Water Treatments
Bathing in thermal waters was a practice central to Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and many other cultures, practiced to improve general health or when relief from painwas desired. In the United States, the popularity of spas has risen steadily since the Saratoga Springs, NY was the first to open in the 1850s. Franklin D. Roosevelt even bought his own spa, Mineral Springs, during his presidency, and championed the therapeutic value of water.
Modern Hydrotherapy is the technical term referring to water treatments. It is an indispensable component of alternative and orthodox medicine, was a therapy originally pioneered in Europe in the 1800s by peasant farmer Vincenz Preissnitz. Hydrotherapy, formerly called hydropathy, uses water to treat illnesses and for pain relief and relaxation. Water healing is one of the oldest and safest ways for treating many common ailments. We all know that even a simple hot bath at the end of the day makes us feel better, preventing stiffness and relieving fatigue.
Water treatments include saunas, steam baths, sitz baths, and the application of hot and cold water compresses. Water therapies take many different forms. Hydrotherapies today use liquid in all its forms – liquid, ice, and steam – to relieve pain and ease a variety of conditions, from arthritic pain, back pain and stiffness to stress. Prior to Victorian times, cold water was the norm, but the use of heat has since gained popularity and is now an integral part of many hydrotherapy treatments.
Some of the more popular types of hydrotherapy include:
Balneotherapy - Balneotherapy is best described as healing by water, using it to revitalize the body and relieve pain by improving circulation and boosting the immune system.
Thalassotherapy – Thalassotherapy comes from the Greek word for "sea", and refers to a variety of treatments that use seawater and seaweed, each designed to tone, moisturise and revitalise the body and skin, and, in many cases, to improve circulation. Other marine derivatives including algae, mud and sand feature in thalassotherapy, too.
Cryotherapy - Cryotherapy is the use of low temperatures for therapeutic effect. The form of surgery using extreme cold temperatures is called cryosurgery, while other therapies using cryotherapy are cryosaunas (cold saunas) and ice pack therapy.
Iodine-Grine Therapy – These are mineral baths that are naturally rich in iodine and salt, used mostly in Europe for convalescence and recuperation from illness. Kneipp Treatments – Named after Sebastian Kniepp, a Bavarian priest and one fo the founders of the naturopathic medicine movement. Kneipp treatments take a whole-body approach, combining hydrotherapy, herbology, and a diet of natural foods.
Swiss Shower – An invigorating shower that tones circulation by contracting and dilating blood capillaries, delivered as a standing body massage through a high-pressure hose. Water fluctuates from hot to cold, boosting circulation and helping relieve rheumatic and arthritic pain.
Finnish bath – Taking a sauna begins by sitting in the hot room, typically warmed to 170-230 degrees Fahrenheit. Water is thrown on hot stones which sit on top of the kiuas, a special stove used to warm up the sauna. This produces steam, known as löyly, which increases the moisture and heat within the sauna. Occasionally leafy, fragrant boughs of silver birch called vihta) to gently beat oneself. This has a relaxing effect on the muscles. When the heat begins to feel uncomfortable it is customary to jump into a cold pool, or to have a cool shower. The cycle is then repeated as many times as desired.
Turkish Bath (Hammam) – The bather first relaxes in a room that is heated by a continuous flow of hot, dry air allowing the bather to perspire freely. Bathers may then move to an even hotter room before splashing themselves with cold water. After performing a full body wash and receiving a massage, bathers finally retire to a cooling room for a period of relaxation
Thermotherapy – Thermotherapy, also called heat therapy, is the application of heat to the body for pain relief and health. It can take the form of a hot cloth, hot water, ultrasound, heating pad, whirlpool baths, and many others. It can be beneficial to those with arthritis and stiff muscles and injuries to the deep tissue of the skin.
Scottish shower – Some sources suggest the origins of the term "Scottish shower" can be traced back to the notoriously fickle weather of Scotland. A natural Scottish shower is described as a series of short cloudbursts interspersed with warmer weather. A modern Scottish shower is a relaxing treatment, during which users stand in an enclosed shower stall while either a trained therapist or an automated valve system alternates hot and cold water sprays. The user's circulatory system is said to benefit from the cycles of expansion and shrinkage.
Russian sauna (Banya) – The traditional Russian sauna is often heated to more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Water is splashed on hot rocks on the stove in the traditional wooden sauna, releasing steam. People often massage themselves or others with bunches of dried branches and leaves from white birch, oak or eucalyptus (called veniks) in order to improve blood circulation. After the heat becomes uncomfortable, it is customary to cool off, either outdoors or in a cold bath or shower. The process is repeated as many times as desired.