Heating Compress

Definition:

A heating compress is moist heat via a cold compress applied to a body part and covered with wool or flannel.

Materials:

• Cotton cloth large enough to cover area to be treated
• Wool or flannel cloth large enough to cover cotton cloth
• Safety pins or fastening devices
• Plastic (i.e. garbage bag or cellophane wrap)
• Cold water

Procedure:

• Soak cotton compress in cold (ice) water
• Wring out as much water as possible
• Apply compress to treated area
• Add plastic wrap over cotton
• Wrap snugly in wool or flannel cloth so no air can circulate within compress
• Secure wrap with pins or fastening device
• Keep compress in place until the body has heated the cold cotton cloth

Clinical Indications:

Chest compress:

• Asthma-if acute, start with hot first for 5-10 minutes
• Bronchitis - chronic
• Mastitis - acute
• Pneumonia
• Chest cold
• Early influenza
• Cough
  

Abdominal compress:

• Constipation
• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Appendicitis, chronic
• Backache
• Biliary stasis
  
• Diarrhea
• Dyspepsia
• Flatulence
• Insomnia

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).