Water Therapy

HYDROTHERAPY “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” W. H Auden Hydrotherapy, or water therapy, is an ancient and effective treatment option for a wide range of conditions. In a society in which water is so readily available, it is easy to take for granted the many benefits of this life giving liquid. Even with its accessibility, many of us are living in a state of chronic dehydration, fooling our bodies into thinking there is no water around. Proper hydration is the most important of water’s uses. Dehydration leads to a variety of illnesses and often presents as feelings of anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Advancements in medicine are encouraging however sometimes it pays to go back to the basics. Mother Nature has provided us with the most powerful medicine, one that we can get just by turning on the tap. Being drinkable is only the first of water’s many attributes. Its healing properties have been recognized for centuries, dating back to ancient Greece and public baths. Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine, used water extensively in his practice. Vincent Priessnitz was a farm boy who watched animals use the water of nearby streams to heal their wounds. After years of observation and an accident for which he used water to heal his own broken bones, Priessnitz opened the first hydrotherapy spa. He incorporated many of the beliefs and therapies that are practiced by Naturopathic Doctors today. That was in 1829. The main goal of hydrotherapy is to improve circulation. It therefore, can be used locally to address a specific concern or used systemically to improve overall health. Both internal and external applications of water can be used. By improving circulation, water helps to purify the blood and bring nutrients and oxygen to areas that require healing. Compresses are topical applications that can be either hot or cold. A compress would include applying a hot water bottle to the stomach when experiencing menstrual cramps. The heat helps to relax the muscles, soothing the pain. Ice could be used immediately after a sprain to decrease inflammation. Herbs and castor oil can be used along with the hydrotherapy to intensify the effects. Baths and showers are useful places for hydrotherapy to take place. Alternating the temperature of the water between hot and cold helps to stimulate circulation and can be directed at one specific area or done as a full body treatment. Alternating showers on the chest is a great way to break up congestion. Bathing also has its benefits. A relaxing warm bath can also be detoxifying, especially when Epsom salts or essential oils are added to the water. Constitutional hydrotherapy follows a specific sequence of alternating hot and cold towels to the chest and back. Naturopathic doctors use constitutional hydrotherapy treatments to stimulate the immune system and promote overall health. Although demanding, the treatment is extremely effective for most health concerns. Saunas are another form of hydrotherapy. Infrared saunas use the same energy that is used to warm premature babies and are completely safe. The rays penetrate into the body and stimulate immune cells, metabolism, and perspiration among other things. Perspiration, or sweating, is an important way that our bodies eliminate such toxins as lactic acid and heavy metals. Hydrotherapy can be used to address concerns at all stages of the lifecycle. Doulas and other trained birth professionals use different forms of hydrotherapy to promote easier delivery. Adults and children may benefit from using Neti pots and chest plasters for colds. Warming socks use water to stimulate the immune system and are a remedy for sore throats and other cold symptoms. They involve putting a pair of warm, dry wool socks over a pair of cold, wet cotton socks and going to bed. The water cools the area and causes an increase in blood flow as the body tries to warm it. By adjusting temperatures and time accordingly, hydrotherapy treatments can be used at any age. Think of a time when you have used hydrotherapy to treat an ailment. Soaked in a hot tub to ease muscle tension; put an ice pack on a sore joint; inhaled steam to soothe a cold. What makes water therapy valuable? It’s cheap, it’s easy, it’s painless, it has no side effects, and it can be done at home. Water. It’s perfect medicine. “If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water.” –L. Eisley Precaution: Water, like other natural treatments, is extremely safe when used properly. However, some treatments are not recommended for everyone. Please, consult with a knowledgeable licensed health care practitioner before trying any natural treatments, including hydrotherapies.