Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is the method of using water at different temperatures treat diseases and to revitalize, maintain, and restore health. The water can be swallowed, injected into body cavities, or applied to the outside of the body. The three most important properties of water from a treatment standpoint are: 1. Water is non-irritating, non-allergic, and totally compatible with human physiology both inside and outside of the body. 2. Water is heat conducting and at the same time greatly heat storing in capacity so that it is the ideal agent for manipulating body temperature. 3. Water is totally conformable to the body surfaces. The physiological aspects of hydrotherapy are well known and are common knowledge to just about everyone. Cold water is stimulating, and causes the superficial blood vessels to constrict, which causes blood to be shunted to the internal organs. Hot water is relaxing, and causes the superficial blood vessels to dilate, which removes wastes from body tissues. Alternating hot can cold water also improves elimination, decreases inflammation and stimulates circulation. In addition to all this, moving water has a hydrostatic effect which creates a very gentle massage that stimulates touch receptors on the skin which boost blood circulation and helps to release tightened muscles.
Hydrotherapy treatments are often given at health spas or recommended as home self-care treatments. Some of the more commonly known forms of hydrotherapy are: sitz bath, warm water baths, sauna, steam bath or Turkish bath, application of hot and cold compresses, hot fomentation and foot baths (hot and cold).