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.

IMMERSION BATHS
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.
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.

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.

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.

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac
http://www.peacefulmind.com/body_skin.htm

Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

Shared with Love,Rosalie xo