Medicine is constantly evolving: techniques that were recently considered advanced regularly give way to new, more effective ones. But there are also a kind of “eternal values”, the relevance of which does not decrease over time. Such a balneological procedure as Charcot's douche is from this series - it remains in demand by doctors and patients for more than 150 years. This hydromassage method was developed in the mid-19th century by the famous French doctor Jean-Martin Charcot, who worked at the Salpêtrière hospital in Paris and specialized in the treatment of nervous disorders (he is also known as Sigmund Freud’s teacher). The effect of the procedure exceeded all expectations: it helped cope with migraines, insomnia, muscle cramps... It is not surprising that Charcot's douche quickly gained popularity in the medical community and became widespread in many countries.
Who came up with the technique?
The Charcot shower itself is a type of hydrotherapy. The water temperature is from +20 to +40 degrees, which allows for a tonic effect that occurs against the background of constriction and expansion of blood vessels.
The method was invented in the 19th century by the luminary of academic science of that time, neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot , from whom it received its name. Jean-Martin Charcot was an interesting and extraordinary person; he is called the teacher of Sigmund Freud . He trained in medicine at the University of Paris, where he later created the department of psychiatry. He was then sent as an intern to an almshouse where insane women were kept. And it was the ladies affected by neuroses and various mental illnesses who set the direction for his work.
Jean-Martin Charcot. Photo: Public Domain
One day he noticed that water procedures had a positive therapeutic effect. And now every person can confirm this by experience - it’s so nice to relax after a hard day in a warm bath. However, Charcot decided to optimize the technique by coming up with an option where water is supplied to the patient’s body under pressure. The combination of massage and temperature contrast can both invigorate a person and relax him. And today Charcot's douche is actively used in medical practice. What is its use?
When is Charcot's shower necessary?
There are many indications for using Charcot's shower. This procedure significantly improves blood circulation in the human body, strengthens the immune system, helps treat arthritis and arthrosis, eliminates symptoms of rheumatism and muscle weakness, helps restore impaired metabolism, eliminates pain syndromes of various origins, relieves tension and eliminates the effects of stress on the body.
Charcot's shower is an impact shower, which uses several strong jets with different water temperatures - the difference in temperature conditions can range from 10 to 45 degrees, which is very sensitive for the human body. In this case, water jets affect a strictly limited area of the body that needs treatment.
Content:
- When is Charcot's shower necessary?
- Contraindications and disadvantages of the Charcot shower procedure
Due to the strong temperature contrast, it is possible to achieve a significant therapeutic effect from Charcot's shower. During the procedure, blood actively flows to all tissues and organs, naturally, blood circulation accelerates, vascular conductivity improves, toxins are washed out of the tissues, the tone of the cells of all organs increases, which cannot but affect the patient’s well-being in the most favorable way.
During the procedure, water jets are directed at the patient from a distance of 3 to 3.5 meters. First, the body is treated with a fan-type jet in all planes, then the fan jets are replaced by directed four-atmospheric jets, which alternately treat the legs, sides, back, arms, problem areas of the body, such as the stomach, hips and buttocks. After the procedure, the skin becomes very red, which is caused by the strong pressure of the water jets and a sharp change in temperature conditions.
During the initial session, the duration of the procedure should not exceed 1 minute; in subsequent sessions, the exposure time of Charcot's shower gradually increases to 5 minutes. If Charcot's douche is prescribed to a patient for the first time, then the course of his treatment will be 10 procedures, and with each subsequent repetition of therapy, the courses will increase to 15-20 procedures.
By analogy with reflexology, Charcot's shower provokes regeneration and rejuvenating processes in the human body. When the body is exposed to alternately hot and cold jets, the vascular system trains to quickly expand and contract just as quickly, the water pressure perfectly massages all problem areas, and the very essence of the water basis of therapy helps to “wash away” nervous tension and depressive states.
During Charcot's shower, all systems of the human body, especially the lymphatic and circulatory systems, are activated:
- metabolic processes are accelerated;
- cellular nutrition of organs and skin is enhanced;
- There is a powerful cleansing of toxic substances and accumulated dirt.
These properties of Charcot's shower are widely used to combat such annoying process as cellulite. It is also used to eliminate obesity, foci of inflammatory processes and benign neoplasms.
Charcot's douche is especially recommended for those people whose work involves constant and long periods of sitting at a desk near computers. This technique helps relieve strain in the vertebral and spinal muscles, increases blood circulation, which is impaired by prolonged sitting at a desk, and eliminates headaches caused by oxygen deprivation and prolonged heavy exercise.
Charcot's shower is also used to combat the manifestations of diseases of the musculoskeletal area. Ideally, using this technique, such diseases should be prevented, since when they occur, treatment can sometimes be very lengthy and difficult.
