The Forgotten Art of Hydrotherapy, Part I

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http://www.mercola.com/2003/dec/10/hydrotherapy.htm

 

 

The Forgotten Art of Hydrotherapy, Part I

 

 

Part I,

By Daniel H. Chong, N.D.

 

By now, many of you have learned of Dr. Mercola’s support for naturopathic

medicine. Some of you may be very familiar with naturopathic medicine, and some

of you may even be seeing a licensed naturopathic doctor. Although this is a

wonderful thing, I fear that most of you, even those seeing a naturopath, are

missing out on one of the most powerful treatments ever used in naturopathic

medicine, hydrotherapy. Used as part of any treatment plan, hydrotherapy

treatments can have a profound effect.

 

 

 

Unfortunately, there are few medical doctors out there who recommend this type

of treatment to their patients. Worse yet, there are fewer and fewer

naturopathic physicians using hydrotherapy as part of their treatment plans.

This article is being written to give everyone a short lessen on, or reminder

of, the power of hydrotherapy, in hopes that it will once again find its place

amongst the common treatments being prescribed by truly health conscious

physicians today.

 

A Brief History

 

Hydrotherapy, in one form or another, has been around for at least as long as

animals have roamed the earth. There have been numerous accounts of sick or

injured animals observed in the wild, soaking themselves or their injured parts

in a cool stream everyday until they were well again. One of the first textbooks

on hydrotherapy was written in 1697 by the English physician John Floyer. Since

then, there have been numerous physicians and others who have become famous

using various types of hydrotherapy treatments to cure people of countless

illnesses. Many people have heard of John Harvey Kellog, who ran the famous

Battle Creek Sanitorium in Michigan, and used many different hydrotherapy

treatments, as well as massage, electrotherapy, and diet to help cure hundreds

of previously “incurable” cases.

 

By the early 1900s, hydrotherapy was a common treatment employed by naturopathic

physicians. Benedict Lust, Henry Lindlahr, and O.G. Carroll are three of the

most famous naturopathic physicians who have ever lived. They combined

hydrotherapy with other treatments such as herbal medicine, homeopathy, and diet

therapy to help heal literally thousands of people whose conditions were

originally considered incurable. Hydrotherapy was the center-point of their

practices and many of the treatments that they used are still being used today.

 

Since the time of these great physicians, hydrotherapy has experienced a slow

but steady decline in popularity as a common treatment in naturopathic offices,

for numerous reasons. Some doctors lack the proper training and experience, as

school curriculums no longer focus on hydrotherapy. Some doctors choose not to

use these treatments, because they can be time consuming, and not very

cost-effective. There are still a few doctors out there who continue to carry on

with these wonderful treatments. These doctors are aware of the power of

hydrotherapy, and will continue using it well into the future, regardless of

what new supplements or other “miracle treatments” come along.

 

The Theory and Practice of Naturopathic Hydrotherapy

 

Naturopathic hydrotherapy differs slightly from the standard hydrotherapy

commonly used by medical doctors and physical therapists. In general, M.D.s and

physical therapists simply recognize the mechanical effects of hot and cold

applied to the body, e.g., that hot will relax muscles, and cold will decrease

inflammation. The naturopathic hydrotherapist also believes that hydrotherapy

can affect the quality of blood in circulation. This is done primarily through

treatments that tonify the digestive and detoxification organs (liver, kidney,

lungs and intestinal tract) and thereby improve the nutrition received by the

blood as well as help to cleanse the blood of endogenous and exogenous toxins.

 

 

 

This effect is accomplished by using an alternating application of hot and cold

water to specific areas of the body. By switching back and forth between hot and

cold, blood flow will be increased to that spot and the organs underlying that

area. The naturopathic hydrotherapist views blood as the conveyer of life.

Naturopathic hydrotherapy works because it optimizes the quality of blood while

improving the efficiency of its circulation.

 

A naturopathic doctor will sometimes prescribe a hydrotherapy treatment specific

for the patient’s condition, and that patient will perform this treatment on

themselves at home. Some naturopathic doctors have the capacity to perform

hydrotherapy treatments in their office, but such a situation is quite rare

these days. Many of the commonly used hydrotherapy treatments work perfectly

fine at home, but if possible they are best done in a doctor’s office. This

allows for the entire treatment to be monitored and modified if necessary.

