The Charko douche is a French-designed device widely used in the practice of medicine

Medicine

Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

 in the former Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

.

Device

The Sharko Shower projects water under high pressure from a shower~like device for an extra-strong massage over the patient's entire body. The device is applied from a distance of 3.0 - 3.5m (8.5 - 10 feet). It uses a pressure of 1.5-3 atmospheres. The water is at a temperature of 15^o–20^oC (60^o - 68^oF). The procedure can cause haematoma (bruising), so it should not be done during the suntan season.

Uses

Some observers argue that in the past, the Sharko Shower was used on the victims of the KGB

KGB

The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...

 to extract information, or was used by police on drunk suspects as an aid in regaining sobriety.

Nowadays it is primarily used for medical purposes. For massage

Massage

Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...

, nerve problems and detoxification etc - in balneology and sanatoria

Sanatorium

A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...

 in many countries around the Baltic Sea

Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...

 and Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

. It gives a relaxing effect on nerves, improves sleep quality, activates blood-flow, activates limphodrainage and helps with osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a family of orthopedic diseases of the joint that occur in children and adolescents and in rapidly growing animals, particularly pigs, horses, and dogs. They are characterized by interruption of the blood supply of a bone, in particular to the epiphysis, followed by localized...

and body metabolism problems.