What Benefits Do Hot Water Treatments Offer?

Soaking in a hot bath is a wonderful way to relax and unwind after a long day — but can immersing yourself in heated water do more for you than you realize?

According to researchconducted in the UK, the answer is yes!

But what benefits does a dip in hot water actually offer?

Reduce Blood Sugar Levels

The British study revealed that enjoying an hour-long bath in hot water every day for two weeks led to a reduction in blood sugar levels following sleep (or other fasting periods).

Controlling blood sugar levels is essential for people with diabetes to stay healthy and avoid complications (kidney issues, heart problems etc.). Insulin levels were improved too: insulin helps prevent your blood sugar rising too high or low, and is extremely important to a healthy body.

Regulate Inflammation

The study discovered that taking hot baths has the power to regulate the body’s inflammatory response, by increasing the production of nitric oxide and IL-6 levels (this is a blood protein associated with inflammation).

Again, this may be beneficial for people living with diabetes.

Boosting Your Metabolism

Taking a hot bath daily was shown to help boost the participants’ metabolism and make weight loss a little easier.

Of course, bear in mind that immersing yourself in heated water is no shortcut to your dream body — it could be an aid to shedding pounds, but only in conjunction with other healthy-lifestyle choices.

For example, combine daily hot baths with dietary changes to include more fruit and vegetables, take exercise however you can and quit nasty habits like smoking.

The Practicalities of the Research

Still, who can find one hour in their schedule for a relaxing soak every day of the week?

Perhaps you’re a busy mom with children to care for, a job to do and not enough free time for yourself. Maybe you work long shifts and feel inundated with chores, simply unable to carve a slot out of your day for a bath.

However, that doesn’t change the fact that immersing your body (or just specific parts of it) in heated water or special fluids for minutes at a time offers real benefits.

Paraffin Foot Treatment

Paraffin foot treatments are an excellent way to improve your circulation and soothe aching joints.

Your feet are submerged in a heated blend of paraffin and mineral oil, which helps to soften areas of rough skin too. This is a great option if you feel stiff or uncomfortable, and is a popular way to pamper your feet ahead of a luxurious pedicure.

Paraffin Hand Treatments

This is just as the above — but for your hands!

Again, it’s a nice treatment to enjoy before a pedicure. Your hands will look and feel better than ever.

Want to try these treatments for yourself?

Astra Medi Spa’s expert therapists are here to help! Our team has the best training, experience and skills to leave you feeling rejuvenated — and you’ll look amazing too.

Just get in touch with us now to learn more about our paraffin foot and hand treatments, or to book your appointment!

Should I Have a Massage Before or After I Visit a Chiropractor?

A massage from a qualified professional is one of the most luxurious experiences available at a spa.

Not only is this a wonderful way to relax, a massage has the power to ease aches, relieve pains and boost circulation too. Your muscles will feel better after overuse or strains typically caused by over-exertion.

But what if your discomfort runs deeper?

Combining Massage and Chiropractic Treatments

Combining a massage with chiropractic care can help you address problems in the musculoskeletal system with lasting results.

A chiropractor works to alleviate joint issues causing problems with the nerves, affecting your entire quality of life. In extreme cases, the smallest movements may trigger severe pains and leave you unable to function as you need to.

The chiropractor can make adjustments within the body that alleviate discomfort and help patients start to recover. They will conduct a thorough examination of the treatment area first and discuss any therapies you may have undergone previously.

Combining a massage and chiropractic care has the power to achieve transformative results — but which should you try first?

When Should I Have a Massage Before My Chiropractic Care?

During your chiropractic adjustment, tight muscles surrounding the target joints may interfere with your chiropractor’s ability to fix the issue.

This could lead to only a mild reduction in your discomfort and prompt repeat adjustments in the near future, incurring additional expense.

A massage before your chiropractic care will relieve the tension in your muscles and prepare your body for the adjustments to come. Furthermore, lying back and letting a qualified therapist massage you is an ideal way to relax ahead of your adjustment.

If you’re nervous about it, a good chiropractor will help set your mind at ease in their own way too.

When Should I Have a Massage After My Chiropractic Care?

If you have visited a chiropractor for adjustments before and experienced dysfunctional joints on multiple occasions, you might find undertaking a massage after your chiropractic care helpful.

Why? Because too much muscle tension could pull the joints out of position once more, leading to further misalignments. This would cause further pain and impaired function — making a repeat visit to your chiropractor necessary.

In this case, consider waiting until after your adjustment to book yourself in for a sumptuous massage. This encourages your muscles to stay relaxed and in their proper place, preventing disruption to your problematic joint(s).

Chiropractic care can be quite a shock to the system to begin with, and a massage is a simple way to soothe your body and mind after such a daunting process.

Please bear in mind: these are recommendations only. If you’re prone to musculoskeletal problems, consider experimenting with the order in which you receive both treatments over time. You may find your body responds better to one order than another.

Finding the Right Massage Treatment for Your Body

Astra Medi Spa is committed to performing massage treatments suited to every body and need.

Our team specializes in a fantastic selection of options, including:

• pre-natal massage

• hot stone massage

• deep tissue massage

• lymphatic massage

• Indian head massage

• reflexology (foot and leg)

• cupping massage

Each massage offers its own benefits, though all are designed to leave you feeling better than ever!

Have any questions about our massage treatments? Please don’t hesitate to call our friendly team or drop in and see us!