 

Some Classic Treatments

 

Nasal Lavage - The nasal lavage is a wonderful treatment used in cases of

chronic infections and/or irritations in the nose and sinuses. These conditions

include sinusitis, hayfever, and seasonal allergies. The goal of the nasal

lavage is to reduce or eliminate the recurrent irritant so that the body can be

given a chance to heal itself. Often times antihistamines, antibiotics and/or

surgery are used to treat these conditions but do little to affect them,

especially their recurrence. Long-term use of nasal lavage in these cases, along

with appropriate diet and lifestyle changes, can be extremely helpful.

 

It is extremely important to follow all the instructions very carefully.

Continue the routine until all symptoms resolve. This may take three to six

months so BE PATIENT. For acute problems, perform the nasal wash up to four

times per day until resolved. For chronic problems, it is usual to do the wash

one or more times daily, continuing for several months. Pain or bleeding after

the lavage may mean that an infection is still present and so it is important to

continue with the program. Be persistent as it takes a lot of effort to rid your

body of these chronic bacteria that may be producing the low-grade infection. If

your condition continues to worsen, or no improvement is noted after a week of

treatment, see your doctor.

 

Supplies Needed:

 

 

 

Sea salt

Filtered or bottled water

Neti pot or bulb syringe

Towel or washcloth

 

Directions: The technique, outlined below, may seem unusual at first. However,

once learned, you will quickly realize how beneficial it is for sinus problems.

 

 

 

 

Locate a workable container. The neti pot is specially designed with a spout

that fits comfortably in one nostril. Alternatives you can use include a bulb

syringe, a small flower watering pot, a turkey baster, or just a teacup (though

the latter will be messier).

 

 

Fill the container with lukewarm salt water. The salt-to-water ratio is 1

teaspoon sea salt to 1 pint (2 cups) water. Filtered or bottled water is best.

 

 

Have some tissues within reach for this next part. Over a sink, tilt your head

forward so that you are looking directly down toward the sink. Insert the spout

into your right nostril. It is important that you breathe through your mouth.

Turn your head to the right and let water move into the right nostril and exit

the left nostril. Normally, you will feel the water as it passes through your

sinuses. It is fine if some of the water drains into the mouth. Simply spit it

out and adjust the tilt of your head.

 

 

After using a cup of water, repeat the above procedure for the other nostril.

 

 

To finish, expel any remaining water by quickly blowing air out both open

nostrils 15 times over the sink. Avoid the temptation to block off one nostril,

as doing so may force water into the eustachian tube.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alternating Hot and Cold Sinus Compress - This treatment can be used as a

stand-alone treatment for painful, swollen sinuses, but can also be used in

conjunction with the nasal lavage treatment. Combining the two seems to make

each one work a little better.

 

Supplies Needed:

 

 

 

Two face cloths

Hot water

Cold water

 

Directions:

 

 

 

 

Soak one face cloth in hot water. Wring it out so it is damp but not dripping.

Place the face cloth over your nose and eyes, and sinuses surrounding these

areas and leave it in place for three minutes.

 

 

Have the second face cloth soaking in cold water. Wring the cloth out. Remove

the hot cloth, and place the cold cloth over the same area of your face for 30

seconds.

 

 

Repeat this alternating sequence two more times for a total of three alternating

sequences of three minutes hot and 30 seconds cold.

 

 

Frequency:

 

 

For severe and acute problems, perform morning and evening.

 

For less severe problems or maintenance, perform once a day.

 

The entire procedure will take about 10 minutes once you have everything

organized. If you are trying to clear drainage from your sinus passages, perform

the NASAL LAVAGE procedure after you have completed the alternating hot and cold

heating compresses.

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for more classic treatments in the next newsletter.

[ Part I, Part II ] Next >>

 

 

Dr. Daniel Chong is a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in Beaverton,

OR. His practice focuses on chronic disease and pain management. In his

practice, he strives to integrate the treatment and healing philosophies of

classical naturopathic medicine, Dr. Joseph Mercola, and Dr. Weston A. Price. He

may be contacted at:

 

Chiropractic and Naturopathic Physicians Clinic

12195 SW Allen Blvd.

Beaverton, OR 97005

(503) 646-0697

danielchongnd

 

 

 

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