Therapies with Water: Hydrotherapy and Therapeutic Baths

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

Hydrotherapy and Therapeutic Baths

 

Water has been worshiped, loved and used since time began. Water and

it's therapeutic values have been used in all ancient civilizations

and bathing was considered an important part for the maintenance of

health and prevention of disease. It was also valued for its remedial

properties.

 

The ancient Vedic literature in India contains numerous references to

the efficacy of water in the treatment of disease. In more recent

times, the therapeutic value of water was popularized by the

Europeans. They raised water cures to an institutional level and

employed it successfully for the treatment of almost every known

disease. There are numerous spas in most European countries where

therapeutic baths are used as a major healing approach.

 

Water creates beneficial effects on the human body. It equalizes

circulation, boosts muscular tone and assists digestion and

nutrition. It also tones up the activity of perspiratory gland and in

the process eliminates the damaged cells and toxic matter from the

system.

 

The common water temperature is: cold 50F to 65F, neutral 89.6F to

96.8F and hot 104F to 113F. Above 113F, water loses its therapeutic

value and is destructive.

 

Water treatments can be used in the healing of various diseases in a

do-it-yourself manner.

 

COLD COMPRESS

 

This is a local application using a cloth which has been wrung out in

cold water. The cloth should be folded into a strip and dipped in

cold water or ice water. The compress is generally applied to the

head, neck, chest, abdomen and back. The cold compress is an

effective means of controlling inflammatory conditions of the liver,

spleen, stomach, kidneys, intestines, lungs, brain, eyes and pelvic

organs. It is also advantageous in cases of fever and heart disease.

 

HEATING COMPRESS

 

This is a hot compress covered in such a manner as to bring warmth. A

heating compress consists of three or four folds of linen cloth wrung

out in hot water which is then covered completely with dry flannel or

blanket to prevent the circulation of air and help accumulation of

body heat. It is sometimes applied for several hours. The duration of

the application is determined by the extent and location of the

surface involved, the nature and thickness of the coverings and the

water temperature. After removing the compress, the area should be

rubbed with a wet cloth and then dried with a towel. A heating

compress can be applied to the throat, chest, abdomen, and joints. A

throat compress relieves sore throat, hoarseness, tonsillitis,

laryngitis and laryngitis. An abdominal compress helps those

suffering from gastritis, hyperacidity, indigestion, jaundice,

constipation, diarrhea, dysentery and other ailments relating to the

abdominal organs. The chest compress also known as chest pack,

relieves cold, bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, fever, cough and so

on, while the joints compress is helpful for inflamed joints,

rheumatism, rheumatic fever and sprains.

 

ENEMA

 

Also known as rectal irrigation, an enema involves the injection of

fluid into the rectum. In nature cure treatment, only lukewarm water

is used for cleaning the bowels. The patient is made to lie on his

left side extending his left leg and bending the right leg slightly.

The enema nozzle, lubricated with oil or Vaseline, is inserted in the

rectum. The enema can containing the lukewarm water is then slowly

raised and water is allowed to enter into the rectum. Generally, one

to two liters of water is injected. The patient may either lie down

on his back or walk a little while retaining the water. After five to

10 minutes, the water can be released.

 

A warm water enema helps to clean the rectum of accumulated fecal

matter. This is not only the safest system for cleaning the bowels,

but also improves the peristaltic movement of the bowels and thereby

relieves constipation. A cold water enema is helpful in inflammatory

conditions of the colon, especially in cases of dysentery, diarrhea,

ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids and fever. A hot water enema is

beneficial in relieving irritation due to inflammation of the rectum.

 

HIP BATHS

 

The hip bath is one of the most useful forms of hydrotherapy. As the

name suggests, this mode of treatment involves only the hips and the

abdominal region below the navel. The tub is filled with water in

such a way that it covers the hips and reaches up to the navel when

the patient sits in it. Generally, four to six gallons of water are

required. Hip bath is given in cold, hot, neutral or alternate

temperatures.

 

**Cold hip bath is a routine treatment in most diseases. The water

temperature should be 50F to 65F. The duration of the bath is usually

10 minutes. It relieves constipation, indigestion and helps the

eliminative organs to function properly. It is also helpful in

uterine problems like irregular menstruation, chronic uterine

infections, pelvic inflammation, piles, hepatic congestion, chronic

congestion of the prostate gland, seminal weakness, impotency,

sterility, uterine and ovarian displacements, dilation of the stomach

and colon, diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhage of the bladder. The cold

hip bath should not be used in acute inflammations of the pelvic and

abdominal organs, ovaries and in painful contractions of the bladder,

rectum or vagina.

