HYDROTHERAPY

Therapeutic bathing is one of the oldest of natural therapies and became particularly popular in Europe during the early nineteenth century.

Attempts to verify the scientific basis for hydrotherapy began in 1679, when Sir John Floyer published The History Of Cold Bathing. These attempts were continued both in Europe and the United States, where J. H. Kellogg published Rational Hydrotherapy in 1900. During the twentieth century, hydrotherapy declined in popularity, but it has recently re-emerged and the benefits have been described in scientific literature.


The Techniques Of Hydrotherapy
There are many ways in which water can be used for therapy. It can be applied to the body directly as a local compress, or as a bath or shower. Other techniques include the use of steam and ice. Compresses can be either cold or hot. Single cold compresses consist of a cloth dipped in cold water, to which herbs or salts, such as Epsom salts, can be added. The cloth is wrung out before being applied to the skin, where it will reduce congestion or inflammation by decreasing blood flow. When a double cold compress is used, the cold wet cloth is covered with several layers of dry materials, such as flannel or wool. This has a warming effect because, while it is left in contact with the skin, the body warms the water. Moist heat applied directly to the body by a hot compress relieves pain and promotes blood flow but it can also be used as a sedative if the compress is not too hot. Sometimes hot and cold compresses are applied alternately.

The therapeutic effects of a hydrotherapy bath vary according to the temperature of the water is used.

What Does Water Do?
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Heat or cold can be applied to the body through water, steam or ice. Methods of application include baths, showers, ice packs, compresses and steam.

Water dissolves certain forms of medication, so these can then be absorbed through the skin.

Water provides near-weightlessness, aiding exercise for people with inflammed joints or muscle weakness.

Water applies gentle pressure to the immersed body, enhancing venous and lymphatic circulation.
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A hydrotherapy bath involves either complete or partial immersion in water that can be of various temperatures, can contain salts, herbs or medication and may be still or agitated. Hot baths, in which the body is fully immersed, are used to relieve muscular and joint pain and to induce sweating, which can enhance detoxification.
Neutral baths at around body temperature are used for their calming effect to treat insomnia, anxiety, exhaustion or chronic pain. They also improve the production of urine and help during detoxification (see previous post).

The sitz bath provides partial immersion of the pelvic region. The hot sitz bath is used to relieve pelvic pain, although it should be avoided during acute inflammation, such as acute cystitis, which is treated in a neutral sitz bath. Warm or neutral baths are usually followed by cold sitz baths, but these can also be used alone to stimulate the pelvic organs, such as for constipation or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland.

The Role Of The Practitioner
Anyone can take a bath or shower, or give one to those who are young, old or in need of help. However, the unique properties of water (see below) can be best harnessed for treatment by a trained therapist, who is able to ensure the safe use of this valuable natural resource.

Cautions
You should consult your doctor before having hydrotherapy if you have any health problems, especially diabetes or other circulatory disorders, neurological problems or are elderly or frail. Unpleasant side effects, either immediately or during the first couple of days after therapy, can include:

• Headaches and vertigo.
• Nervousness and palpitations.
• Aches and pains.
• Feelings of faintness or chilliness.
• Nausea.
• Problems with sleeping.

Balneotherapy and Peat Therapy
Balneotherapy is a form of hydrotherapy in which mineral bathing and the application of mudpacks have been shown to reduce active pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Several studies have compared the effects of bathing in water that contain salts taken from the Dead Sea with the effects of adding tablet salt to a bath. In general, bathing in the salts from the Dead Sea is superior, and this is thought to be the result of the presence of trace minerals, such as zinc and copper.

Peat therapy has been used extensively in Europe for 200 years. Peat is a unique substance that contains a wide range of chemical constituents thought to have anti-inflammatory, anti-infective and anti-cancer properties. It is used in baths and can also be applied to the skin as a hot pack. It is mainly used to treat musculo-skeletal disorders, such as injuries and various forms of arthritis, and for some skin conditions.