Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is a special technique which greatly improves recovery from many illness, both acute and chronic, such as fatigue, arthritis, bronchitis, food poisoning, heart disease, influenza and chronic constipation to name a few. It has been used successfully by thousands of naturopathic physicians for over a century and at one time was standard medical treatment for many illnesses, in hospitals and clinics.

Hydrotherapy works so well because it acts to stimulate the body's own healing force. During the treatment the patient lies comfortably on a soft table while hot towels are applied over the upper torso. The person is then wrapped in a sheet and covered with several layers of blankets. Once the skin is warmed, a single cold towel is exchanged for the heated one. The body, well prepared by the preceding warmth, reacts to this temperature change by greatly increasing the blood flow to the skin and the internal organs of the chest and abdomen. Hydrotherapy researchers have shown that a reflex increase in blood flow occurs in internal organs when the circulation to the overlying skin is stimulated. It is this internal reaction which is responsible for the long lasting and cumulative effects of a series of hydrotherapy treatments. Research has further shown that the beneficial effects on the immune system last for up to 24 hours making this a very effective therapy for any disorder involving immune function.

To enhance these effects, a mild electrical stimulation is applied over the spine during the treatment. Certain modifications may be made during the therapy depending on the persons ability to react to it and the type of disease being addressed.

The benefits of constitutional hydrotherapy include an improvement in sleep, digestion, bowel function, an increase in your energy level and a reduction in chronic pain. We have found that other naturopathic therapies such as herbal medicines, special diets or homeopathy often work better due to concurrent constitutional hydrotherapy treatments. Some of our colleagues however, rely entirely on hydrotherapy to produce cures of many serious and seemingly incurable illnesses.

Soaking in warm bath can ease pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis or a soft tissue injury. A warm bath increases circulation, which promotes healing and loosens up tense muscles. Warm water is also very soothing and reduces stress. Stress hormones increase one's perception of pain and cause tightening of muscles. Warm water alone is soothing. But some find they can augment the stress-relieving properties of the bath by adding essential oils to the water and/or listening to recorded music or sounds of nature. Soak for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Wait at least one hour between another soak to avoid overheating.

Exercising in water has many benefits for those with joint problems. The buoyancy of the water supports most of the body weight, taking stress off the joints. When submerged in neck-level water 90% of the body weight is supported (in chest-deep water 75%). The resistance of the water means the muscles must work harder to perform any movement, allowing one to increase the workload of the muscles without stressing the joints.

Warm water exercises are especially beneficial for those with back pain and/or stiffness, whether from osteoarthritis or a chronic injury. Warm water loosens up tight muscles and reduces pain, making exercise easier to perform.