Your nose is stuffy.
Your throat hurts.
And, to top it off, you can’t sleep.
We’ve all been there, but not all of us know what is quite possibly the best cure.
Meet the miraculous heating compress. A heating compress is a cold compress covered up so that warming soon occurs. The effect is of applying moist heat. This is done with a sock or cotton cloth wrung from cold water and covered with wool to prevent the circulation of air, causing the accumulation of body heat. This will heat and relax the area because of the increase in blood flow in response to the cold will warm the compress. It is usually left in place for several hours or overnight. If left overnight it should be dry by morning. The area should be rubbed with cold water when taken off.
Simple and Powerful Hydrotherapy Treatments That Cannot Be Overestimated
The heating compress can be applied to the chest, throat, foot, or joints. This treatment increases circulation, breaks up congestion, and increases immunity. It is a very efficient measure, and its usefulness cannot be overestimated. The best part is that most of us have wool socks and scarves lying around the house. If we add its simplicity to its convenience we have one of the best remedies there is for congestion and inflamation in the body.
Heating Compress For The Throat (Double Throat Compress)
Putting a wet, cold cloth around the neck is a common household treatment to reduce congestion in the throat and to help sooth a sore throat, hoarseness, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and neck pain or tension. A heating throat compress will improve the circulation to your neck and help to speed up the healing process. This throat compress will decrease congestion in the throat and head and will offer some pain relief. It is very comforting when suffering from a sore throat.
What You Will Need:
A bandana or thin strip of cotton cloth that is long enough to wrap around your throat just once- A wool scarf or strip of wool cloth that is thicker and longer than the cotton cloth. You should be able to overlap the cotton cloth and safely pin it. A large wool sock will work.
- A warm bath/shower (optional)
- Cold tap water
- Wash cloth
- Towel
- 2 safety pins
- Essential oils (optional but oils like eucalyptus can increase the treatment’s effectiveness)
Here’s What To Do:
1. Make sure your neck and your body are warm before applying the heating compress. Either warm up with a warm wash cloth or take a bath or shower.
2. Wet the bandana or cotton cloth in cold water. If you use essential oils, you can add them to a bowl or sink of cold water. You don’t have to wring it out too much. A quite a bit of water can be left in it, and it will still be dry in the morning.
3. Place the cold bandana/cloth around your neck. Make sure it is secure, but not too tight. The ends should overlap each other.
4. Wrap the wool scarf or sock over the cotton layer and around your throat, tucking in the ends to keep it in place or securing them with safety pins.
5. This can be done while awake, but is more commonly left on overnight. Always keep your body warm during this treatment.
6. When you remove the compress, wash your neck with a cold wash cloth and dry off.
Heating Compress for Feet (Warming Socks or Wet Sock Compress)
I know that putting wet socks on your feet before you go to bed doesn’t sound like the best idea for a good night’s sleep, but try this once and you will be hooked! If you have a cold coming on, it can turn a stuffy, congested, sleepless night into a restful one. This has got to be one of the best home remedies for colds. If you have head congestion and want to sleep, then put on a pair of cold, wet socks and go to bed!
Warming socks are great for increasing circulation as your body tries to warm up your feet. They relieve congestion in your head, throat, and lungs. They also excel at getting rid of stress headaches and boosting your immune system, and if you have insomnia, this treatment will make you sleep like a baby. The wet sock compress only gets better when used on consecutive nights.
What You Will Need:
- A pair of white cotton socks
- A pair of wool socks with high wool content
- A warm bath/shower (optional)
- Cold tap water or a cold basin of water if you are using essential oils
- Lavender essential oil
Here’s What To Do:
1. Make sure you are warm to the core. Take a hot foot bath, full bath, or a shower if needed.
2. If you are going to use essential oils, begin by placing a few drops of oil in a basin of cold water.
3. Dip the cotton socks in cold water and wring them out. They should be damp but not dripping. You only need to get the foot part of the sock wet but either way is fine.
4. Put the cold socks on your warm feet.
5. Pull the dry wool socks over the wet cotton ones.
6. Hop into bed. Within 15 minutes your socks will begin warming up. Of course by then you will be asleep.
7. In the morning take the socks off. They will be completely dry.
Crazy? Yes! But These Hydrotherapy Treatments Work!
What crazy things we do to feel better eh! But when something works, it doesn’t matter how crazy it seems. You may feel silly the first time you do it, but you will soon see why it is considered one of the best home remedies for colds. The kicker is that it is simple and affordable.
Try it tonight and see for yourself!
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