How to use the heating compress

A heating compress can be described as a “cold double compress” because the cold cloth is covered with a dry one to preserve the heat that is being drawn from the body into the underlying cloth. The dry cloth keeps the warmed air trapped inside.

Heating compress is best applied around the throat, around joints, to calf muscles, and on the abdomen (to address insomnia and constipation). The primary goal is to relieve congestion, although there is often a sedative/relaxation effect in the treated tissues, for example –

• On the neck to treat sore throats and laryngitis.
• For earaches, a similar process can be followed, wrapping a cloth under the chin to cover the ears and securing it with a pin or knot on the top of the head.

The compress is left on until it feels warm (up to 30 minutes). To achieve a stronger effect you may decide to re-apply cold, after it warms again the compress is left on for half an hour or up to 2 hours or overnight in home set up.

In additional, if the cloth is too wet the body may work too hard to heat the area up, possibly leading to a negative reaction, or if the area that is being treated does not warm up, this is considered a negative reaction.