Hydrotherapy: How Does It Work?

Hydrotherapy works by transferring the sensation experienced on the skin to various nerve impulses throughout the body. This could probably explain why you feel instantly revived and rejuvenated after a day at the spa, or even after a swim in your pool.

The term hydrotherapy refers to the use of water as a therapeutic treatment. For centuries water has been known to contain healing minerals.

Natural spring water is one form of water that contains a lot of natural healing minerals. In the case of natural spring water, the minerals are formed from the layers of rock that the water passes through. Mineral water contains trace minerals such as calcium, magnesium, lithium and sulphur, which are known to have healing properties within the body.

The mineral contents of both natural water and natural spring water have been shown to clean and possibly, even cure the body of illness and disease. They could also restore health and longevity. Sulphuric waters are well known for the treatment of skin conditions including dermatitis as well as fungal infections.

From time to time, waste products accumulate in the body, specifically within the blood and body tissues. The waste from the blood is carried from one section of the body to another, via the blood vessels, where it ‘clouds up’ the various body tissues. This clouding could result in the blood and body tissues becoming toxic.

Toxicity can be experienced by the body in the form of muscle or joint pain, fever, congestion, sinusitis, indigestion, stress and arthritis, to name a few. Toxic build up typically occurs when the body experiences high levels of stress. Physically active individuals, specifically sportsmen and women often experience muscle and joint pain, which can be released by hydrotherapeutic and massage treatments. Flu and cold viruses also contribute to a build up of toxins in the body. These too, can be released through the practice of hydrotherapy.

There are two basic ways in which water therapy or hydrotherapy can be used to cleanse the body. The most common systems include external hydrotherapeutic treatments such as steam baths, mud baths, sitz baths, hot baths, cool immersion baths, Jacuzzis and saunas. These treatments not only work on cleansing the body, but are relaxing treatments that are often pleasurable.

Water fasting, or water dieting is another hydrotherapeutic system that detoxifies the body. This system is done internally and involves consuming strictly water for a period of time. When on a water diet, one is most likely to experience headaches and feeling of weakness. The headaches experienced are possibly withdrawal symptoms, from the lack of waste products that the body has become accustomed to.

Health spas make a living and a business out of providing various forms of hydrotherapeutic treatments at their facilities. Oftentimes essential oils are combined with natural and spring water to enhance the hydrotherapeutic treatment.

Interestingly enough, it is not just hot water that has healing properties. Hydrotherapeutic treatments can also include the use of cold water. In fact, a combination of hot and cold water treatments are often used to stimulate the body. Hot water is said to dilate the blood vessels, while cold water is said to stimulate the blood vessels. The combination of these two temperatures, combined with the healing properties of water is said to force waste products to be removed from the blood and body tissues.

In spa treatments, you will often find splash pools of various temperatures, which are utilised in a sequence to achieve an optimal stimulation and help the detoxification process to take place more effectively.

Author: Dimi Ingle
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