Hot stones make the blood vessels dilate, increase blood flow, and help muscles relax, whereas cold stones absorb the excess heat, constrict blood vessels, and push blood and lymph away from the treated area. You may think of hot stones as a sedative and cold stones as a stimulant. When alternating hot and cold stone massages, the body response is more intense. This increases the healing effect of both therapy methods and significantly reduces inflammation and congestion. When using both types of stones, it is recommended to end with a cold application.