If doctors use the Charcot shower technique to treat obesity, then it should definitely be supplemented with a special diet that will not allow fat to accumulate again in problem areas of the body. In the case of cellulite treatment, this technique is combined with physical activity and special cosmetics that maintain skin tone. There are cases when Charcot's douche can effectively influence patients with gout and those suffering from various diseases of the internal organs.
In modern medicine, like more than a hundred years ago, Charcot's douche is widely used to eliminate various mental and nervous disorders. It copes well with autonomic disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, neurological pain syndromes and osteochondrosis. The technique also highly effectively helps with allergic reactions of the body, with problems with the vascular system, as well as with the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
For the purpose of prevention, Charcot's douche is used in sports medicine to relax the muscle tissue of athletes after hard training and competitions. It is effective for preventive purposes after sports, fitness, yoga, aerobics, as it helps to restore strength, consolidate the results of physical activity, relax the psyche and feel rested. If you use Charcot's shower preventively 2-3 times a week, you can become more efficient, successful and emotionally stable.
Despite the fact that the Charcot shower technique is known today not only in medical institutions, but is also offered to try in various beauty salons and spas, it is better when it is prescribed by a hydrotherapist who is more accurately able to calculate the duration of the session and course, as well as will help to correctly arrange other accompanying elements of therapeutic effects on the body.
In order to obtain a cosmetic effect, you can use Charcot's shower, but if you consult a doctor before doing so, you increase the chance of reducing the manifestation of chronic diseases and not provoking the emergence of new ones. Most often, experts recommend alternating Charcot showers with herbal baths, baths with sea extracts and ethers, wraps, masks, and various types of massage.
What is the essence of the method?
“The basis of Charcot's shower - a hydromassage procedure - is the effect on the human skin of jets of water under strong pressure of varying intensity and temperature. Initially used in psychiatry and neurology, the method has found wide application in aesthetic medicine,” says acting director. O. Head of the physiotherapy clinical and diagnostic department (branch of GlavUpDK under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia), physiotherapist of the highest qualification category Elena Dronova .
For example, today, with the help of Charcot's shower, cellulite, excess weight and other pathologies are treated. “The effect of the procedure is systemic. Charcot's shower improves blood circulation, helps with rheumatism and osteochondrosis, is used in the treatment of diseases of the nervous system, is used to normalize blood pressure and the functioning of the vascular system, in gynecology.
In addition to the therapeutic effect, Charcot's Shower tones well, improves skin tone and relieves muscle tension, regenerates and has a rejuvenating effect on the skin. The method is quite effective for cellulite and obesity - after a course of 10-12 sessions, the volume of the waist and hips decreases, the skin acquires elasticity and becomes more toned, fat cells disappear,” explains Dronova.
As the doctor notes, for the effect to be noticeable, the procedure must be carried out correctly. Only this will ensure the achievement of therapeutic goals. Here it is worth taking into account all the parameters - the distance from which the water pressure is supplied, flow pressure, temperature conditions, frequency and, of course, contraindications.
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Indications and contraindications for the procedure
Any medical or cosmetic procedure must be prescribed by a qualified doctor.
Indications for Charcot shower:
- Disorders of the nervous system, including vegetative-vascular dystonia
- Digestive tract diseases
- Osteochondrosis, diseases of the articular system, as well as pathologies of this nature
- Disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, chronic fatigue syndrome, constant stress and depression
- Obesity, late stages of cellulite, metabolic disorders, allergic diseases
- Rehabilitation postoperative period.
However, we should not forget about contraindications, which also need to be known in order to competently and carefully approach the choice of hydrotherapeutic procedures.
Partial contraindications:
- Protrusions
- Women's diseases in the field of gynecology
- Some skin diseases
- Hypertension
- Peptic ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract
- Blood diseases
Charcot shower sessions are completely contraindicated for kidney disease and renal failure, the menstrual cycle, colds and fever, any cancer, fibroids, hernias, tuberculosis, suspected heart attack, stroke, as well as in cases of previous attacks. You cannot attend the procedure if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as this can negatively affect the health of mother and child.
It should be remembered that during a caesarean section, sessions can only be performed after 6 months from the date of birth. In this case, the seam should be clean and not inflamed.
Experts recommend that you first undergo one session in order to understand how your body accepts this hydrotherapy procedure. Then you will be able to assess whether you need to undergo a full course of Charcot's shower.
Rules of procedure
According to the procedure, the patient is recommended to stand at a distance of 3-5 meters from the shower unit. It is important to understand here that if the jets of water hit you painfully, you need to move away. If you want to increase the impact, you can stand closer.
Water is directed onto the patient first as a fan, then as a compact stream. This is important because the body needs to get used to such a load. Gradually reduce the temperature of the jet with increasing pressure.
The direction is taken from head to toe, first from the front, then moving to the sides and then from the back. In this case, the doctor directing the stream must avoid contact of the water flow with the head, spine, chest and genitals. The limbs are treated alternately along the course of large vessels, and the abdomen is treated clockwise.
