Читать книгу Edgar Cayce’s Quick & Easy Remedies - Elaine Hruska - Страница 90

How do you decide whether to apply heat or cold to an injury? Sprains, strains, an aching back, a bump, or a pulled muscle—any soft tissue injury—are all candidates for hot or cold packs.

In general one should apply ice or cold immediately to injuries. Cold helps reduce swelling and pain by restricting blood flow, which in turn slows the inflammatory response. Cold also slows nerve conduction, decreasing the pain caused by the injury. As a general rule, if the area feels warm or inflamed to the touch, apply cold. If it feels cool to the touch, apply heat. Not sure? Use a cold application.

A cold or ice pack is left on for a shorter period of time than a hot pack. Different suggestions for lengths of time have been recommended by different experts, yet the caution is not to overdo the icing—no longer than twenty minutes at a time. Elevate the injured area, as well, to help restrict the swelling and prevent further tissue damage. You may also apply a pressure bandage or splint over the affected area.

Once the swelling has subsided (after approximately forty-eight to seventy-two hours), you may begin the heat application, which stimulates blood flow and loosens stiff muscles. Usually two to three days after an injury and following a cold application, the blood flow has begun to return to normal, decreasing the risk of swelling and internal bleeding. The warmth increases the blood flow, opens the blood vessels, and helps the area to return to a full range of motion. The hot pack, then, is much more effective at this time than a cold treatment.

A large portion of Cayce’s references on cold packs actually relates to alternating hot and cold applications, sometimes referred to as “contrast treatments.” These treatments will be discussed in the information following “Hot Packs.”

With the appropriate applications of heat and cold, your healing process will be enhanced and your recovery time will be reduced.