Where does this practice come from?

According to France Guillain, a lecturer and author of several books on bathing, the habit of the Scots, Indians, Polynesians and many other peoples of not wearing underwear under their kilt, loincloth or drape would favour a good drainage of the body's toxins.

In fact, during a walk without underwear (as practised by our prehistoric ancestors), the sides of the groin, slightly moistened with sweat, would rub against each other and this would have the effect of stimulating motility.

In particular, these fasciae would be responsible for draining away metabolic waste through thin channels running through them.

In addition, according to France Guillain, walking without underwear would create a local cool zone due to the evaporation of sweat, which would slightly reduce the body temperature, limiting inflammation and therefore oxidation and consequently ageing.

To back up his claims, France Guillain points out that the average body temperature of Westerners has risen from 36.6°C to 37.2°C in about fifty years, which is evidence of a chronic inflammatory state.

Derivative baths, what are they?

Known in China for thousands of years, these baths were first described in the West at the end of the 19th century by Louis Kuhne under the name "friction seat baths".

They were then improved and popularised by France Guillain.

They consist of the combination of cooling and friction of the two folds of the groin and the perineum.

These two actions together would cause the intestines and fascia (the fibrous membranes that cover our muscles), including those of the skull, as well as our organs, in particular our brain, to vibrate.

The benefits of derived baths

France Guillain suggested that the fasciae do not have the sole function of supporting muscles and organs, but that they are traversed by very fine channels, interconnected in a vast network leading to the intestines.

Their vibration would have the function of draining toxins from the body into the excretory pathways, thus contributing to their proper functioning.

This hypothesis has not yet been scientifically proven.

Excess fats can also be gradually eliminated by this process, as well as many metabolic residues from the functioning of the organs and chemical substances from the environment (external pollution, cosmetics, etc.) and absorbed through food, breath and skin.

According to France Guillain, derivative baths have many possible effects.

The most visible would be a progressive remodelling of the silhouette, weight regulation, as well as a progressive repigmentation of the hair, which could partially or completely recover its original colour.

In general, derived baths would contribute to vitality, thermoregulation and immunity, while promoting the reabsorption of various overloads, including skin growths and lipomas.

How does it work in practice?

Dress warmly - with a jumper, socks, slippers, etc. - to give you a general feeling of warmth.

Sit without underwear on a bidet, a board over a bathtub or other support, with your genitals over a basin or bucket of cold, but not ice-cold, water (very important!).

In winter, the water may be slightly warm.

Dip a cloth (or sponge) into the water and run it alternately along the creases of your groin from top to bottom and down to your perineum.

Keep moistening with cool water and wipe both sides of the genital area without going beyond the pubic bone.

Practice for at least 10 minutes and up to 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour if you are overweight or confused, but 20 minutes is a good average.

After bathing, keep warm to promote relaxation of the fascia.

When to practice?

Ideally every day; 3 to 4 times a week is the minimum.

It is possible to do a 3 week course and then reduce to 3 times a week if your schedule is busy.

The session can be repeated once or several times a day if you are ill.

In the morning on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before a meal is ideal.

For the rest of the day, avoid close proximity to a large meal, 30 minutes or 1.5 hours later.

Precautionary measures

Caution! There must be absolutely no feeling of cold, not even a chill.

You must be positively warm, with a strictly localised sensation of coolness.

Otherwise, the effect of the derived bath will be cancelled out by the tension of the fascia instead of its mobilisation.

If you feel cold, do not hesitate to use a hot water bag and place it on your stomach until the body regains its capacity.

If you feel exhausted after a derivation bath, reduce its duration or frequency and don't force it.

Contraindications

• Physical exhaustion due to serious illness or old age;
• Surgery (in this case, wait 6 months to 1 year for complete healing, depending on age);
• Use of a pacemaker (in this case, be careful and stop if the baths cause tachycardia);
• Pregnancy: wait 3 months.

Possible reactions

• Small pimples under the skin that usually disappear after a few days;
• Severe tiredness at night, with falling asleep quickly and feeling well in the morning;
• Temporary anxiety or depression;
• Temporary recurrence of previously experienced symptoms or pain;
• Disappearance of subcutaneous fat, sometimes followed by the reappearance of fat that has accumulated in the organs, which reappears before being eliminated if the baths are continued.