What Is
Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is the use of water in the treatment of disease.
Hydrothermal therapy additionally uses its temperature effects, as in
hot baths, saunas, wraps, etc.
Historical Perspective
Hydro- and hydrothermal therapy are traditional methods of treatment
that have been used for the treatment of disease
and injury by many
cultures, including those of ancient Rome, China, and Japan.
Water
therapy has been around for centuries. The ancient Greeks took
therapeutic baths.
Water is an important ingredient in the traditional
Chinese and Native American healing systems.
A Bavarian monk, Father Sebastian Kneipp helped re-popularize the
therapeutic use of water in the 19th century.
There are now many dozens
of methods of applying hydrotherapy, including baths, saunas, douches,
wraps, and packs.
How hydrotherapy works?
The recuperative and healing properties of hydrotherapy are based on
its mechanical and/or thermal effects.
It exploits the body's reaction
to hot and cold stimuli, to the protracted application of heat, to
pressure exerted by
the water and to the sensation it gives. The nerves
carry impulses felt at the skin deeper into the body,
where they are
instrumental in stimulating the immune system, influencing the
production of stress hormones,
invigorating the circulation and
digestion, encouraging blood flow, and lessening pain sensitivity.
Generally, heat quiets and soothes the body, slowing down the activity
of internal organs.
Cold, in contrast, stimulates and invigorates,
increasing internal activity. If you are experiencing tense muscles and
anxiety from your stress, a hot shower or bath is in order.
If you are
feeling tired and stressed out, you might want to try taking a warm
shower or bath followed by a short,
invigorating cold shower to help
stimulate your body and mind.
When you submerge yourself in a bath, a pool, or a whirlpool, you
experience a kind of weightlessness.
Your body is relieved from the
constant pull of gravity. Water also has a hydrostatic effect.
It has a
massage-like feeling as the water gently kneads your body.
Water, in
motion, stimulates touch receptors on the skin, boosting blood
circulation and releasing tight muscles.
Indications
Hydrotherapy and hydrothermal therapy are chiefly used to tone up the
body, to stimulate digestion, the circulation,
and the immune system,
and to bring relief from pain.
Water seems to have special powers in getting rid of stress and
rejuvenating our body.
It affects the skin and muscles. It calms the
lungs, heart, stomach, and endocrine system by stimulating nerve
reflexes
on the spinal cord.
Proof it works
Various case reports, observational studies, and a number of controlled
studies provide some evidence of success
in the use of hydrotherapy.
In a study of 40 persons at University of Minnesota, 85% of the
participants preferred a whirlpool bath to a still bath.
Only whirlpool
was effective in reducing the participants' reactivity to stress
although both still and whirlpool baths were
effective in reducing
anxiety.
Risks, Cautions, and Contraindications
Persons with impaired temperature sensation run the risk of scalding or frostbite at temperature extremes.
When a condition is recurrent or persistent, consult your
physician to determine whether a physical therapy
of this type is
suitable in your case.
If you have diabetes, avoid hot application to the feet or legs.
Also avoid full body heating treatments, such as body wraps.
Avoid cold application if you are diagnosed with Raynaud's disease.
Hot immersion baths and long, hot saunas are not recommended for
those with diabetes or multiple sclerosis,
women who are pregnant or
anyone with abnormally high or low blood pressure.
Don't take cold foot baths if you are prone to bladder or
rectal irritation. People suffering from sciatica,
pelvic inflammation
or rheumatism in the toes or ankles should avoid cold foot baths.
Elderly people and young children may be exhausted by too much
heat and should avoid long full-body hot treatments
such as immersion
baths and saunas.
If you are pregnant or have heart disease, consult a doctor before taking a sauna.
Common techniques
A number of techniques are available under the general heading of
hydrotherapy.
These include: baths and showers, neutral baths, sitz
baths, contrast sitz baths, foot baths, cold mitten friction rub,
steam
inhalation, hot compresses, cold compresses, alternating hot and cold
compresses, heating compresses,
body wrap, wet sheet pack, and salt
glow.
Cold rubbings
Soak a linen cloth in cold water, wring out and briskly rub the upper
and lower trunk, or the entire body.
Go to bed until warm and dry.
