duration of the procedures. In addition, they should not overeat, engage in intense physical activity, or take any medications unless prescribed directly by the attending physician.