The purpose of this treatment is to stimulate a more rapid improvement in health along with the application of specific dietary changes and other measures. It is an integral part of the treatment protocol, but also has other applications. It can be used whenever there is a fever or febrile illness, or to ward off illness that is beginning to manifest. It is tonifying to the digestive system, helps to normalize circulation, soothes the nervous system, and stimulates the eliminative processes and the “vital force”. It is a subtle yet powerful treatment with no potential for harm if done according to the following directions, under the order of a qualified naturopathic physician. If one is doing this treatment during a chronic illness, a weekly report to the naturopathic physician is mandatory, and no other treatments or medication of any kind should be used without the knowledge of that physician.

If one is being treated by another person, follow these instructions:
1. In the supine position (on back), cover the bared chest and abdomen with two thicknesses of terrycloth towel wrung out in hot water tolerable to the touch. Cover the body with a (preferably wool or velux) blanket to avoid becoming chilled. Leave the hot towels in place for 5 minutes (See illustration 1.).
2. Replace the hot towels with a single thickness of towel wrung out in cold water. Cover the person as before to avoid chill. Leave the cold towel in place for 10 minutes. Do not remove the cold towel until it has become warmed.
3. Repeat the same treatment on the back (See illustration 2.).
4. The treatment should take about one half hour.

If one is alone, follow these instructions:
1. Take a hot bath or shower for 5 minutes. Get out and dry off quickly. Take a towel wrung out in cold water and wrap it all around the trunk of the body, from armpits to the groin. Cover with a (preferably a wool or velux) blanket to avoid being chilled. Leave the cold towel in place for 20 minutes or longer, until it has become warmed (See illustration 3.).

The wet sock treatment is best if repeated for three nights in a row, or as instructed by your physician. This therapy works very well for children.

Indications: Fever, sore throat or any inflammation or infection of the throat, neck pain, ear infections, headaches, migraines, nasal congestion, upper respiratory infections, coughs, bronchitis, and sinus infections.

Supplies:
• 1 Pair of white cotton socks
• 1 Pair of thick wool socks
• 1 Towel
• Warm bath or warm foot bath

Directions:
1. Take a pair of cotton socks and soak them completely with ice cold water. Be sure to wring the socks out thoroughly so they do not drip.
2. Warm your feet first. This is very important as the treatment will not be as effective and could be harmful if your feet are not warmed first. Warming can be accomplished by soaking your feet in warm water for at least 5-10 minutes or taking a warm bath for 5-10 minutes.
3. Dry off feet and body with a dry towel.
4. Place the cold wet socks on the feet. Cover with the thick wool socks. Go directly to bed. Avoid getting chilled.
5. Keep the socks on overnight. You will find that the wet cotton socks will be dry in the morning.

Effects of the Wet Sock Treatment: This treatment acts to reflexively increase the circulation and decrease congestion in the upper respiratory passages, head, and throat. It has a sedating action and many patients report that they sleep much better during the treatment. This treatment is also effective for pain relief and increases the healing response during acute infections.

After every shower, turn down the hot water, as low as you can tolerate (eventually you may be able to turn it off completely, and comfortably). Cover every inch of your body with the cooler water, including the bottoms of your feet. Focus the cold stream on affected areas – scalp, back, joints, pelvis, etc. If you prefer, you may even alternate hot and cold, as long as you always end with cold. This should take only one to three minutes, in entirety. Then dry yourself off quickly, rubbing briskly. This may sound barbaric, but this causes your body to react in an exquisitely healthy manner, you will warm up quickly and turn pink afterwards. It is important to feel very warm internally before beginning the cold phase.

This therapy helps strengthen and normalize the nervous, circulatory, endocrine (hormonal), musculoskeletal and immune systems, and is excellent for helping the body cope with stress. The more you challenge yourself with cold, the more you will notice these effects, sometimes even a subtle healthy “high”. As you initially rinse under the hot water, the blood in your body travels out from the internal organs and out towards the skin. As you rinse yourself under the cold water, the blood is then shuttled deep into your internal organs in order to keep them warm. As you dry off with a towel, the blood will then travel from deep within your organs back toward the surface of the skin and a reddening of the skin will occur. This therapy works, through the shuttling of blood in and out of organs, to greatly increase the elimination of toxins and metabolic waste from the body.

There may be times when your responsiveness is decreased and you should either temporarily decrease the intensity (i.e. not as cold) or discontinue this treatment:
• When you are acutely ill or injured and do not feel strong enough
• When you are under treatment for chronic illness and are undergoing an aggravation which weakens you.
• You are menstruating and do not feel strong enough.
• You know that you are overstressed and are planning to deal with your stresses but haven’t started doing so yet.
• When you feel chilly

In addition, this therapy may be contraindicated in the following conditions and you may need to consult with your doctor or clinician:
• Vascular insufficiency or stasis (the extreme of “poor circulation”)
• Cardiac insufficiency (from heart disease, etc.)
• Some anemia or blood dyscrasias
• Pregnancy
• Certain kinds of chronic infections
• Malnutrition
• Some joint diseases
• Diabetes