 

**Hot hip bath helps to relieve painful menstruation, pain in the

pelvic organs, painful urination, inflamed rectum or bladder and

painful piles. This bath is generally taken for eight to 10 minutes

at a water temperature of 104F to 113F. The bath should start at

104F. The temperature should be gradually increased to 113F. This

also benefits enlarged prostatic gland, painful contractions or spasm

of the bladder, sciatica, neuralgia of the ovaries and bladder. A

cold shower bath should be taken immediately after the hot hip bath.

Care should be taken to prevent the patient from catching a chill

after the bath.

 

**Neutral hip bath helps to relieve all acute and subacute

inflammatory conditions such as acute catarrh of the bladder and

urethra and subacute inflammations in the uterus, ovaries and tubes.

This bath is generally taken for 20-40 minutes. It also relieves

neuralgia of the fallopian tubes or testicles, painful spasms of the

vagina and prorates of the anus and vulva. It is also a sedative

treatment.

 

**Alternative hip bath. This is also known as revulsive hip bath. The

temperature in the hot tub should be 104F to 113F and in the cold tub

50F to 65F. The patient should alternate between sit in the hot tub

for five minutes and then in the cold tub for three minutes. The

duration of the bath is generally 10 to 20 minutes. The head and neck

should be kept cold with a cold compress. The treatment should end

with a dash of cold water to the hips. This bath relieves chronic

inflammatory conditions of the pelvic viscera such as ovaritis,

cellulitis and various neuralgia of the genito-urinary organs,

sciatica and lumbago.

 

**Immersion bath. This is also known as full bath. It is taken in a

bath tub which should be properly fitted with hot and cold water. The

bath can be taken at cold, neutral, hot, graduated and alternate

temperatures.

 

HOT FOOT BATHS

 

In this method, the patient should keep his or her legs in a tub or

bucket filled with hot water at a temperature of 104F to 113F. Before

taking this bath, a glass of water should be taken and the body

should be covered with a blanket so that no heat or vapor escapes

from the foot bath. The head should be protected with a cold

compress. The duration of the bath is generally from 5 to 20 minutes.

The patient should take a cold shower immediately after the bath. The

hot foot bath stimulates the involuntary muscles of the uterus,

intestines, bladder and other pelvic and abdominal organs. It also

relieves sprains and ankle joint pains, headaches caused by cerebral

congestion and colds.

 

COLD FOOT BATH

 

Three to four inches of cold water at a temperature of 45F to 55F

should be placed in a small tub or bucket. The feet should be

completely immersed in the water for one to five minutes. A cold foot

bath, taken for one or two minutes, relieves cerebral congestion and

uterine hemorrhage. It also helps in the treatment of sprains,

strains and inflamed bunions when taken for longer periods. It should

not be taken in cases of inflammatory conditions of the genito-

urinary organs, liver and kidneys.

 

STEAM BATH

 

Steam bath is one of the most important time-tested water treatments

which induces perspiration in a most natural way. The patient sit on

a stool inside a specially designed cabinet or a steam room. Before

entering, the patient should drink one or two glasses of cold water.

The duration of the steam bath is generally 10 to 20 minutes or until

perspiration takes place. A cold shower should be taken immediately

after the bath. Very weak patients, pregnant women, cardiac patients

and those suffering from high blood pressure should avoid this bath.

If the patient feels uneasy during the steam bath, he or she should

be immediately taken out and given a glass of cold water and the face

washed with cold water.

 

The steam bath helps to eliminate matter from the surface of the

skin. It also improves circulation of the blood and tissue activity.

It relieves rheumatism, gout, and uric acid problems. The steam bath

is helpful in all forms of chronic toxemia. It also relieves

neuralgia, Chronic nephritis, infections, and migraine.

 

EPSOM SALT BATH

 

The immersion bath tub should be filled with about 5-6 gallons of hot

water at 104F. Epsom salt should be dissolved in this water. The

patient should completely immersing the trunk, thighs and legs for 15

to 20 minutes. The best time to take this bath is just before bed.

This is useful in cases of sciatica, lumbago, rheumatism, diabetes,

neuritis, cold and catarrh, kidney disorders and other uric acid and

skin affections.

 

Precautions:

Certain precautions are necessary while taking these therapeutic

baths. Full baths should be avoided within three hours after a meal

and one hour before it. Local baths like the hip bath and foot bath

may, however, be taken two hours after a meal. Clean and pure water

must be used for baths and water once used should not be used again.

While taking baths, temperature and duration should be strictly

observed to obtain the desired effects. A thermometer should always

be used to measure the temperature of the body. Women should not take

any of the baths during menstruation. They can take only hip baths

during pregnancy till the completion of the third month.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

http://www.peacefulmind.com/body_skin.htm

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit