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A Review of Heat Therapy in African Traditional Medicine

Received: 22 July 2020     Accepted: 3 August 2020     Published: 20 August 2020
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Abstract

Heat therapy – also known as thermotherapy or thermal therapy – is the transfer of heat or thermal energy in and out of the human body especially at the joints, using towels, ice packs, wax, hot/warm water, steam, etc within a given temperature range. The objective is the expansion of blood capillaries and increased blood flow to the affected area for healing. The principle is the application of the heat or cold to change the cutaneous, intraarticular or core temperature of soft tissues to improve symptoms of certain conditions. Categories of heat therapy include: diathermia (<41°C), hyperthermia (41°C - 45°C), and thermal ablation (>45°C). Heat therapy is classified on the bases of contact of heat, mode of transfer, type of heat, penetration of heat, and use of heat. Examples include: steam inhalation, hot fomentations, hot foot bath, Seitz bath (hip bath and half-bath), hot and cold contrast bath, and sun therapy. Heat therapy has several benefits in African traditional medicine and has also been used extensively for treating various diseases including: sickle cell disease, primary dysmenorrhea, skeletomuscular pain, trauma, inflammatory and degenerative rheumatic diseases, osteoarthritis, acute and non-specific chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia, cutaneous leishmaniasis, tumours, musculoskeletal injuries, diabetic kidney disease, etc.

Published in Journal of Health and Environmental Research (Volume 6, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.jher.20200603.16
Page(s) 87-92
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Heat Therapy, Thermotherapy, Diathermia, Hyperthermia, Thermal Ablation, African Traditional Medicine

References
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  • APA Style

    Nwokeke Chinyere Celine, Igwillo Ugochukwu Clifford. (2020). A Review of Heat Therapy in African Traditional Medicine. Journal of Health and Environmental Research, 6(3), 87-92. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20200603.16

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    ACS Style

    Nwokeke Chinyere Celine; Igwillo Ugochukwu Clifford. A Review of Heat Therapy in African Traditional Medicine. J. Health Environ. Res. 2020, 6(3), 87-92. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20200603.16

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    AMA Style

    Nwokeke Chinyere Celine, Igwillo Ugochukwu Clifford. A Review of Heat Therapy in African Traditional Medicine. J Health Environ Res. 2020;6(3):87-92. doi: 10.11648/j.jher.20200603.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jher.20200603.16,
      author = {Nwokeke Chinyere Celine and Igwillo Ugochukwu Clifford},
      title = {A Review of Heat Therapy in African Traditional Medicine},
      journal = {Journal of Health and Environmental Research},
      volume = {6},
      number = {3},
      pages = {87-92},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jher.20200603.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20200603.16},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jher.20200603.16},
      abstract = {Heat therapy – also known as thermotherapy or thermal therapy – is the transfer of heat or thermal energy in and out of the human body especially at the joints, using towels, ice packs, wax, hot/warm water, steam, etc within a given temperature range. The objective is the expansion of blood capillaries and increased blood flow to the affected area for healing. The principle is the application of the heat or cold to change the cutaneous, intraarticular or core temperature of soft tissues to improve symptoms of certain conditions. Categories of heat therapy include: diathermia (45°C). Heat therapy is classified on the bases of contact of heat, mode of transfer, type of heat, penetration of heat, and use of heat. Examples include: steam inhalation, hot fomentations, hot foot bath, Seitz bath (hip bath and half-bath), hot and cold contrast bath, and sun therapy. Heat therapy has several benefits in African traditional medicine and has also been used extensively for treating various diseases including: sickle cell disease, primary dysmenorrhea, skeletomuscular pain, trauma, inflammatory and degenerative rheumatic diseases, osteoarthritis, acute and non-specific chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia, cutaneous leishmaniasis, tumours, musculoskeletal injuries, diabetic kidney disease, etc.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    T2  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    JF  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    JO  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
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    AB  - Heat therapy – also known as thermotherapy or thermal therapy – is the transfer of heat or thermal energy in and out of the human body especially at the joints, using towels, ice packs, wax, hot/warm water, steam, etc within a given temperature range. The objective is the expansion of blood capillaries and increased blood flow to the affected area for healing. The principle is the application of the heat or cold to change the cutaneous, intraarticular or core temperature of soft tissues to improve symptoms of certain conditions. Categories of heat therapy include: diathermia (45°C). Heat therapy is classified on the bases of contact of heat, mode of transfer, type of heat, penetration of heat, and use of heat. Examples include: steam inhalation, hot fomentations, hot foot bath, Seitz bath (hip bath and half-bath), hot and cold contrast bath, and sun therapy. Heat therapy has several benefits in African traditional medicine and has also been used extensively for treating various diseases including: sickle cell disease, primary dysmenorrhea, skeletomuscular pain, trauma, inflammatory and degenerative rheumatic diseases, osteoarthritis, acute and non-specific chronic low back pain, fibromyalgia, cutaneous leishmaniasis, tumours, musculoskeletal injuries, diabetic kidney disease, etc.
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Author Information
  • Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Lagos, Nigeria

  • Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Lagos, Nigeria

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