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Consolidate the result
The effect of any procedure needs to be consolidated. The most common recommendation for those who do not want to regain lost pounds is physical activity and proper nutrition.
However, there are several recommendations that will help prolong the positive results from hydrotherapy:
- regular use of anti-cellulite products;
- taking diaphoretic baths;
- visiting the sauna;
- anti-cellulite wraps;
- cold and hot shower.
If you add to this set of measures control of nutrition and fluid intake, and also introduce moderate physical training into the habit (for example, walking one stop home instead of taking a bus), then the result can not only be consolidated, but also improved.
Contraindications
It is imperative to take into account those contraindications that make this procedure impossible. “Charcot’s shower is prescribed and carried out strictly under the supervision of a specialist. The procedure is not recommended for pregnancy and low body weight, diseases of the respiratory system, coronary heart disease, urolithiasis and cholelithiasis, varicose veins, and malignant tumors,” says Elena Dronova.
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Preparation for the procedure, time and frequency
Sessions do not take long. Usually in the first days they last from 1 to 2 minutes, later - from 5 to 7. The course is compiled individually, taking into account your body characteristics, but usually lasts up to 3 weeks. If necessary, the procedures can be repeated after six months. Women who are involved in fitness are recommended to shower 2 times a week without breaks. If you experience pain, experts advise using a cooling gel and anti-bruise remedy.
No special preliminary preparation is required to visit Charcot's shower. You only need to take with you: a swimsuit, preferably an open one, flip-flops, a shower or pool cap, a towel for drying your body. Immediately after the procedure, there is no need to additionally lubricate the skin with cosmetic creams and body gels. You can use ointments to heal and resolve bruises if they appear.
Advantages of the method
Among the beneficial effects of Charcot's shower are the following nuances. Thus, it helps to activate blood circulation and improves the functioning of the body’s lymphatic system. Due to stimulation of the blood supply system, oxygen supply to the organs and systems of the body improves. The temperature difference allows you to tone the body. Charcot's shower also improves brain function, which affects the endocrine and nervous system. The body starts the process of self-healing - this allows a person to feel more comfortable and cheerful after just a few sessions. This procedure allows you to increase immunity and speed up metabolism, the latter affects weight loss and improves the processes of removing cellular metabolic products. Many people note that Charcot's shower has an excellent fat-burning effect.
There are contraindications, you should consult your doctor
Indications
The effectiveness of the method has been proven for such conditions and pathologies as:
- depression;
- allergy;
- neuroses;
- osteochondrosis;
- chronic fatigue;
- arthrosis;
- amyotrophy;
- gout;
- neurasthenia;
- apathy;
- arthritis;
- headache;
- rheumatism.
Water therapy is recommended for people leading an inactive or sedentary lifestyle. Doctors prescribe hydromassage sessions during rehabilitation for people who have been injured in road accidents. This type of hydromassage will be effective in the fight against:
- overweight;
- obesity;
- cellulite (initial stages).
For weight loss, the procedure is extremely necessary. After a session of impact hydromassage, you will feel invigorated and have a charge of energy that can be spent on sports. Charcot's douche is also used as a preventive measure, for example, for the purpose of hardening or strengthening the immune system.
Several months after giving birth, therapy will be useful for new mothers. A course of water massage will help you quickly restore your previous figure. Those who have had a caesarean section should take care. In this case, a Charcot shower should be done no earlier than 6 months after surgery. This time is necessary for the suture after cesarean to heal without complications. Avoid spraying water jets directly onto the seam itself.
Side effects from active hydromassage
Charcot's shower is a rather specific procedure in terms of sensations. Many people experience severe pain during this procedure. Although much in this matter depends on the person’s pain threshold. Despite the effectiveness of hydromassage, it also has side effects.
Bruising from impact hydrotherapy is normal. After several sessions, the skin gets used to such manipulations, and the blue discoloration will gradually disappear. Bruises occur more often than usual in thin girls with fair skin types, as well as in those with very sensitive, thin skin. Side effects from hydrotherapy also appear, such as hematomas and hyperemia of the skin (overflow of blood vessels).
After the first sessions, patients may experience muscle pain, which is most often characteristic of people with joint problems. But usually the discomfort goes away after just a few procedures. To eliminate pain at first, you can use gels and ointments, for example, Hepatrombin, Troxevasin.
Beneficial features
Charcot's shower is often compared to salon reflexology.
The main goal of the procedure is to awaken the cell regeneration mechanism, as well as relieve the patient from a tense state. It is worth noting that positive dynamics are observed if hydrotherapy is combined with proper nutrition and an active lifestyle. To provide an anti-cellulite effect, it is necessary to use wraps and peeling. First of all, water massage is useful for maintaining tone, strengthening the immune system and maintaining health in patients. A wellness shower promotes proper blood circulation.
