HYDROTHERAPY & USES OF HOT WATER
Hydrotherapy is a branch of healing systems that manages diseases such as headache, constipation, high blood pressure, etc., by using water, either as an external application or taken internally or both. Water is used for Hydrotherapy because of three main reasons:
• It has immense power for absorbing and communicating heat;
• Water is a universal solvent. This means that majority of the substances can dissolve in water; and
• Water can be frozen to a solid state as ice or heated to a gaseous form as vapour.
HOW IS WATER USED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DISEASES?
Water is used in various forms to maintain health and manage several diseases. These include:
• Temperature: Different temperatures of water are used for different health problems. For example, cold water, warm or neutral water and hot water.
• Packs: Water is used as cold packs, hot packs, whole body packs and partial body packs.
• Baths: Nature Cure treatment typically includes four main types of baths. These include:
• An immersion bath in which the entire body is immersed in water.
• Sitz bath, in which only the buttocks or hips are immersed in water or salt solution;
• Sweating baths such as vapour baths or hot air baths;
• Medicated baths such as brine, sulphur, foam, etc.
• Douches: Water is also used as jet sprays and douches. Douche is a procedure in which medicine or cleansing agent mixed with warm water is introduced into the vagina under low pressure.
• Drinking: Drinking water also plays a vital role in managing health and disease. Drinking naturally cold water has a tonic effect while applying ice cold water on the body reduces fever. Drinking water is like having a bath for the body’s internal organs. It helps purify and dilute the blood. As mentioned earlier, it also increases urine output by activating the kidneys to remove waste products from the body. Drinking large quantities of water helps the blood to carry the energy-giving and edible parts of the digested food to the relevant parts of the body. It also increases blood and lymph circulation and helps maintain the normal functions of most body glands.
WHEN SHOULD YOU DRINK MORE THAN NORMAL WATER PER DAY?
In addition to the health problems above, it is desirable that you drink large quantities of water in the following conditions:
• Hydrops: Drinking about two to three litres of water at a particular time in the morning and evening is recommended for those with hydrops. This is a condition in which there is an abnormal collection of clear and watery fluid in some body parts. Hydrop was earlier called dropsy. Drinking a massive volume of water increases the volume of accumulated fluid also. It is important to remember that water is not recommended during the day in case of dropsy, irrespective of the food you eat. Increasing the specific gravity helps rapidly remove moisture from the kidneys and skin.
• To increase blood volume: You need to drink large quantities of water to increase the blood volume. It would be best to drink a maximum of three-fourths to one cup of water as often as possible during the day. This amounts to about 130 to 180 ml. of water at a time.
• Fever: You need to drink at least one glass of water every hour during fever to compensate for the water lost from the skin during evaporation. Evaporation promotes heat loss from the body and keeps it cool. It also reduces the metabolic rate in the body, decreasing the production of heat and increasing the elimination rate of waste products from the body.
• Urinary tract infection: Drinking more water during urinary tract infection increases urine production. It, therefore, helps “flush” out the condition faster.
• Rheumatism: This is a general term used for a large number of conditions with inflammation of joints, muscles, the lining of the joints, etc., that result in Pain, limited movements and degeneration in the structure of the affected muscles and joints. Drinking large quantities of water during rheumatism dilutes the blood, decreasing its uric acid level. Uric acid is a by-product of the metabolism of the proteins present in the blood. It is excreted in the urine.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF COLD WATER?
Cold water can be applied on the skin either directly or as a compress (a cloth dipped in cold water) on ice. Applying cold water to the skin has tonic and stimulating effects. The effect of cold water is in two phases: (a) action, which takes place immediately after cold water application. It results in temporary changes and (b) a reaction, which occurs after the removal of hard water application. It results in long-term effects, often till the cold pack is applied again. Cold application has seven main effects. These include:
• Dilatation of blood vessels of the skin;
• Redness of the skin;
• Feeling of warmth;
• Decreased pulse rate;
• Decreased respiratory rate; and
• Decreased blood pressure.
Heat or hot water can be applied by fomentation, hot compress, hot water, vapour or hot air. It is sedative and relieves pains, cramps and spasms. This is because it influences the sensory and motor nerves. Sensory nerves conduct impulses from the outer parts of the body to the brain or spinal cord. Motor nerves carry impulses from the brain or spinal cord to muscles or tissues in the body.
The other effects of hot water application are a rise in local temperature, metabolic rate, oxygen consumption, increased blood volume and pulse rate.
Many people believe that drinking hot water helps reduce body weight. This is not true because drinking hot water does not burn calories. You can either reduce weight by eating fewer calories than your body requires or by burning more calories than you consume through exercise.
