Journal of Health and Environmental Research

| Peer-Reviewed |

A Review of Heat Therapy in African Traditional Medicine

Received: 22 July 2020    Accepted: 03 August 2020    Published: 20 August 2020
Views:       Downloads:

Share This Article

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.

DOI 10.11648/j.jher.20200603.16
Published in Journal of Health and Environmental Research (Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2020)
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), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

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

References
[1] Bleakley CM, Costello JT. (2013). Do thermal agents affect range of movement and mechanical properties in soft tissues? A systematic review. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 94: 149-163.
[2] Ajibola OOE, Fagbolagun KO, Folorunso OP. (2018). Design and fabrication of a moist heat therapy device for treating non-specific low back pain. The West Indian Journal of Engineering. 41 (1): 55-64.
[3] Mallanga GA, Yan N, Stark J. (2014). Mechanisms and efficacy of heat and cold therapies for musculoskeletal injury. Postgrad Med. 1-9.
[4] Brousseau L, Yonge KA, Robinson V, Marchand S, Judd M, Wells G, Tugwell. P. (2003). Thermotherapy for treatment of osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Issue 4. Art. No.: CD004522. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004522.
[5] Nadler SF, Weingand K, Kruse RJ. (2004). The physiologic basis and clinical applications of cryotherapy and thermotherapy for the pain practitioner. Pain Physician. 7 (3): 395-399.
[6] Habash R, Habash M, El-Hage M. (2017). Therapeutic heat and cold in cardiac rehabilitation. Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. 4 (11): 1-12.
[7] Yuan SLK (2013). Electrotherapy, thermotherapy and phototherapy modalities in fibromyalgia: A critical review of the literature. OA Musculoskeletal Medicine. 1 (2): 1-8.
[8] Wittenwiler S, Stoop R, Hohenauer E, Clijsen R. (2018). Thermal therapy in patients suffering from non-Specific chronic low back pain —a systematic review. International Journal of Clinical Medicine. 9: 294-314.
[9] Ekeopara CA, Ugoha, AMI. (2017). The contributions of African traditional medicine to Nigeria’s health care delivery system. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science. 22 (5): 32-43.
[10] Sanadhya YK, Sudhanshu S, Jain SR, Sharma N. (2013). Naturopathy system – a complimentary and alternative aid in dentistry – a review. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences. 2 (37): 7077-7083.
[11] Akpomuvie OB. (2014). The perception of illness in traditional Africa and the development of traditional medical practice. International Journal of Nursing. 1 (1): 51-59.
[12] Habash RWY, Bansal R, Krewski D, Alhafid HT. (2006). Thermal therapy, part 1: an introduction to thermal therapy. Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering. 34 (6): 459–489.
[13] Mellal I, Oukaira A, Kengene E, Lakhssassi A. (2017). Thermal therapy modalities for cancer treatment: a review and future perspectives. International Journal of Applied Science – Research and Review. 4 (2: 4): 1-11.
[14] Daga H, Raval S, Toshikhane H, Jethava N. (2017). Materials and methods of different heat therapy. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 6 (5): 1602–1614.
[15] Ben-Arye E, Lavie O, Samuels N, Khamaisie H, Schiff E, Raz OG, Mahajna J. (2017). Safety of herbal medicine use during chemotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer: a ‘‘bedside-to-bench’’ approach. Med Oncol. 34 (54): 1-6.
[16] Enwemeka CS, Bumah VV, Masson-Meyers DS. (2020). Light as a potential treatment for pandemic coronavirus infections: a perspective. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, B: Biology. 207 (111891): 1-7.
[17] Adewoyin AS. (2014). Management of sickle cell disease: a review for physician education in Nigeria (Sub-Saharan Africa). Anemia, vol. 2015, Article ID 791498. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/791498.
[18] Igwea SE, Tabansi-Ochuogu CS, Abaraogu UO. (2016). TENS and heat therapy for pain relief and quality of life improvement in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review.
[19] Jeziorski K. (2018). Hyperthermia in rheumatic diseases: a promising approach? Reumatologia. 56 (5): 316-320.
[20] Dehghan M, Farahbod F. (2014). The efficacy of thermotherapy and cryotherapy on pain relief in patients with acute low back pain, a clinical trial study. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 8 (9): 1-4.
[21] Cardona-Arias JA, Vélez, ID, López-Carvajal L. (2015). Efficacy of thermotherapy to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis: a meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. PLoS ONE. 10 (5): 1-15.
[22] Sharquie KE, Al-Mashhadani SA, Noaimi AA, Al-Zoubaidi, WB. (2015). Microwave thermotherapy: New treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Our Dermatol Online. 6 (2): 125-129.
[23] Kim K, Monroe JC, Gavin TP, Roseguini BT. (2020). Skeletal muscle adaptations to heat therapy. Journal of Applied Physiology. 128 (6): 1635-1642.
[24] Hunt AP, Minett GM, Gibson OR, Kerr GK, Stewart IB. (2020). Could heat therapy be an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases? Review. 10 (1556): 1-14.
[25] Guo J, Gao Y, Wang Y, Liu WJ, Zhou J, Wang Z. (2019). Application of herbal medicines with heat-clearing property to anti-microinflammation in the treatment of diabetic kidney disease. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Article ID 6174350. 1-6.
[26] Fuentes-Leon P, Jara-Poblete N, Bastias-Sanchez P, Vitzel KF, Marzuca-Nassr GN. (2016). Heat transfer by three types of hot pack and its implication on the flexibility of the lower back: a randomized, controlled trial. Fisioter Pesqui. 23 (2): 201-209.
Author Information
  • Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Lagos, Nigeria

  • Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Lagos, Nigeria

Cite This Article
  • 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

    Copy | Download

    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

    Copy | Download

    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

    Copy | Download

  • @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://download.sciencepg.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}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - A Review of Heat Therapy in African Traditional Medicine
    AU  - Nwokeke Chinyere Celine
    AU  - Igwillo Ugochukwu Clifford
    Y1  - 2020/08/20
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20200603.16
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jher.20200603.16
    T2  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    JF  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    JO  - Journal of Health and Environmental Research
    SP  - 87
    EP  - 92
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2472-3592
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jher.20200603.16
    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.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

  • Sections