Re: Forum request

A number of techniques are available under the general heading of "hydrotherapy".

These include: Colon Hydrotherapy, Back Hydrotherapy, sauna (hyperthermia hydrotherapy), baths and showers, neutral baths, sitz baths, contrast sitz baths, foot baths, cold mitten friction rub, steam inhalation, hot compresses, cold compresses, alternating hot and cold compresses, heating compresses, body wrap, wet sheet pack, and salt glow.


Can you suggest good Forum Description, making sure that some therapies covered in other forums are excluded from discussion ...



Colon Hydrotherapy is already covere by "Enema & Colon Hydrotherapy forum" & by " Bowel Cleanse Forum "


Excerpts from the web:



Back Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is widely used in the rehabilitation of human patients with orthopaedic
and neuromuscular diseases. Movement is an important part of the recovery process for healing bones, muscles and nerves and yet in the early stages of recovery full weight bearing may be difficult or impossible, and may be associated with increased discomfort. Swimming in lukewarm water may aid recovery in some cases by encouraging limb movement, without the need for full weight bearing.


A sauna is an eliminative procedure; it stimulates blood flow, increases sweating, increases the heart rate, has an immune-modulating effect, promotes hormone production, encourages mucosal secretions in the respiratory system, opens the airways, reduces resistance to respiration, regulates the vegetative system, relaxes, and can improve mental outlook. Children can start to take saunas at two or three years of age.

Wraps: A wrap is primarily used as a supportive measure for treating fever and local inflammation. The person receiving treatment should first adopt a relaxed position. Then a linen cloth is moistened with cold water (warm water for respiratory diseases), well wrung out, and then wrapped tightly around the appropriate part of the body, but not so tightly as to cause constriction. The moist linen cloth is in turn wrapped with a dry cotton or linen cloth. The patient is then usually wrapped in a blanket or another cloth, and should rest for 45-60 minutes or, if the intention is to induce sweating, for up to three hours.
If the wrap is not felt to be warm after a quarter of an hour, heat should be applied in the form of a hot water bottle or by giving warm tea. The wrap should be removed immediately if the person complains of feeling unwell.


Herbal baths can be particularly soothing when you are experiencing a period of stress.



steps for an Effective Hydrotherapy:

For overall tension reduction, use a neutral bath (temperature between 92 to 94 degree F) that is close to the skin temperature.
Use water temperature between 102 to 106 degree F for loosening tight, tense muscles and reducing the pain of stress-related conditions such as backache. (Using temperatures higher than 106 degrees is not recommended as it can raise your body temperature very fast, inducing an artificial fever.)
Take a cold shower after you step out of the bath. This brings and immediate rush of blood through your system, as well as a rush of energy. (Try alternating cold and hot shower to get a similar effect. 3 minutes of hot water followed by 30 seconds of cold water and the 3 minutes of hot water, etc.)
Stay in the bath no more than 15 to 20 minutes. If you have high blood pressure or cardiovascular problems, don't stay long enough to raise your body temperature.
Evening is the best time to soak in water. A study conducted in England found that people who took a soaking bath before going to bed slept more readily and deeply.



What is hydrotherapy?


The benefits of “water healing,” or hydrotherapy have been recognized for thousands of years. In Europe, where hydrotherapy is especially popular, there are numerous health spas and health facilities for all types of “water cures.”

Water healing is one of the oldest, cheapest and safest methods for treating many common ailments. We know from personal experience that water is not just for cleansing, but for making us feel better. When you plop into that tub of hot water, after a strenuous day, you know you’ll feel much better when you’re done, for hot water relieves fatigue and prevents stiffness.

Ancient civilizations recognized the healing power of natural hot and cold springs. Back in the 4th century BC., the Greek physician Hippocrates prescribed bathing and drinking spring water for its therapeutic effects. The Romans built outstanding communal baths because they believed in the value of hot springs.

Water healing at home couldn’t be simpler. Baths and showers are good for whole body treatments. In the whole body treatment, the water has to come to shoulder level. Then there are sitz baths, which are for treating only the bottom, hips, and lower abdomen. Then there is the foot bath, the vapor bath, and various others concentrating on specific parts of the body. Adding various healing herbs to the water increases the value of the bath.

The Full Bath should be about 90 to 95F and shoulder deep. A warm bath is soothing to the nerves and helpful for bladder and urinary problems, mild colds, and low fevers. Adding herbs helps to soften and moisturize, and can stimulate or relax. The hot bath should last at least 20 minutes.

The sitzbath should have only enough water to immerse the bottom and hips. The cold sitz bath or the hot followed by cold is especially beneficial for ailments affecting the abdomen and the reproductive system, inflammations, pelvic congestion, cramps, hemorrhoids, menstrual problems, and kidney and intestinal pains.

With a footbath, you simply put the feet and calves into a deep pot filled with water. For cold feet, a hot footbath of about 15 minutes is helpful. This is also helpful for bladder, kidney, throat and ear inflammations.

For tired feet, a cold footbath is recommended. While an alternating hot and cold footbath is said to promote circulation in the legs, help varicose veins, insomnia, headache and high blood pressure.

Alternating hot and cold baths are good for treating hands and feet, with water as hot as you can stand it, in one bowl, ice water in the other. Put hands or feet in the hot water for one minute, then plunge into the cold for 20 seconds. Then back into hot and cold again until a total of 10 minutes have been spent doing this, ending with the plunge into the ice water. Beneficial for arthritic joints and tired, aching feet, and the alternating hot and cold stimulates circulation.

Remember that the application of heat is soothing, easing muscle tension and relieving pain. Heat also improves circulation by causing blood vessels to dilate. Cold can either be stimulating or soothing.

Water healing is helpful in maintaining metabolic function, and in making us feel much better, and is easily accomplished right in our own homes.

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