Home — World self-care & traditional therapies — Heat & water
Tepid prolonged bath
A listing is not a recommendation.
Origin: Japan · Tradition: Japanese bathing custom · Heat & water
What it is
A method of sitting for a longer time in mildly warm water around 38°C, rather than a short, hot bath. It is used for winding down before sleep.
A short introduction (not a treatment instruction)
- Keep the water at a temperature that does not feel hot (around 38°C as a guide).
- Use 10 to 20 minutes as a guide; do not stay in longer by forcing yourself.
- If done more than an hour before bed, the later drop in body temperature is often said to sit well with sleep.
- Ventilate the bathroom from time to time and take water.
Symptoms or aims often mentioned with this practice
- Sleeplessness
- Stress or unease
- Feeling cold easily
- Tiredness
- Muscle stiffness
Related symptom videos
Research notes (this is not a promise of effect)
C: Preliminary, small, or lower-quality studies, or mixed results. These notes should not be over-read
There is research on warming the body before bed (a warm bath) and sleep, but large trials of the Japanese practice of a tepid, prolonged bath itself are few. The direction is close to reviews of foot baths and sleep.
Sources
Safety notes
Watch for reduced alertness, overheating, and falls in the bathroom. Older people should keep the time shorter.
If you are unsure, or if you have a health condition, are pregnant, or take medicine, consult a qualified professional.
Situations in which this is better avoided
- Unstable heart disease
- After drinking alcohol
- When you have a fever