Indications: For invigoration, to tone up the body, to promote blood
flow, for use in problems of circulation,
or infections of the
respiratory system.
Douches
Gentle douches can be carried out with a watering can or hose. The
water should not splash, but gently envelop the skin.
The water stream
should always be directed from the periphery toward the heart.
After
douching, stroke off excess water, dress, and exercise.
There are
various types of douche:
Knee douche. The water stream is directed from the right small
toe, along the outside of the lower leg to the hollow of the knee, then
back along the inside and over the sole of the foot. The process is
then repeated for the left leg.
Useful for headaches and migraines, low
blood pressure, sleeplessness, contusions, and varicose veins.
This
treatment influences the digestive and reproductive organs and can help
ward off vascular damage.
Do not use for urinary tract
infections, irritable bladder, sciatica, or during
menstruation.
Thigh douche. The procedure is as for a knee douche, but includes
the upper thigh.
It can stimulate blood flow and help improve poor
circulation.
Useful for the treatment of varicose veins, muscular
rheumatism, crural paralysis, coxarthritis.
Do not use for urinary
tract infection, irritable bladder, sciatica, or during menstruation.
Lower trunk douche. The procedure is as for the thigh douche, but
including the lower trunk. Useful for diabetes mellitus, meteorism,
enlargement of the liver, enlargement of the gallbladder, stone
formation.
Do not use for urinary tract infections, irritable
bladder, sciatica, or during menstruation.
Arm douche. Direct the water stream from the outside of the right
hand to the shoulder, then back on the inside of the arm.
Repeat the
process for the left arm. Useful for cold hands, nervous disorders,
neuralgia and paralysis, rheumatism of the arms,
heart problems,
vertigo, headaches, catarrh in the nose and throat.
Chest douche. Douche the arms first. Useful for chronic
bronchitis and bronchial asthma, angina pectoris.
Caution: Moderate the
temperature if there is risk of angiospasm.
Upper trunk douche. This involves the upper torso and arms. It
can be used to improve blood flow to the lungs,
heart, and pleura.
Useful for the treatment of bronchitis, bronchial asthma, disease of
the larynx and vocal cords,
headaches, nervous excitability, varicose
veins of the legs, for toning-up, and for stimulating cardiac and
respiratory activity. Caution: Do not use if there is blood stasis in
the pulmonary circulation.
Back douche. Useful for the treatment of weakened back muscles,
back pain, spinal disease, multiple sclerosis,
bronchial asthma, nearly
all diseases of the lung.
Warning: Do not use in debilitated patients
or those with neurasthenia.
Neck douche. Useful for headaches, migraines, tenseness in the
shoulder and neck,
hypersensitivity to changes in the weather, mild
depression, tinnitus, vertigo, arthrosis of the hand and finger joints.
Warning: Not to be used in persons with high blood pressure,
enlargement of the thyroid, or raised intraocular pressure.
Face douche. Proceed from the right temple downward to the chin,
upward to the left temple, from right to left over the forehead, and
repeatedly from the forehead to the chin, then in circles over the
face. This is useful for relieving headaches and migraines, trigeminal
neuralgia, toothaches, for relaxing tired eyes.
Caution: Keep the eyes
closed.
Sauna and Steam Baths
Saunas and steam baths are similar in effect; the decision to take one
rather than the other will be guided by personal preference.
In a sauna
the heat acts more quickly to eliminate toxins through the skin, though
some consider the moist air of a steam bath to have a more satisfying
effect on the respiratory system.
Saunas are deeply relaxing and are a
great way to melt away stress.
A sauna is an eliminative procedure; it stimulates blood flow,
increases the heart rate, has an immune-modulating effect,
promotes
hormone production, encourages mucosal secretions in the respiratory
system, opens the airways, reduces
esistance to respiration, regulates
the vegetative system, relaxes, and can improve mental outlook.
Children can start to take saunas at two or three years of age.
Indications: For "toning-up," for health promotion, as a way of
treating pain caused by pulled back muscles,
chronic rheumatoid
arthritis, bronchial asthma, unstable hypertension (stages I and 11),
severely disturbed peripheral blood circulation.
