Jul

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is basically treating the body by using water.

It is much more diverse than just jumping into a hot tub. In its broadest sense, drinking water could be considered ‘hydrotherapy’. You have used hydrotherapy when you iced a sprain or put a tea bag on a burn.

Healing with hydrotherapy is economical, accessible, risk-free and effective. The therapy utilizes the temperature of water in effecting both the blood and lymph flow throughout the body. (Remember that keeping the body fluids flowing is crucial to health.) In changing the flow of these fluids, we can effect changes in all tissues through cleansing and nourishment.

Heat and water are two of the most potent therapeutic agents available. Prior to the penicillin/antibiotic era, such diseases as pneumonia, rheumatic fever, typhoid and polio were being treated by hydrotherapy, exercises, diet controls, massage, short fasts, and sunshine. Don’t let the ordinariness of water and heat keep you from utilizing this valuable therapy.

As a general rule, if the tissue feels hot, apply cold and vice versa.

HEAT – Brings blood to the area

Effects of heat when applied to the skin:

• Increased rate of blood flow – possibly as much as 400%
• Pulse rate increases
• Systolic blood pressure rises at first and then falls to normal (the top number)
• Diastolic pressure falls, increasing pulse pressure (the bottom number)
• Increased respiratory rate with tendency to hyperventilation (breathe faster)
• Increased local tissue metabolism
• Increased leukocytes move through vessel walls into area (fights infection)
• Muscles relax, local sweating and local analgesia effect

COLD – Pushes blood away from the area

• Slows local circulation which moves fluid away (reduces swelling)
• Decreases tissue metabolism
• Numbing, analgesic to relieve acute pain in joint, bursitis, sprains

Hydrotherapy procedures are used for improving general health or for treating specific injuries or diseases. Procedures include baths, packs and compresses. Various herbs are often added for increased benefit.

For general health use to: