Fever therapy, heat therapy, thermotherapy
Hyperthermia, or fever indiction therapy, is used to stimulate the immune system by inducing fever in a patient whose body is too debilitated by a disease to wount a defense on its own. Many alternative practitioners see fever as the body’s natural response to a pathogen. Fever has been shown to stimulate immune system production of antibodies and may also enhance the body’s excretion of toxins, such as pesticides and drug residues (especially when combined with cold treatments). Hyperthermia can also be effective in relieving muscle aches, combating tiredness, and improving blood circulation.
Exogenous heat sources can be applied to the entire body or a single body part. Whole body application of exogenous heat, commonly referred to as heat therapy, is done with heating sources such as hot baths (see “Hydrotherapy,” above), diathermy, or hot air (wet and dry saunas). Local application of exogenous heat, called thermotherapy, uses radiant heating devices that give off infrared rays, and conductive heating devices such as hot water bottles, paraffin baths, moist hot packs, or computerized application of microwaves.
Safety Risk Induced hyperthermia, also called hyperpyrexia or fever therapy, is a state of artificially induced fever. Hyperpyrexia is induced by injecting a pyrogen such as blood products, vaccines, pollens, or benign forms of malaria. This experimental method of znducing general hyperthermia is dangerous and unreliable and is not recommended
Reported uses
Hyperthermia is used in a variety of health challenges, ranging from viral and bacterial infections to cancer and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Therapeutic effects of hyperthermia vary based on the degree of body involved and the modalities used to increase the tissue temperatures. Body involvement may range from the entire body, to the extremities (arms, legs, hands, or feet), to focused tissues (such as, specific tumor tissues). Alternative practitioners have successfully treated acute and chronic infections with simple, whole-body methods of inducing general hyperthermia. The same methods are used to precipitate detoxification a complementary therapy useful in treatment of chronic illnesses and cancer. High-tech local hyperthermia has gained acceptance as a promising new complementary procedure in cancer therapy.
Bacterial and viral infections
Whole-body hyperthermia is successful in treating both acute and chronic infections such as upper and lower respiratory infections (colds and flu), urinary tract infections, and Lyme disease. Its effects range from potentiation of white cell antimicrobia activity to direct viricidal and bactericidal activity. Hyperthermia alone may not destroy all the invading organisms, but it can significantly reduce their numbers and thus the overall load on the immune system.
HIV infection
Studies have shown the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is very sensitive to temperature above the normal body temperature of 98.6° F. Treatment of 107.6° F for 30 minutes showed a 40% decrease the HIV activity. Patients with HIV infections experienced a decrease in night sweats, decreased frequency of secondary infections, and a greater sense of well-being after hyperthermia treatments.
Cancer therapy
The concept of treating cancerous cells with heat began with serendipitous findings of spontaneous tumor regression in patients with smallpox, influenza, tuberculosis, and malaria, who had experienced fevers of 104° F. This lead to a period of experimentation with fever therapy (hyperpyrexia), which is done by injecting blood products, vaccines, pollens, and benign forms of malaria. This method proved to be both unreliable and dangerous, and was rejected by the medical community. Heat therapy was not considered a reliable modality until medical scientist Haim I. Bicher began experimenting with focused microwave diathermy.
How the treatment is performed
Low-tech hyperthermia involves simple techniques of immersion in hot water (baths) followed by wrapping the body in sheets and blankets, exposing the patient to radiant heat by using a heat lamp, or having the patient sit in wet or dry saunas. Treatment can be given on an outpatient basis in the office or clinic, and typically nothing more than a bathtub, heat lamps, sauna, or steam room is needed.
High-tech methods of raising the patient’s internal temperature include ultrasound therapy for deep heating of body parts, microwave diathermy for heat directed to specific cells or tissues, and extracorporal heating of the blood, which is invasive and effects the entire body.
Heating and diaphoretics herbs such as Achillea millefoliu (yarrow) tea are a helpful in promoting the hyperthermia state and are particularly useful during wholebody hyperthermia therapies.
Immersion hot water baths
This treatment is usually done in a deep, stainless steel tub. The water is typically heated to between 101° and 108° F, although temperatures as high as 115° are sometimes used if the patient can tolerate them. The goal is to keep the body temperature at between 102° and 104° F for about 20 minutes. The typical treatment requires approximately 30 minutes 10 minutes for the body temperature to rise and 20 minutes of maintained high temperature. The individual is removed from the water and wrapped in a dry sheet and several blankets for 30 more minutes to continue the internal heating.
Treatment frequency and duration depends on the presenting problem. For upper and lower respiratory infections, patients typically undergo only 1 or 2 treatments before improving in a few days. For more serious conditions, however, therapy can take much longer. Cancer patients typically begin with 15 treatments over a 3-week period followed by a 3-week rest. The cycle is then repeated 4 more times, and in cases may continue for as long as a year.
Saunas
General external application of dry or moist heat causes vasodilation (swelling of the arteries) and diaphoresis (sweating), which is the body’s attempt to prevent the internal increase in temperature. Superficial vessels in the skin initially contract, increasing the blood pressure. This can make the patient feel as if his head is full and bursting, an uncomfortable effect that dissipates in a short amount of time and can be avoided by applying a cold compress or ice bag to the head. Patients must be monitored carefully; apparent discomfort and the state of pulse, respiration, and skin coloring are observed to be certain the patient doesn’t become dehydrated or suffer heat exhaustion.
Ultrasound
In ultrasound, special equipment emits inaudible sound in the frequency range of approximately 20,000 to 10 billion (109) cycles/second. The sound directs its thermal effects deep into the targeted tissues. Ultrasound waves can be transmitted through a coupling agent applied directly onto the skin or through water with the transmitting head held 1 inch from the skin.
