In today’s Wellness 101 we bring you hydrotherapy…
Are you looking for a pleasant, nurturing way to sooth your aches and pains? How about a treatment that you can easily do at home? Then hydrotherapy might be just the thing for you. Hydrotherapy is a form of therapy that uses water to heal what ails you through the use of temperature (to increase circulation, reduce inflammation, release toxins) and weightlessness (to calm and relax).
In Turkey and Japan, public bathhouses were built to promote the use of water as an aide to increase health and well-being. Today, hydrotherapy can be used to treat spinal cord injuries, burns, strokes, paralysis, and is often used to reduce stress. There are a few different types of hydrotherapy—let’s take a look:
One form is called “packing.” This entails tightly wrapping the body in a hot, wet sheets and covering them with several dry blankets. This technique causes the body to heat up, which encourages sweating, thus releasing toxins from the body. A body wrap at a spa is on par with this. After treatment you should feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and hopefully less toxic!
Next is something called hot air baths—a term I hadn’t heard of, but realized that it simply means “sauna.” Temperatures are usually in the range of around 66 degrees centigrade (151 Fahrenheit) for curative purposes. Saunas are a great way to release toxins and increase circulation. Often times after a sauna an ice cold bath is sought to further aid in circulation.
Hot compresses, something we consider more of a first aid remedy, are also a form of hydrotherapy. Hot compresses can be administered either hot or, amusingly enough, cold. A hot compress helps aid in respiration, while a cold compress can reduce inflammation of the skin. These may be used for long or short periods of time, depending upon the condition being treated.
Finally, there are baths. A bath in your home or a bath at a spa will help to calm and relax , while a sitz bath assists in circulation. Alternating between hot and cold water is said to have a powerful effect on the cardiovascular system and general congestion problems. There are tons of products from basic epsom salts to fragrant bath salts and essential oils to add a touch of luxury and release to the treatment. In fact, you can even go a step further by dimming the lights, lighting a few candles, and tossing fragrant flower petals into the tub. Then hop in, take a deep breath and relax….
Hydrotherapy is easy enough to do yourself or at a spa for common ailments, but for more serious conditions, you should seek the help of a professional.
~Jennifer Rosen
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