HOT STONE BATH
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Hot-stone-bath
Hot-stone-bath is a popular form of medication practiced in Bhutan since time
immemorial. There is no recorded history of its origin. In the olden times it
was a luxury enjoyed by the well to do families. A whole day was spent to
organize this particular event where the whole family took turns bathing.
This event was very elaborate. Most well to do families consulted their chief
astrologer to look for an auspicious day to organize this event. It’s a general
belief in Bhutan that any medication done on an auspicious day has more
healing power. A team of able bodied men built a huge fire and heated rocks
over it. Since it was for the whole family (then families consisted of over
fifteen members) large amount of firewood and stones were used.
A large wooden trough of about 4 feet length, one and half feet breadth and
2 feet height(usually vary)is filled with cold spring water. Red hot stones are
immersed from one end. As the water gets heated a person slowly enters the
trough and sits immersed neck down in water. Depending on the heat-
resistability of a person more red-hot-stones are added. A person remains
immersed from 20 minutes to an hour. From time to time hot soup is served to
the person. More a person sweats, better it’s for him.
Hot-stone-bath is effective when the water temperature is unbearably hot. A
person sits in the water without any movement. This medication is more like a
heat therapy or the poultice practiced in many Asian countries.
To keep away from the drought and risk catching cold, the moment a person
is out of the bath he gets into the bed and remains cuddled in a blanket.
Today, unless one has enough source and time this activity is restricted to
old, sickly and wealthy.
No scientific research has been done so far, but hot-stone-bath is popularly
believed to have certain medicinal benefits. It’s a fact that about 80% of skin
diseases are curable. Hot-stone-bath is believed to heal many ailments like
joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorder, arthritis and many other minor
diseases. The addition of aromatic herbs in the water further enhances the
healing power of the bath.
Some of the herbs added are a secret know to very few families. The secret
is revealed only to immediate family members. Some of the families are so
secretive that they bring only the root which most people fail to recognize the
plant.
Hot-stone-bath has no side effects. It is in its pure natural form. The water is
collected from a clear spring, unlike most underground water source; it’s free
of chemical pesticides and industrial pollutant. The herbs added are collected
in pollution free high altitude areas.
Today most of the tourist hotels in Bhutan have some form of hot-stone-bath.
“I feel relaxed after taking the bath” is what most tourists say. “It’s a very good
experience” is what I heard another say. As no scientific study has been done
we can’t guarantee anything but most Bhutanese feel they have been cured
of certain illnesses. The minerals in the rocks and the clean spring water
must have certain chemicals which have curative power.
Hot-stone-bath is a popular form of medication practiced in Bhutan since time
immemorial. There is no recorded history of its origin. In the olden times it
was a luxury enjoyed by the well to do families. A whole day was spent to
organize this particular event where the whole family took turns bathing.
This event was very elaborate. Most well to do families consulted their chief
astrologer to look for an auspicious day to organize this event. It’s a general
belief in Bhutan that any medication done on an auspicious day has more
healing power. A team of able bodied men built a huge fire and heated rocks
over it. Since it was for the whole family (then families consisted of over
fifteen members) large amount of firewood and stones were used.
A large wooden trough of about 4 feet length, one and half feet breadth and
2 feet height(usually vary)is filled with cold spring water. Red hot stones are
immersed from one end. As the water gets heated a person slowly enters the
trough and sits immersed neck down in water. Depending on the heat-
resistability of a person more red-hot-stones are added. A person remains
immersed from 20 minutes to an hour. From time to time hot soup is served to
the person. More a person sweats, better it’s for him.
Hot-stone-bath is effective when the water temperature is unbearably hot. A
person sits in the water without any movement. This medication is more like a
heat therapy or the poultice practiced in many Asian countries.
To keep away from the drought and risk catching cold, the moment a person
is out of the bath he gets into the bed and remains cuddled in a blanket.
Today, unless one has enough source and time this activity is restricted to
old, sickly and wealthy.
No scientific research has been done so far, but hot-stone-bath is popularly
believed to have certain medicinal benefits. It’s a fact that about 80% of skin
diseases are curable. Hot-stone-bath is believed to heal many ailments like
joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorder, arthritis and many other minor
diseases. The addition of aromatic herbs in the water further enhances the
healing power of the bath.
Some of the herbs added are a secret know to very few families. The secret
is revealed only to immediate family members. Some of the families are so
secretive that they bring only the root which most people fail to recognize the
plant.
Hot-stone-bath has no side effects. It is in its pure natural form. The water is
collected from a clear spring, unlike most underground water source; it’s free
of chemical pesticides and industrial pollutant. The herbs added are collected
in pollution free high altitude areas.
Today most of the tourist hotels in Bhutan have some form of hot-stone-bath.
“I feel relaxed after taking the bath” is what most tourists say. “It’s a very good
experience” is what I heard another say. As no scientific study has been done
we can’t guarantee anything but most Bhutanese feel they have been cured
of certain illnesses. The minerals in the rocks and the clean spring water
must have certain chemicals which have curative power.
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