TREATMENT OF FEVERS: THE STEAM TENT CASE HISTORIES

Apr 29 2009

Case 1.

A friend came to spend some time with us and to offer his services in the painting of one of our large buildings. He had only a limited time for this work. To make matters worse, the paint he ordered was delayed and did not arrive until three days before the deadline. You can imagine what great sacrifice of physical laws was made to get the job done on time. When all the vital energies had been used and the job was finished, the body protested. This took the form of influenza. There was no fever but a lack of vitality and body heat. At the onset it was felt that a good sauna would help revitalize the body forces, stimulate the circulation, and enable nourishment to reach the cells in double-quick time. The perspiration would help to eliminate any poisons absorbed from the paint or produced from the exhaustion of the organs. It was a dejected, miserable, and cold patient who entered the steam tent and lay there for almost half an hour. His body heated up to possibly two or three degrees above normal. At the end he poured a bucket of cold water (60 degrees) over his whole body, rubbed dry, and quickly dressed. A hot drink was taken, into which had been dissolved eight 500 mg. tablets of vitamin C, 4 tablets of Ferr Phos, and 4 of Mag Phos. It is regrettable that we do not have a picture to show you the transformation. Not one hour more did that man spend in bed. He was well able to be up enjoying the rest of his time spent with us. He did not, of course, begin work immediately, remembering that rest is necessary to the body in recovering its vital energy. But he was able to enjoy a few days with us in the sunshine and fresh air before returning to the city and his work.

Case 2.

Another gentleman was experiencing symptoms resembling asthma and was finding it difficult to breathe. He knew no way to get relief except to take drugs. He had already taken a course of drugs. When these were finished, he was troubled by the problem again. He did not want to continue with the drugs and sought help in building up his body and removing the cause of the problem.

When he came in for counsel, we thought it best to put him in the steam-tent. This proved to be a good move. Within ten minutes he was breathing normally. His body was warmed and comforted by the heat, and the tense muscles relaxed. After an hour in the tent he was sponged down with cool water and a gentle full-body massage was given. During the next three days hot towels were put on his back and chest for 20 minute intervals every four hours. At the conclusion of each heat application, the skin was rubbed with olive oil to protect it. This loosened the mucous in his lungs, and it came away freely. The congestion thus removed, he was able to resume his daily duties again as a builder.

Arthritics will benefit from the steam-tent treatment. It loosens and relaxes the skin enabling it to throw off accumulated uric acid which causes pain and suffering. Many arthritics have availed themselves of this treatment and found relief from pain. An even simpler form of a steam tent is to place an umbrella over the patient’s head with the bottom end of the umbrella handle beside his chest. Place a chair beside the middle of the bed. Cover the umbrella, patient, and chair with a sheet.

The source of steam is placed on the chair. Where electricity is not available, place a bowl of hot water on the chair. Preheat a flat iron or a brick and put it in the water. Be sure to tie a strong piece of string or rope to the heated object so you can remove it without getting burnt. If necessary, flap the sheet to agitate and distribute the heated air. Where electricity is available, an electric kettle may be placed on the chair. It will most likely need to be switched off from time to time to prevent overheating and even scalding. This system aids in the relief of sinus trouble.

Even the bath tub can be used for this purpose. A wooden covering is made to go over the tub in which the patient may lie while the steam is piped in. In all treatments involving steam, the patient should be attended.

Commercial models are available in the form of a circular cabinet in which the patient sits. In the seat is an electric element. This gives a dry sauna.

Less expensive is the chair steam tent as illustrated here. The patient simply sits on the chair with a blanket draped around him as loosely as possible to allow space for the steam to circulate. The electric kettle is positioned on the floor, the blanket is dropped over it so that the steam emanating from the spout will rise around the body. The picture shows the corner of the blanket lifted so that the position of the kettle can be clearly seen.

There is one disadvantage to this system. It is difficult to keep the head cool. Furthermore the patient may experience dizziness or a sense of weakness initiating a strong desire to lie down. Therefore, this system is suitable only when the patient feels strong enough to sit up.