WHAT IS HOT WATER THERAPY?
There is something almost magical about hot water, something that heals. Slipping into a warm bath, a part of you remembers and allows itself to be supported and buoyed up, warmed and nurtured to the core. It reminds you to release mental and physical tension, give up all striving and activity, and be held by the penetrating warmth.
The human race has intuitively recognized the enormous benefits of hot water. Natural hot springs, once discovered, often became sacred areas for regeneration. Many of these developed into centres for healing. As recently as the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, people flocked to natural hot water spas sites to take “the cure”. Hoping to be cured of diseases such as tuberculosis or gout, many certainly experienced some healing.
Fortunately, today many diseases that people hoped hot water would help have been eradicated through better diet, modern hygiene, clean drinking water, immunization programs, and miracle drugs.
The advent of the modern bathroom has brought hot water into almost every home. It’s easy to become accustomed, even blase, to the uniquity of hot water and forget some of its healing benefits. Hot water is more than just a convenience. Used properly, it is a powerful therapeutic tool you can use in the comfort and privacy of your bathroom.
WHAT DO YOU EXPERIENCE IN HOT WATER?
When you first encounter hot water in the shower, the tub, or the hot tub, it takes your body a few minutes to adjust to the new temperature sensation. During these moments, you experience a temporary increase in blood pressure as the circulatory system responds to the new environment. Blood rushes to the skin, where the hot water warms it. This causes the blood vessels to expand and the blood pressure to drop. The rush of warmed blood penetrates deeper into the tissue below the skin, bringing more oxygen. It also brings a soothing, relaxing sensation as the warmed blood expands more vessels. Even chronically tight muscles, responsible for much back pain, begin to relax. That allows the free movement necessary for exercise and stretching.
At the same time that the muscles relax, the nerves are soothed, and Pain is relieved. As the heat goes deeper, your body temperature may increase to 99o F or more. The rate at which your body uses oxygen and excretes waste material increases, as do your heart rate and respiration. This is a beneficial effect, helping your body eliminate metabolic waste products. You’ll probably begin to sweat, particularly on the face. And you’ll start to feel good all over.
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HOT WATER
• Temporarily increased blood pressure followed by decreased blood pressure.
• Increased superficial circulation.
• Increased blood supply to muscles.
• General muscle relaxation and relief of muscle spasms.
• Increased heart rate.
• Increased blood volume.
• Promotion of sweating and increased elimination of metabolic waste.
• Increased metabolism with more oxygen to the tissues and increasing carbon dioxide production.
• Increased respiration rate.
• Stimulation of the immune system and increased antibody production.
• Stimulation of liver chemistry and lactic acid conversion.
• Sedation of sensory-motor neurons and pain relief.
INDICATIONS FOR HOT WATER THERAPY
• Back Pain
• Arthritis
• Neuralgia
• Muscle spasms and muscle tension
• Sprains and strains
• Stiffness
• Bruises and contusions
CONTRA-INDICATIONS FOR HOT WATER THERAPY
Hot water therapy is not advised when the following conditions are present. Remember that the techniques are inappropriate for infants and very young children.
• Acute fever
• Severe cardiac complications
• Seizures
• Acute bleeding, open wounds, pressure sores
• Acute skin infections, contagious skin rashes
• Vascular disease
• Thermal nerve deficiency
• Incontinence of bladder/bowel
• Severe hydrophobia
• Malignancy or active T.B.
PRECAUTIONS REGARDING HOT WATER THERAPY
Check with your healthcare professional if you have the following conditions or want hot water therapy.
• Pregnancy
• Acute injury
• Loss of sensation—absent or impaired
• Postural hypotension
• Cardiac history
• Diabetes
• Obesity or physical disability
• Impaired balance
HOW HOT IS A BATH?
Heat tolerance is one of those preferences, so when bathing, find what feels best for you. Don’t scald or parboil yourself! Remember that hot water has many physiological effects, and consider these for therapeutic and safety purposes. For example, hot water lowers blood pressure, so be careful when standing out of a bath or hot tub, especially if it is boiling. If you feel at all light-headed or dizzy, proceed with great caution. Sit for a while first, and let your upper body cool out of the water before standing up.
For your convenience, you may want to keep a non-breakable glass of water nearby, along with a damp washcloth. You sweat a lot in hot water, particularly on your head, so drink water when thirsty and wipe your face with a cool, wet washcloth.
FOR ADDITIONAL LUXURY
A nifty way to turn your bath into a herbal bath is to drop a bag of chamomile or mint tea into your bath water. Both will add a soothing effect and feel great. They also won’t dry the skin as much as soaps and perfumes.