Quantification of Cardiovascular Regulation Applying Heart Rate Variability Analyses for Different Warm and Moist Chest Compresses in Healthy Subjects.

Background: In integrative medicine, complementary healing methods, such as external applications (massages, rhythmic rubs, and compresses), are part of the practice and clinical application and have proven their therapeutic effect in various fields. Objective: Aim of this exploratory, controlled, single-blinded study was to investigate the effects of three different warming chest compresses on cardiovascular regulation by analyzing heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy subjects. Methods: Over a period of 4 weeks, three different warming chest compresses (a hot water compress, a ginger powder compress, and a mustard flour compress) in 30 healthy subjects were analyzed. For all subjects, 48-h long-term electrocardiograms were recorded, and afterward, epochs of 5 min length extracted and analyzed by different linear and nonlinear HRV indices. Results: A moist chest compress did not result in any significant short- and long-term stimulation of the autonomic regulation, except for a short-term significant decrease in heart rate (meanNN, p < 0.05). Warm and moist chest compresses with ginger flour led to significantly increased HRV (sdNN, p < 0.05; symbolic dynamics2, p < 0.05) and its complexity (renyi4 entropy, p < 0.05) and a significant decrease in heart rate (meanNN, p < 0.00036), and thus to a short-term relaxation effect. In contrast, warm and moist chest compresses with mustard flour led to significantly decreased HRV and their complexity (time-, frequency-, and nonlinear dynamics domain, p < 0.00036), which can be interpreted as a stress reaction of the autonomous nervous system. Conclusions: The application of chest compresses led to short-term relaxation effects (ginger) as well as short-term stress effects (mustard) but not to any significant longer-term effect on HRV in healthy subjects.

More than just warmth-The perception of warmth and relaxation through warming compresses.

OBJECTIVES: To differentiate the effect of ginger and mustard as warming ingredients from the effect of calmness & attentiveness and thermal warmth in chest compress application. DESIGN & SETTING: In an exploratory, controlled, single-blinded study, we compared the effect of ginger and mustard in healthy adults. INTERVENTIONS: Participants received four different chest compress types over four weeks: simple dry, hot water, with ginger powder and with mustard flour. OUTCOME MEASURES: The somatic and psychological experience of the participants was collected through psychometric measurements (list of somatic complaints (B-L), questionnaire on mental state (MDBF), 5-point-rating scale (RS) containing eight questions on the experience of relaxation and warmth) and was further complemented through qualitative interview data. RESULTS: Participants (15 female and 15 male) ranged between 21-36 years (M = 27). No significant changes in the B-L could be found. The MDBF found significant change towards calmness after every application (P < 0.05). Significant improvement in mood was found after the ginger compress (P = 0.00). The RS found significant changes towards relaxation (P = 0.00), emotional balance (P = 0.03), deep (P = 0.03) and slow (P = 0.00) breathing as well as warm hands (P = 0.03) and feet (P = 0.00) with the ginger compress. No significant changes on the RS could be found after the mustard compress. Qualitative-phenomenological data underlined the difference between ginger and mustard in quality of warmth. No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Ginger and mustard induced a strong and lasting response on perceived distribution of warmth and relaxation. Compound effect quality could be differentiated: mustard triggered a strong relaxing effect after the intervention and ginger a warmth quality that spread throughout the body.