Is it safe to take a hot spring or bath?

I have sudden deafness and my tinnitus has not gone away, is it safe to take a normal bath or spa?

J.S. Nagano

Even if you have sudden deafness, you are welcome to take a bath, spa, or sauna.

When you take a bath, spa, or sauna, you feel refreshed and relaxed. This "comfortable state" is very important for recovery from sudden deafness. Acupuncture treatment will also enhance the effects of acupuncture, and your body will be more likely to improve the symptoms of sudden deafness.

We have compiled a list of effective ways to get in and things to keep in mind to help you.

Acupuncturist and practitioner of moxibustion Judo therapist Kana Yoshiike

Increased effectiveness of acupuncture

To recover from sudden deafness, it is necessary to free the body from stress, raise the body temperature, and improve blood flow to the inner ear.

Taking a bath or bathing in a hot spring will help you relax by releasing tension from your body thanks to the water pressure and buoyancy. In addition, the blood flow improves and the body temperature rises, which can help boost the body's immune system. Acupuncture and baths, hot springs, and saunas go hand in hand, and the effects are enhanced when taken after acupuncture treatment.

When a person with sudden deafness bathes at home

A full-body bath at home is effective: soaking up to the neck in water at 39°C (140°F) will increase blood flow to the inner ear due to the moderate water pressure.
It is very common for people with sudden deafness to have a cold face, limbs, and infarcted constitution with poor blood circulation. A slow soak in warm water will warm the whole body and improve blood circulation.

*Please open the window a little to adjust the air pressure, as tinnitus and other symptoms may be aggravated by the sound of the ventilation fan.

When a person with sudden deafness goes to a spa

For the best results, take a half-body bath in an open-air hot spring bath with a view of nature. Seeing the majestic mountains and feeling the fresh breeze will help you relax and secrete oxytocin (happy hormone), which is a great environment for people with sudden deafness who have a high stress level. The hot springs are perfect for those with low limb temperatures and low metabolism, as the body stays warm for a while after exiting.

*If you get into hot water up to your neck, you will feel nervous and stressed. It is better to take a relaxing half-body bath.

When a person with sudden deafness enters a sauna

When taking a sauna, at night, do three sets of sauna, water bath, and outdoor air bath before going to sleep to increase the natural healing power of the body. Sauna raises deep body temperature and secretes HSP, a protein that protects the body from stress. This will help to improve the recovery of tinnitus and other symptoms of sudden hearing loss.

Questions we have received

こおた

I feel like drinking alcohol (especially beer) when I am in a hot spring or sauna, is it ok to drink? I would like to know if there are any drinks that are good for hydration.
Director's Answer

The body loses less than one liter of water during a bath or sauna. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of blood clots because the diuretic effect causes the body to lose even more water. People with sudden deafness should refrain from drinking alcohol after bathing. White water is recommended because it does not cool the internal organs and is not hard on the body. Drink before and after bathing to prevent blood clots and increase metabolism.
浅田えりな

I haven't tried it yet, but I find it hard to take a water bath in the sauna or take an outdoor air bath. Does the sauna alone increase the effectiveness of acupuncture?
Director's Answer

It is very important to perform the flow of sauna, water bath, and outdoor air bath, because it is difficult to fully enhance the effects of acupuncture if only a sauna is used. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves come face to face, the head is clear and the body is relaxed. This state is the moment when the natural healing power increases the most. *If you are not feeling well, please refrain from taking a sauna and do not overdo it.
kanata satou

You say that a good night's sleep improves the effectiveness of the treatment, but does that mean the longer you sleep, the better?
Director's Answer

Acupuncture is more effective when you get deep non-REM sleep, not just when you get long sleep. During acupuncture treatment, growth hormone is released during the first 90 minutes of non-REM sleep to repair the body, and the deeper the sleep, the more growth hormone is secreted and the more effective the treatment. The deeper the sleep, the more growth hormone is secreted and the better the sleep. In addition, after a sauna, non-REM sleep is deeper for a longer time, resulting in better quality sleep.
momomomo

Is there a day spa nearby that I can go to after having acupuncture at Morigami-san?
Director's Answer

A day-trip hot spring called Yugokurando is located about 10 minutes by car from Moriue Acupuncture and Osteopathy Clinic. I have the impression that many patients go there on their way home from acupuncture treatment. The open-air bath is spacious, so you can spend your time leisurely and relaxing. There is also a sauna.
tomo

I like hot springs and saunas, and my ears feel better when I take them. However, not every time, but I get a kind of funny feeling in my stomach. I don't stay in there for a long time. Why do you think this is?
Director's Answer

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Author Info

Moriue MST-Osteopathic College President Hiroaki Yoshike

Written by me.

Hiroaki Yoshike, President, Morikami MST Osteopathic College

36 years of experience in treating sudden hearing loss. He has been using a different type of examination than doctors (medical thermography) and has examined a total of 250,000 people with good results. He has been named a "thermographer". He uses the data to decipher the autonomic nervous system and stress state, which is essential for acupuncture treatment of sudden hearing loss, and provides treatment tailored to each individual patient. Born on Acupuncture Day, he is 61 years old.

Main Qualifications

1983 ～Licensed judo therapist
1983 ～Licensed Acupuncturist

Main Career

1983 ～Graduated from Meiji Institute of Oriental Medicine
1983 ～Worked at Ando Nagurado Acupuncture and Osteopathy Clinic
1985 ～Member of Japan Acupuncture and Moxibustion Association
1985 ～National Judo Rehabilitation Association
1985 ～Opened Moriue Acupuncture and Osteopathy Clinic
1988 ～Work on acupuncture treatment for otorhinolaryngology
1988 ～Working with acupuncture for vertigo
1990 ～Established Haripico.Inc, a company for acupuncturists

About Us

Acupuncture and moxibustion osteopathic clinic located in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture.

We are committed to acupuncture as an alternative to Western medicine. For patients with sudden deafness, we have a team of acupuncturists and practitioners of moxibustion with over 20 years of clinical experience. Because sudden deafness is less effective the longer it takes to cure, we are open on Sundays and holidays. For patients who come from far away or stay overnight for treatment, we offer transportation from Nagano station or your accommodation.

Patient Testimonials

S.T.Shizuoka

Sudden deafness

I'm glad I stuck it out and went to the hospital.

It takes about 4 hours to go to the hospital, but I tried to enjoy the drive after I was told that the journey to the hospital was also an important treatment time. In my case, acupuncture was better for me than hospital treatment. I am a care worker, so I can't do my job unless I can communicate with the patients, so I am really glad that I got cured. I was also happy to hear the encouragement of other patients. Thank you all.
Y.N.Yamanashi

Hearing replacement phenomenon due to sudden hearing loss

I should have started sooner.

I couldn't hear conversations in the buzzing, and the sounds of birds and scooters were echoing in my head above me, and I was depressed. When I spent days shopping and mail-ordering and not leaving my room at all, my family looked me up on the Internet. At first, driving was difficult, but as I recovered with each treatment, driving gradually became less of a chore and more of a motivation.
M.K.Tokyo

Psychogenic inaudibility

Treatment in an unfamiliar place was stimulating.

When I first had a sudden hearing loss, I suffered from a permanent hearing loss due to inadequate treatment. I knew that sudden hearing loss is difficult to treat over time, so I gave up on it, but my boss recommended acupuncture and moxibustion treatment to me, and I took it up with half a doubt. Thanks to the acupuncture treatment, my condition is gradually returning. I think the treatment in an area like Nagano, where nature abounds, also eased my stress. I was able to refresh myself by cycling around the city during my stay for treatment.