Dear Doctor:  Could you explain what hydrotherapy is and what is the benefit of this treatment?  A.A.,  Laurel

Common Natural Therapies

Everyday, you are probably using an old-time Naturopathic therapy, without even realizing it.  Wonder what it is?  Your daily bath or shower!  Yes, believe it or not water can be a powerful tool which can stimulate and help maintain your health!  And you thought you were just taking a bath!

Hydrotherapy (or the use of water for therapy) is one of nature’s most basic healing modalities that is frequently prescribed by many Naturopathic physicians to improve the health of their patients.  Through varying the temperature of water treatments, and it’s forms (ice, steam and liquid), as well as where and how it is applied, water can be extremely useful to promote healing for a variety of common health conditions.

Effects of Hydrotherapy and Temperature:

As you already probably know, one of the best ways to relax is by taking a hot bath.  The physiological effects of heat include an increase in blood flow to help relax muscles, as well as provide sedation.  Heat also can also be used to stimulate the immune system to greater activity.   On the other hand, when you plunge into a cold pool, the opposite effects can occur.  The physiological effects of cold are to decrease the body’s metabolic rate, which also can provide pain relief. 

Types of Naturopathic Hydrotherapy:

• Constitutional Hydrotherapy:  One of the oldest and most commonly used Naturopathic hydrotherapy applications is called Constitutional Hydrotherapy.  This form of treatment involves applications of alternating hot and cold towels to the body, in a very specific pattern.  Frequently, a very low volt electromagnetic stimulation is used during the treatment, although it is not necessary.  Constitutional hydrotherapy can be used to strengthen the immune system and promote healing.  Some of the conditions for which it can be of benefit includes:  coughs, colds, the flu, as well as for digestive complaints such as IBS and ulcerative colitis.  It can also enhance the relaxation response by stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system.

• Local applications of hot and cold water can be used to stimulate healing in particular parts of the body.  These applications could include something as simple as applying a wet compress to an area of the body, to submerging your hand or foot in a pail of water.  Again, according to the effect that is desired, either hot or cold temperatures may be used.  How many of us are familiar with applying ice or cold water to a recently sprained ankle for pain?  Often, Naturopathic doctors will use what is called “contrast” hydrotherapy, which involves alternating the use of hot and cold applications.  This type of hydrotherapy is especially useful for joint issues in either the hands or feet.  It’s interesting to note that the application of hot or cold to one part of the body can actually stimulate healing in another part of the body.  This “reflexive” type of hydrotherapy is illustrated in a footbath which can actually help ease some types of headaches! 

• Systemic Approaches:  When you think of systemic hydrotherapy-think of dipping yourself into a warm bath, or hot tub, or sauna…or even the proverbial “cold-shower”- all of these types of hydrotherapy have systemic effects, which can either be stimulating or sedating in nature.  Warm temperature therapies can be especially useful to initiate sweating and  to help flush the body of metabolic wastes and detox.  Therapeutic baths are an excellent way to administer medicinal substances, because of the large absorptive surface area of skin that is exposed.   Some of the medicinal substances that can be prescribed and introduced with systemic hydrotherapy include the following:
• Botanicals:  herbal baths are a great way to use herbs to induce relaxation, as well as providing some relief for common colds, skin conditions, and help with insomnia.
• Essential oils:  Great to add a few drops to the bath for relaxation or stimulation as needed.
• Mineral salts:  Prescribed especially to relax sore, tense muscles.
• Peat (or mud) baths:  Used especially to help with arthritic conditions, sprains, strains, muscle pain, eczema, and fibromyalgia,   

So the next time you get ready to shower or bathe, remember that your very simple bath can have life enhancing capabilities.

Note:  As a caution, therapeutic hydrotherapy should always be done under the supervision of a physician, since it may be contraindicated in people with cardiovascular disease, pregnancy or in those with circulatory problems.