Warnings: Saunas should not be taken by persons with acute rheumatoid
arthritis, acute infection, active tuberculosis,
sexually transmitted
diseases, acute mental disorder, inflammation of an inner organ or
blood vessels,
significant vascular changes in the brain or heart,
circulatory problems or acute cancer.
Do not spend more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time in a sauna.
Wipe your face frequently with a cold cloth to avoid overheating.
Full and partial immersion baths
Various substances can be added to warm and rising temperature baths.
The following are the different kinds of bath
used:
Rising temperature hip bath. This is taken in a tub filled with a
hand's breadth of tepid water.
Hot water is then gradually added until
the level reaches the navel. The final temperature should be 103-104'F.
Following this procedure, the patient is wrapped warm and proceeds to
bed.
It should last 15-30 minutes, not more than three times per week.
Indications: incipient and abating common colds, back pain (sciatica).
Warning: to be used with caution by persons with heart or circulation problems, hemorrhoids, or varicose veins.
Cold foot bath. The feet are placed into a foot bath filled to calf
depth with cold water.
Stop when a cold stimulus is felt or when the
water is no longer perceived as being particularly cold.
Stroke off
excess water, dress, and walk or run until dry. A special form of this
treatment is "walking in water,"
which involves walking stork-like on a
non-slip mat placed under the water.
Indications: Varicose veins, susceptibility to edemas, headaches, low
blood pressure, circulatory problems,
sleeplessness, proneness to the
common cold, sweaty feet, or a contused ankle.
Warning: This type of treatment is best avoided by people who suffer
from cold feet, very high blood pressure, an irritable bladder, urinary
tract infection, diabetes, or vascular occlusion.
Rising temperature foot bath, warm foot bath. The feet are immersed in
a foot bath filled with water at body temperature.
Hot water is
gradually added to give a final temperature of 103-104'F. In warm foot
baths water of this temperature is added straight away. Keep warm
afterwards. The procedure should last 10-15 minutes and can be done
daily.
Indications: Cold feet, start of a common cold, for relaxation.
Warning: Best avoided by people with varicose veins, lymphostasis, or edema.
Cold arm bath. A basin is filled with cold water until it reaches a
depth several inches above the immersed elbow.
If the treatment becomes
intolerable, stop and repeat as desired.
Indications: Headaches, sleeplessness.
Warning: Best avoided by people with heart or circulatory problems.
Rising temperature arm bath. In principle, this is the same as the
rising temperature foot bath.
It should be followed by a cold arm
douche, then by half an hour's rest.
Indications: Bronchitis, asthma, incipient respiratory infection, circulatory problems, angina pectoris.
Sitz bath. This is generally taken in a hip bath as a cold, rising
temperature, or warm sitz bath.
Prior to a sitz bath, warm the feet,
e.g. through a warm foot bath.
Parts of the body not immersed in water
should be covered.
Indications: Cold sitz bath for hemorrhoids or inflammation of the
anus;
warm or rising temperature sitz bath for difficulty in voiding
the bladder, an irritable bladder, inflammation or infection of the
prostate, preparation for pregnancy.
Warning: Do not use warm or rising temperature sitz baths for hemorrhoids.
Wraps
A wrap is primarily used as a supportive measure for treating fever and
local inflammation.
The person receiving treatment should first adopt a
relaxed position. Then a linen cloth is moistened with cold water
(warm
water for respiratory diseases), well wrung out, and then wrapped
tightly around the appropriate part of the body,
but not so tightly as
to cause constriction. The moist linen cloth is in turn wrapped with a
dry cotton or linen cloth.
The patient is then usually wrapped in a
blanket or another cloth, and should rest for 45-60 minutes or,
if the
intention is to induce sweating, for up to three hours.
If the wrap is not felt to be warm after a quarter of an hour, heat
should be applied in the form of a hot water bottle or
by giving warm
tea. The wrap should be removed immediately if the person complains of
feeling unwell.
