Introduction

Health-conscious individuals all over the world are taking more responsibility for their own health & wellbeing. There are more choices offered than ever before for health maintenance and treatment of ailments; we should undertake the right choice of "holistic approach" towards health incorporating lifestyle, diet, discipline and a positive attitude towards life.

Gastro-hepatic (GH) pack is one of the naturopathic treatment modalities where a hot fermentation bag is kept on the abdomen and ice bag at the lower back and then cotton and woolen sheets are tied

Temperature

Hot bag – (98-to-104-degree F)

Cold bag - (55-to-65-degree F)

Procedure 

1. Fomentation bag filled with hot water should be applied on the abdomen at the liver area (covering the last rib the umbilicus, extending up to the line of liver and spleen),
2. While a cold bag is applied to the lumbar spine. (Lower back) (covers the region of lumbar vertebrae L2, L3, L4 and L5)
3. Dip a cotton cloth in cold water and then wring out the excess water.
4. Place the cloth on the back, bring forward the two ends under armpits on each side.
5. Cross the right end over the left shoulder and leftover the right shoulder.
6. Both are again crossed at the back and the ends are brought to the front under the armpits and tucked.
7. Cover this with a dry cloth and then the flannel. Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Benefits of GH pack

• Increases blood circulation to liver – Improves functioning of liver
• Helpful in diabetes – Glucose metabolism is improved
• Improves digestion and absorption of nutrients – used in indigestion
• Reduces abdominal fat (tummy)
• Removes congestion of abdominal organs (Spleen, liver, pancreas, stomach)

Mechanism

 There is dilatation of blood vessels at the abdomen due to hot and contraction of blood vessels at the lower back area – causing an influx of blood in the area where hot is applies, therefore increasing blood supply and nutrition to the abdominal organs, which leads to their better functioning.