Hydrotherapy: Its History and Benefits

Water therapy has been used for centuries as a spiritual activity in sacred rivers such as the Ganges, utilising such techniques as neti (Sinus washing), steaming the body, sweating, enemas, saltwater emesis and drinking warm or mineralised water, all with the goal of detoxifying or purifying the body. The people of Japan have used medicinal bathing, utilising the volcanic waters with differing ionic content, all with different healing capabilities. Ancient Greece and Rome used Healing temples, Asclepieia, often sourced from forest and mountains springs as a hospital of sorts, claiming they held great healing energies.

Hydrotherapy as a medical treatment was still being utilised by medical doctors until the mid-20th century in the United States of America and is still being used by Naturopathic practitioners in the US, India, Britain, Germany, and other European countries.

It was a core aspect of Naturopathic Education and practice up until the dawn of the 21st century here in Australia.

Many of us utilise modern-day water therapy; mineral baths, spas, and saunas, with an anecdotal understanding of their benefits and uses, and many of us understand the benefits of detoxifying the body and promoting elimination when we’re sick or feeling run down, using steam and increasing water consumption.

What does Hydrotherapy do for the body?

(© il-fede – Fotolia)

The basis of all holistic treatments is to bring the body into specific physiological limits that respond optimally to changing conditions. Hydrotherapy can facilitate optimising these responses when appropriately prescribed and utilised.

Targeted mechanisms:

• Autonomic Nervous System regulation
  The home of our sensory and motor neurons, this is where homeostasis is maintained and operates without conscious control, it is responsible for the regulation between the fight-or-flight (sympathetic nervous system, SNS), and the rest-and-digest (parasympathetic nervous system, PNS). Many of us spend more time in the SNS.
• Body temperature regulation
  The body’s core set point of 37c relies on conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporative cooling mechanisms and utilises internal heat production as well as heat gain or heat loss from external sources.
• Cardiovascular system
  Changes in osmotic pressure directly affect the movement of fluid within the body, temperature changes also affect this – warming tissues promotes blood vessels to dilate, whereas cooling causes contraction.
• Lymphatic movement
  It is primarily controlled by muscle contraction, joint movement, and chest movement when inhaling. It acts as a filter for interstitial fluid and initiates specific responses against microbes and abnormal cells. To read more about the importance of lymphatic movement for mental here, click here.

How does it work?

• Thermal effects: the stimulation of temperature change on the surface of and within the body.
• Mechanical effects: the change of hydrostatic pressure in the interstitial space via emersion or delivery of water under pressure to the skin surface.
• Electrical effects: the use of water to convey current to or through the body, with potential effects similar to electroacupuncture.
• Chemical effects: ubiquitous internal effects with ingestion, but also useful as a solvent for delivering herbs or minerals, or for its cleansing effects.

What are some Ailments that benefit from Hydrotherapy?

• Local acute inflammation – such as a sprain, strain, injury or insect bite.
  Stimulates or restricts blood flow to the area. Reduces inflammation and pain. Relieves congestion and swelling. Increases white blood cells migration to the area to support healing.
• Poor peripheral circulation. Cold hands and/or feet.
• Sluggish or underperforming digestive function.
• Hypertension.
• Insulin resistance.
• Obesity and overweight.
• Immunity.
• Pain in joints, tender points or movement.
• Detoxification and elimination.
• Skin conditions such as psoriasis or dermatitis.

If you’re interested in Hydrotherapy or would like to know more about how it could benefit you, speak with Lisa at Your Wellness Centre.

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