Dorothy FarrarHydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is the umbrella term for applications in naturopathy that use water in various ways to relieve symptoms or aid in the treatment of medical conditions. The focus is on stimulating the metabolism and blood circulation by means of the mechanical effect of water and temperature. In modern medicine, hydrotherapy is partly an adjunct to other methods of treatment without competing with it.
What is hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy or water cure, rarely hydriatry, belongs to naturopathy and is one of the oldest forms of treatment. Their effect is in most cases non-specific and is usually directed not only to individual symptoms, but to a holistic activation of the metabolism and blood circulation. The origins of hydrotherapy can be traced back to ancient times, with the transition between medical use and religious or spiritual practices being fluid, especially in the past. Although hydrotherapy still plays a rather minor role today, medicine has recently rediscovered it with a slight upward trend.
Applications
Typical applications of hydrotherapy:
The areas of application of hydrotherapy are not clearly defined. Many proponents of the various methods assume almost universal uses, unless there are clear contraindications – such as open wounds, which could cause problems with some external applications. However, specific use of hydrotherapeutic procedures is possible as part of the treatment of burns and pain. Running cold water for the first supply of a burn is generally considered a home remedy, but is basically also an application of hydrotherapy. Some researchers assume a positive effect of cold water treatments on the immune system, such as those developed by Sebastian Kneipp, among others.
The temperature of water, steam or ice stimulates the blood circulation and metabolism of the treated person and can thus promote the body’s own processes that serve self-healing. Kneipp and other founders of European hydrotherapy also assumed that exposure to extreme temperatures in steam and water baths would result in a hardening of the immune system. Today, there is evidence that some such effects do indeed take place in the human body; however, water cures do not lead with certainty and in any case to this goal. This is another reason why hydrotherapy is usually a supplement to conventional treatment or serves to improve general well-being and prevention.
What methods and procedures are there?
Hydrotherapy knows countless different methods and procedures, some of which developed independently of each other and which are nevertheless often similar. One of the best-known representatives of the water cure is Sebastian Kneipp, who saw water treading, showers, arm/foot and seat baths, washes, flash pours, wraps and steam baths as a means of hardening against civilization diseases. Especially famous are the knee to thigh-deep basins named after him, which are filled with cold water and through which the users walk by pulling their knees upwards with every step. In addition to the above-mentioned procedures, modern hydrotherapy also includes applications that take advantage of ice, whirlpools, showers and underwater pressure jet massages.
What does the patient have to consider in advance and during aftercare?
Before hydrotherapy, users should make sure that the desired procedure does not pose a high risk to them. Especially people with cardiovascular complaints such as cardiac arrhythmias and others need to exercise caution; the same applies to persons with other pre-existing conditions. Pain and other complaints require medical clarification, otherwise there is a risk that users will overlook the actual causes of the symptoms and that any necessary medical treatment will take place too late. Also, general malaise and non-specific complaints such as headaches, fatigue, sluggishness, body aches and others require the consultation of a doctor. There should be enough time between applications so as not to strain the body too much.
Execution – How does the investigation work?
The course of hydrotherapy depends on the chosen procedure. The therapist or course leader usually has a conversation with the client in advance in order to find an individually suitable application, to take indications into account and to rule out contraindications. When it comes to the actual treatment, a distinction must be made between self-application and applications with the support of a therapist. An example of the latter is colon hydrotherapy, which essentially consists of an enema.
Proponents of this procedure expect a cleansing effect and a strengthening of the immune system from the intestinal lavage; However, this view is very controversial, because there is no evidence of the effectiveness of this theory. As a rule, a trained person carries out the colon hydrotherapy with the client. In most cases, other procedures do not require constant support from a therapist, for example many Kneipp methods such as treading water. Some swimming pools even offer appropriate pools in which bathers can practice this form of hydrotherapy independently.
Self-service or health insurance – who bears the costs?
In some cases, health insurance can cover the cost of hydrotherapy. However, this depends on the health insurance company as well as the type of hydrotherapy and the reason for its use. Interested parties can therefore find out in advance whether their health insurance company will cover a corresponding service.
Risks, complications and side effects
Because hydrotherapy is an umbrella term for a variety of procedures, it is difficult to generalize about the potential complications and risks. In principle, users should therefore check individually before using a procedure whether there are any contraindications and what the risks are.
Hypersensitivity to temperature extremes or fluctuations can make the use of thermal methods difficult; they do not always make sense under these circumstances. In particular, patients should not self-administer hydrotherapy for major wounds, pain, burns, and other conditions that may lead to serious complications outside of clinically controlled conditions or without medical evaluation.
Especially with temperature-based procedures, people with cardiovascular problems should first consult a doctor, as some hydrotherapy applications can trigger a state of shock that can lead to a heart attack.
Special precautions apply to special procedures such as colon hydrotherapy, since improper execution involves risks; in the case of colonic irrigation, for example, lack of emptying can cause potassium deficiency and a disturbance of the intestinal flora. Water at the wrong temperature can cause intestinal cramps or heat damage; Mechanical damage is also possible.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.