What is Hydrotherapy?
An Ancient Spa Treatment Designed to Relieve Stress and Tension
Hydrotherapy survived the ancient times, Middle Ages and two world wars, now it settles in our modern society as the foundation of today's spa establishments.
Whenever you feel the stress of relentless scenarios life throws at you, it is quite often you hear people – colleagues, friends and even strangers – automatically suggest that you thaw out in a nice, warm bath. Somehow, immersing in water magically calms troubled emotions, eases muscle tension and lifts the spirit.
Also in many cases of accidents, our first instinctive action is to treat ourselves with water. Every time you relieve your tensed muscles with a hot pack, soothe a sprained ankle with an ice pack or hold a burned finger under running tap water, you’re practising a form of hydrotherapy.
The Birth of Hydrotherapy
Ancient Egyptians had one of the earliest forms of water therapy. Sacred pools were built in temples for priests and ceremonial uses. Every Egyptian had a bathtub at home; wealthier folks even had stone ones.
The ancient Greeks were the first to truly experience hydrotherapy, thanks to physician Hippocrates – widely considered as the father of medicine – who rejected superstitions of his time and argued that disease was caused by environmental factors, not a form of punishment inflicted by the gods. He used hydrotherapy extensively and recorded one of the earliest dictums on the therapeutic uses of water. Remember the Spartans? They were said to plunge into a cold river daily to keep fit.
Then, bathing steps out from the health category to an indulgent one involving cleansing sands, hot water, cooling plunges and aromatic massages. The Romans upped the chic factor and made bathhouses their social hub. Apart from the pools, you’d also find game rooms, gardens, libraries and theatres.
The Accidental Healers
Contrary to belief, it wasn’t a doctor who pioneered the alternative water healing approach – which we now tagged as hydrotherapy – it was a 19-year-old farmer boy by the name of Vincent Priessnitz. He set up the first modern hydrotherapy spa, the Water University of Grafenberg – now known as Jeseník Spa, in the mountains of Czech Republic in 1829.
The uneducated lad had observed injured animals recover from their injuries by bathing in the streams, but what spurred him into action was a freak accident: a cart ran over him and left him with broken ribs. He gave water therapy a go, wrapped himself in sheets maintained wet and cold, and in ten days, Priessnitz was out and about. In a year, he could go back to work and that was when he started analysing the cold water cure. He introduced a naturopath plan, which included a diet, exercise, massages and lots of baths – almost identical to those practised at holistic centres today.
Following the footsteps of Priessnitz in was Father Sebastian Kneipp; a German priest from Bavaria who started a hydrotherapy establishment, Bad Worishofen, in 1889. He believed the human body could heal itself and considered blood obstructions, the main cause of disease. Dedicated his life to harnessing the healing power of water by using plants and herbs to achieve optimum health, Kneipp developed the Kniepp Kur System which was a package of health measures that also included lifestyle change and plant therapy. His formulas were passed down through pharmacist friend Leonhard Oberhäußer, who continued the Kneipp legacy till today.
Double Agent
Hydrotherapy turned to the dark side when Roman emperor Caracalla in 211AD, built baths for men and women to mix freely. These were degenerated into brothels and banned towards the end of that century. In England, public nude bathing also fell into disgrace as the spread of diseases such as syphilis, raised rapidly.
Nonetheless, the bright side of hydrotherapy prevailed. In 1631, researchers looked into the minerals found in water. With the thermometer invented, doctors debated about the necessity to identify the temperature of the bath. Seawater therapy or thalassotherapy came into fashion in the late 1800s and hydropathic medical schools were set up.
Hydrotherapy Today
Other than being a nice warm bath, hydro treatments can treat rheumatic diseases and arthritis. Sports clinics use hydrotherapy baths as follow-up treatments for recovering patients. Fitness levels in dogs and horses can be improved through hydrotherapy.
How It Works
A warm bath (ranges from 35°C to 40°C) relaxes the body and soothes sore areas. It increases blood circulation in skin; promotes cell renewal, while eliminating toxins through perspiration and lymphatic drainage.
Cold water, in contrast, stimulates and invigorates, increasing pulse rate – a cold bath (usually between 10°C to 21°C) is extremely exhilarating and increases your metabolism rate. If you are feeling tired, you might want to try taking a warm shower or bath followed by a short, invigorating cold shower to help simulate your body and mind.
Water has a hydrostatic effect. That feather-light massage it creates, stimulates touch receptors on skin, boosting blood circulation.
Take Precautions
Whenever you try any new treatment, always be aware of certain precautions to heel. If you’re unsure of your medical condition, check with your doctor before a nice dip – better safe than sorry. Here’re some safety measures:
- If you have diabetes, avoid any form of hot applications (baths, saunas, wraps etc) to the body, especially to your feet.
- Hot immersion baths and long, hot saunas are not recommended for those with diabetes or multiple sclerosis, pregnant women and anyone with high or low blood pressure, as it can cause dizziness.
- If hyperventilation occurs, turn down the temperature and breathe from your abdomen, not chest.
- Elderly people and young children can become exhausted by too much heat and should avoid long full-body hot treatments such as immersion baths and saunas.
- When you start to relax in a hot bath, you tend to get sleepy. Just make sure you get out of the bath before you feel drowsy. Accidents can happen anywhere!
