How to take a bath-part 2- hip bath, genital bath, hot foot bath, sun bath, and sponging

Well this article concerns with rather not so common method of bathing which you might not use daily but still you would find it beneficial to opt for them occasionally. now , I have already written an article on , how to take a bath, and here I have discussed how by little tweaks daily bathing can benefit your health. This is in continuation to that, here I would be discussing various other methods of bathing, namely sun bathing ( although doesn't looks like bathing in itself) , genitals bath, hot foot bath and sponging. We would also discuss there respective health benefits, so what are you waiting for go on read them to now more about a routine that you follow each day but still you're not aware of its importance.

Sunbathing has been known for long for its cosmetic effects. But it also has many health benefits. Some of its health benefits are :

• help your body to generate vitamins, mainly vitamin D
• help to clear up skin problems and give your skin a tan
• stimulate the 'feel good hormones' endorphins
• it helps reduce stress by release of endorphins, and thus inducing a sense of relaxation which in turn boosts the entire immune system
• now according to some research it can even help in cancer treatment

In countries like India the ideal condition for sunbathing is six to six thirty in the morning. However sun should be avoided when it's too hot. Take off all your clothes and sit in a secluded corner away from interruptions. The whole of your body should be exposed to the health-giving rays of the sun.

In the beginning take a sun bath for only two or three minutes but increase the timing gradually to fifteen to twenty minutes.

When the sun is too hot cover your head with a towel. If you could not find a secluded place to take sun bath, cover yourself with a light cotton sheet.

Sun Bathing To Induce Perspiration

Sweat can be induced through a sun bath. For this purpose the sun is hot enough at ten to eleven in the morning in summer and two to three in afternoon in winter. Take hot water and lie down almost naked on a mattress or blanket spread on the floor. If the wind is strong, choose a place in the lee of the wind.

You will start sweating in about ten to fifteen minutes after you lied down. after fifteen to twenty minutes the sweat will start running down your body. The sun bath can be continued for fifteen to twenty minutes. Whether you sweat or not, you must take a cold bath after it.

Some people may not perspire in the beginning but after repeating the sun bath for three oe four days, their sweat glands will be activated and they'll perspire. The head must be kept covered with a wet towel while taking a sun bath, but at the same time go on sipping warm water to aid the body perspiration

Now genital bath as the name suggests is all about keeping your private part clean.

Keep a stool one foot long, six inches wide and six inches high in a tub. Now the measure of the tool is not very important, all you have to do is to keep the water level in the tub should be near about one inch above the stool. The water should be cool if possible, i.e. not hot water.

Men

Take off your clothes and sit on a stool. Take a piece of cloth, dip it in water and gently rub your abdomen with it for two minutes. Then take hold of the foreskin of your penis in two fingers and rub it lightly with a soft piece of cloth dipping cold water often. This can be continued for a couple of minutes. After the rubbing of the foreskin is completed, rub the entire spine with a towel for two minutes.

Women

women should rub their abdomen. They should take a piece of soft cloth, pull up the lips of the vagina and rub slowly. And in the end they should also rub the spine as in case of men,mentioned above.

note: no genital bath should be taken during mensuration.

Hot foot bath is indeed a very well known form of revitalizing your body, some its health benefits are :-

• it is a great help when your tired and want to quickly get fresh.
• it helps keep your feet clean and soft
• it helps in improving  blood circulation in your body

How to take hot foot bath

When you have hot foot bath, sit on a stool and lower your feet in a bucket full of hot water. The level of the water should, ideally, come up to knees. The temperature of the water should not be too much above the body temperature. As the water gets cold, go on adding more hot water. Take care to see that the hot water added later does not scald the feet.

Cover your self in a blanket. Wrap it around your body: even if the bucket is covered, it will be all right. The head should be covered with a towel wetted with cold water. As the coldness of the towel evaporates dip it in cold water, wring it lightly and again cover your head with it.

Take some hot water before you lower your feet into the bucket water. Go on sipping hot water throughout the time your feet in the bucket.

A hot foot bath should be taken for 20 minutes. Wash your feet with cold water afterwards and wipe them with a towel. An ordinary bath can be taken after it.

When you are running temprature, a sponge bath is more advisable than a bath. The patient should be covered with a sheet or blanket and his body should be wiped with a towel. Wipe his feet first, one after the other. Rub them with the wet towel for four to five minutes and then wipe them with a dry towel. But even when the feet have been dried rub them with the palms of the hand so that some heat is generated in the body, Don't rub feets in case of fever.

After the feet have been attended to , go to the calves and the rest of the legs, abdomen,chest,back and then the face. The ideal time for sponge bath is mid day. 

Now hip bath is very beneficial in case of many diseases like diabetes, and all other digestion related problems. It acts as a great exercise to stimulate your stomach, liver, spleen etc.

well there are chances that you must have seen specially made for hip baths. The tub is oval in shape and one end of it is raised so that the patient can rest his back against it. This is ideal tub for a hip bath.

Fill the tub with cold water. The level of the water should be so adjusted that it touches your navel when you sit in it. Your feet will be outside the tub and you can support them by keeping a low stool in front of the tub. You can rest your back against the raised portion of the tub and remain in that half-supine position.

Take a rough towel and rub your abdomen from the right to left. Do it gently so that the skin is not scraped. do not apply too much pressure in rubbing.

If it's too cold, rub your body with your palms for five to ten minutes before getting into the tub. vigorous rubbing of the body will bring warmth and you will not fell uncomfortable when you start the bath.

Wipe your body with a towel when you get out of the tub, Dress quickly and go for a walk or take some other exercise. Those too weak to engage in any such activity should get into bed and wrap a blanket around them and rest for half an hour to bring back warmth to the body.

One can take bath after some time.

note: some these baths like hip bath etc should be taken after consulting a professional.

A hip bath can be taken from ten to twenty minutes. Thin persons shoul take it for only ten minutes. During winter the duration can be reduced