A fomentation consists of a local application of moist heat to a body surface and can be applied a number of times in succession. This is the most effective means for relieving pain. The fomentation pad is usually made of blanket material, 50% wool to retain heat & 50% cotton to retain moisture, but towels can also be used.

Uses

• Arthritis pain
• Stress
• Cerebral congestion
• Indigestion
• Colon pain (colic)
• Suppression of urine
• Constipation
• Sluggish liver
• Menstrual pain
• Inflammation and toxicity of kidneys (10 min very hot/3 hot)
• Acne
• Hernia
• Edema
• Muscular contraction
• Tetany--nervous disorder-spasms of extremities, with numbness & tingling
• Tic – spasmodic muscular condition
• Alcoholism & drug addiction
• Delirium – a state of mental confusion and excitement
• Malaria – over the liver and spleen
• Dysentery (chronic)
• Bell’s Palsy
• Meniere’s Disease
• Torticollis
• Collapse or shock (to the spine)
• To prepare for a cold treatment (to the spine or abdomen)

Items Needed

• 2-3 fomentation pads
• 2 bath towels
• Container with ice water and wash cloth or bath mittens
• 1 sheet to cover person – blankets if person is cold
• Cold compress material for head and neck

Treatment Procedure

• Pray and ask God to bless the treatment
• Explain the procedure, tell them to tell you when it is too hot and when it isn’t hot enough
• The duration and frequency in changing the fomentations depend upon the desired effect.
• Take care not to burn the person with too hot a fomentation.
• Have the person remove clothing and drape with a sheet.
• Be sure person’s feet are warm (if cold, cover with blanket).
• Cover part to be treated with a bath towel.
• Apply fomentation. To relieve congestion, have the fomentation cover a large area. For local effect, make the fomentation the area size.
• Add another towel if the fomentation is too hot.
• Remove fomentation every 3-5 minutes and use cold mitten friction or rub with cold wash cloth for 30 seconds and then dry the area.
• Reapply fomentation (3-6x in total – always finish with cold).
• Hot fomentation - cold mitten friction and dry area - hot fomentation - cold mitten friction and dry area - hot fomentation - cold mitten friction and dry area.
• In cases of severe pain, have the fomentation as hot as can be tolerated. Omit the cold. No cold for pleurisy, renal colic, dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain).
• If general perspiration was produced – neutral to cool shower or a sponge bath.
• Have person rest 30 minutes.
• For head congestion due to overwork, very hot to upper part of neck or back of head and top of head for 2-3 minutes (3 rotations) with cold compress; Nervous headache & low-pressure headache – very hot to head & warm to neck.

Special Notes

• If this treatment is used for congestion of lungs or other organs use a cold compress to the head and a hot foot bath.
• If this treatment is used for nervous states such as insomnia and nervous tension, use fomentations at a warm temperature instead of hot for 6-10 minutes, omit the cold rub.
• To relieve spasm, use fomentations and 3 rotations
• Acute inflammatory condition: 5-10 minutes for hot fomentation and 30 rotations every 2-3 hours.

Cautions

• Paralysis or diminished sensibility great care must be exercised to avoid damage to the skin.
• Do not burn
• When the skin is very sensitive (hyperesthesia), the heat will aggravate the pain. Use neutral or cool compresses.