Treatment duration varies based on the condition; treatment for acute conditions lasts 4 minutes; for chronic conditions the treatment lasts 10 minutes. Care should be taken when placing the transmitting ultrasound head as these sound waves have the ability to fracture bones, melt myelin sheaths, and burn the periosteum if used incorrectly.
Radiant heat
Radiant heat can be applied with heat lamps and ultraviolet lamps. The body should be kept 30 inches from the ultraviolet lamp source. Treatment durations begin at 15 seconds and increase to 3 minutes as the sessions proceed. Once the 3-minute time frame is reached, the UV lamp can be drawn closer by 2 inches per treatment session until a distance of 18 inches is reached.
Microwave diathermy
Microwave radiation is a high-frequency oscillatory current used to heat specific target cells. All metal must be removed from the general area of treatment to prevent current arcing. The microwave apparatus is placed 1 to 5 inches from the target area. Placement and duration of treatment vary depending on the desired effect. Microwave radiation shouldn’t be used over pacemakers or metal implants.
Extracorporeal heating of the blood
Blood is removed from the body, delivered to an external heating device, heated, and returned to the body at the higher temperature. This procedure is used in patients with HIV.
Hazards
Safe and appropriate use of hyperthermia requires an understanding of the safe limits of induced temperature and the Contraindications to heat therapy. The lower limit of body temperature for human Survival is 74° F; the upper limit is 113° F. Normal cells die at a temperature of 110° F.
Hyperthermia therapists find that adults in good health can tolerate temperatures of 107.6° F for periods of 8 to10 hours. However, the therapist must take into account the whole presentation of the patient, including age, health status, and past medical history. For example, hyperthermia should be strictly avoided during pregnancy, due to potential danger to the unborn child, and in individuals with temperature regulation problems, especially the very old and very young.
Heat therapy should also be restricted in patients with cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmias and tachycardia and in those with severe hypertension or hypotension. People with arrhythmias and tachycardia risk increased chance of myocardial infarction from altered blood flow dynamics caused by systemic or local application of heat. Severely hypertensive patients risk hemorrhagic stroke, while severely hypotensive patients risk syncope and tissue ischemic damage.
Heat shouldn’t be applied to extremities of patients with peripheral vascular disease such as arteriosclerosis, advanced diabetes, Raynaud’s syndrome, or Berger’s disease due to their compromised sensation of heat and increased risk of burns. Sensitivity to extreme temperatures is seen in other chronic conditions, such as anemia, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, seizure disorders, and tuberculosis; patients with these conditions may require a reduction in the number of treatments, a reduction in the intensity of heat applied, or another method of treatment.
Patients with acute illness may initially have difficulty tolerating the extreme temperatures, but this usually subsides after hyperthermia is initiated. Use heat therapy with caution in these individuals. Other reported risks in weakened individuals are herpes outbreaks and liver toxi city.
Training Licensed naturopathic physicians. w,ho graduated from a 4-year trammg program are trained in general and local hyperthermia techniques. However, there are no certification programs for focused microwave hyperthermia. The best option is a licensed conventional physician with at least 1 year of special training in hyperthermia treatments.
Clinical considerations
- Factors to consider before using heat therapy include age of the patient, his overall health status, and any medications he is currently taking. High temperatures can increase the efficacy of certain drugs to the point of toxicity.
- Heat therapy can cause or exacerbate internal bleeding. Use extreme caution with patient with anemia, heart disease, and diabetes due to his increased risk of hemorrhage, Periodically take vital signs to catch early signs of increased blood loss and hypovolemic shock.
- Patient with a history of seizure disorders shouldn’t be treated with whole body hyperthermia methods due to his increased risk of seizure activity and possible nervous system damage.
- Local hyperthermia can be used with constant monitoring.
- Patient with tuberculosis has a high risk of reactivation of the latent bacteria due to the increased heat stress on the body.
- Electrical devices shouldn’t be used to heat moist dressings due to the high risk of electrical shock. Microwave diathermy can burn periocular tissues and is contraindicated in people with pacemakers. Radiant heat lamps are safely used to promote local hyperthermia; however, misuse, overexposure, or direct skin contact with the heat lamp can cause blistering, dermal burns, and even heatstroke.
- Heatstroke is characterized by hyperthermia (42° C), delirium, coma, and anhidrosis, a breakdown of the hypothalamic heat regulatory mechanisms, which has a mortality rate as high as 80% if untreated, Survivors can develop neurological deficits, including cerebellar ataxia and sever dysarthria. Therapists must be alert to changes in the patient and be prepared to rapidly facilitate the dissipation of heat from the individual. Continuous sponging with tepid water and Continuous gentle massage promotes cutaneous vasodilation and dissipation of heat.
- Promoting hyperthermia via fevers induced by injecting blood products, vaccines, pollens, and benign forms of malaria is both unreliable and dangerous. This procedure is not recommended.
Research summary
Multiple studies have shown that whole body hyperthermia plays a positive role in several aspects of the healing process destruction of the invading organism, stimulation of the immune system, and general detoxification of the body – all of which are needed to regain and maintain optimum health. Studies have also shown that focused hyperthermia of specifically targeted tissues can modify cell membranes in a manner that actually protects the healthy cells and makes the cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Used as adjunctive therapy, focused microwave diathermy may thus permit lower doses of these potent and toxic forms of therapy.
Research Hyperthermia was given legal status as an approved medical procedure in 1984. Hyperthermic oncology, currently reimbursed by Medicare and most insurance companies, has now joined surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy in the expanding arsenal of proven, effective treatments for both primary cancer and locally recurrent tumors.