[Numerical simulation and heat transfer in sand therapy in Uyghur medicine].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mechanism of heat transfer process in sand therapy in Uyghur medicine.


METHODS
A mathematical model was developed to describe the heat transfer process between human body and the sand during sand therapy. Temperature field was numerically simulated and analyzed based on this model.


RESULTS
Temperature field in both human tissues and sand was calculated. The surface temperature of the sand and skin surface changed significantly at the beginning of the sand therapy, while sand temperature (5 cm deep) almost kept constant. The skin temperature dramatically increased at the beginning of the sand therapy and then slightly dropped. When sand was deeper than 10 cm, the thickness of sand would not influence the temperature field in human tissues during sand therapy. High initial temperature of sand might cause harmful skin burn. Threshold skin burn occurred if initial temperature of sand was higher than 64.6 degree C and if the therapy lasted more than 30 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
Temperature fieled in human tissues varies significantly with the initial temperature of sand, thickness of sand, and duration of therapy.
Zhang
Yina
Y
Department of Thermal Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Mahemuty
Dilina
D
Jiang
Shichen
S
Zhang
Xuexue
X
D003198:Computer Simulation; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000528:radiation effects
D012822:Silicon Dioxide