Definition: A body steam bath in which there is 100% humidity, given with the person sitting on a wooden chair, covered with a non-flammable plastic sheet.
As the steam in the Russian bath condenses, it liberates large amounts of heat, 537 calories for each gram. Thus there is an intense heating effect.
Physiological Effect:
The Russian steam has many effects: first it increases body temperature, and metabolism. It also increases the pulse rate, blood pressure, and leukocytosis. Large amounts of water should be taken before a treatment because the treatment will induce profuse sweating. It will also cause peripheral vasodilation.
Precautions:
Caution should be taken if patient has diabetes, valvular heart lesions, emaciation, advance
arteriosclerosis, and hypertension.
Procedure:
1. Basic equipment for a treatment consist of an old wooden chair, teakettle and hot plate, a plastic cover (shower curtain sewed together), towels for draping around the neck and over shoulders and over knees, hot foot bath tub, cold compress equipment, ice bag, a watch with a second hand, and drinking water at room temp.
2. Have the room warm and free from drafts.
3. Heat the teakettle on the hot plate which has been set up under the wooden chair (spout of kettle facing away from patient’s legs).
4. Wrap the patient in a sheet; have the patient sit on the chair that is over the heating teakettle.
5. Give patient a hot foot bath to pre-warm him and apply a cold compress to his head; maintain foot bath at best temperature for the patient throughout the treatment (104-110 degrees F.).
6. Remove the sheet, and place a towel over the shoulders, around the neck, and over the knees.
7. Drape the plastic cover around the patient’s neck and chair, covering the body from the neck down like a tent including the feet.
8. Give the patient an ice pack for the heart to keep the heart rate down.
9. The head remains out; apply cold compress to the head.
10. Check the pulse frequently at the temple or the side of the neck.
11. Encourage the drinking of hot water, if necessary, to hasten sweating.
12. Steam treatment should last 10-15 minutes.
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