A Review of Heat Therapy in African Traditional Medicine

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.

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