Indications:
Neck wrap: sore throat
Chest wrap: bronchitis, lung disease, neuralgia
Body wrap (between costal arch and pubic bone): inflammatory
disease of the upper abdomen, gastric and duodenal ulcers, cramps,
sleeplessness, fever
Trunk wrap (between pubic bone and armpits): high fever
Hip wrap (with gap between the legs): prostatitis, vaginitis, hemorrhoids, anal eczema, inflammation in the pelvic cavity
Calf wrap (between foot and knee): lymphostasis, edema, for
withdrawing heat in fever and phlebitis; in varicose veins the effect
can sometimes be amplified through the use of healing earth or loam
poultices
Joint wraps: rheumatoid arthritis, arthrosis
Packs
Warm packs. A wrapping cloth is soaked in a hot infusion or decoction
of herbs,
then wrung out and applied to the patient's body.
Alternatively, the wrap may receive a coating of hot mud mustard flour,
or fango. As a further alternative, hayseed may be placed in a sack and
steamed.
Indications: Painful chronic diseases such as arthrosis, renal disease,
or cystitis, and for stimulating blood flow.
Warning: Always check that the temperature is tolerable before applying a wrap.
Cold packs. Cooled cataplasm is spread onto the wrapping cloth and
placed on the part of the body.
Crushed ice in a plastic bag may also
be repeatedly applied for one minute, then removed for four.
Indications: Various inflammatory arthropathies, sprains and strains,
pleurisy. Ice packs can also be used for headaches.
Warning: When using ice packs, place a thin cloth between the pack and the skin to prevent frostbite.
Herbal baths can be particularly soothing when you are experiencing a
period of stress.
There are several ways to prepare an herbal bath:
1. Simmer 1/2 cup of herbs in 1 quart of water in a covered pot for
fifteen minutes. While the herbs are simmering,
take a short shower to
cleanse your body, then fill the tub with hot or warm water.
Strain the
liquid from the decoction into the bath water, and wrap the herbs in a
washcloth.
Soak in the tub for at least twenty minutes, using the
"herbal washcloth" to rub over your body. -
2. Add 1/2 cup of herbs to running bath water, preferably hot. You
might want to cover the drain with a thin mesh screen to prevent the
herbs from clogging the pipes. Soak in the tub for twenty to thirty
minutes.
3. Fill a thin cloth bag with 1/2 cup of herbs, either placing it in
the bath water or tying it to the spigot so that
the hot water runs
through it as it fills the tub. Again, soak for twenty to thirty
minutes.
Certain herbs are quite effective for creating soothing baths.
Combine
a handful each of valerian, lavender, linden, chamomile, hops, and
burdock root, and add it to your bath
according to one of the preceding
methods. Soak for thirty minutes in the tub.
Another soothing herbal
bath calls for a handful each of hops, linden, valerian, chamomile,
yarrow, and passionflower.
Prepare this bath according to one of the
preceding methods, or simmer the herbs in a quart of water, then drink
1/2cup
of the liquid (with lemon and honey added, if you wish) and pour
the rest in the tub.
While soaking in an herbal bath, you can read,
meditate, listen to peaceful music, or just sit quietly,
concentrating
on relaxing yourself.
Importance of Drinking Sufficient Water
It is very important that we drink sufficient amount of water in a day
to make up for the water lost.
The benefits of drinking water is widely
recognized. Drinking pure, fresh water is essential to our health and
well-being.
Our need for water increases as we grow older. As we age, our skin and
mucus membranes become thinner and
lose more water, and our kidneys
function less efficiently. So our need for water increases.
You may not
feel thirsty. But you should get into the habit of drinking water,
nevertheless.
Steps for an Effective Hydrotherapy:
For overall tension reduction, use a neutral bath (temperature
between 92 to 94 degree F) that is close to the skin temperature.
Use water temperature between 102 to 106 degree F for loosening
tight, tense muscles and reducing the pain of stress-related conditions
such as backache. (Using temperatures higher than 106 degrees is not
recommended as it can raise your body temperature very fast, inducing
an artificial fever.)
Take a cold shower after you step out of the bath. This brings
and immediate rush of blood through your system,
as well as a rush of
energy. (Try alternating cold and hot shower to get a similar effect. 3
minutes of hot water followed by 30 seconds of cold water and the 3
minutes of hot water, etc.)
Stay in the bath no more than 15 to 20 minutes. If you have high
blood pressure or cardiovascular problems,
don't stay long enough to
raise your body temperature.
Evening is the best time to soak in water.
A study conducted in
England found that people who took a soaking bath before going to bed
slept more readily and deeply.
