Hydrotherapy: An Ancient Tradition

Hydrotherapy, also known as water therapy or hydropathy, has been used for centuries to calm the body and mind and is one of the more varied techniques in natural health.  Different cultures have varied techniques using water as a healing tool. By experimenting with high temperatures of heated water and steam these techniques have been effective in improving health, making people feel better and more rejuvenated. As far back as ancient Greece, public baths have been a part of rituals revolving around water. Immersion in water, often known as public bathing, has also been a staple in Japan and China. Known as sento in Japan, public baths are seen as a great social importance because people who frequent the baths are close physically, so the theory is that they should be close emotionally, forming a bond through intimacy. A different type of Japanese bath is called onsen and is a naturally formed hot spring, which are also popular across the world.

Body wraps are another type of water therapy and can be hot or cold. Hot wraps induce sweating of certain affected parts or the whole body and cold wraps reduce inflammation or fever.

Mineral baths—or naturally occurring hot springs—are produced by geothermal heat from the crust of the earth. There are lots of these thermal springs found in the United States, for example Yellowstone National Park, Mammoth Hot Springs, and places you would not expect like Warm Springs, Georgia. Besides famous baths in Greece, Japan, and Rome, all across Europe on rooftops and in small caves thermal springs are a source of community and energy that transfers between pools and people for an incredible transformative experience. Ancient cultures believe that drinking from these sacred pools help maladies from intestinal problems to constipation and colitis, and even some therapies are said to help diabetes.

While taking a sauna is now popular in America as a hotel or gym amenity, a sauna was originally known as a Turkish or hot air bath. Between 120 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, heat stimulates the body to release toxins by sweating through the skin. Also by stimulating blood flood and increasing heart rate, a sauna can open up your airways for better breathing, encourage hormone production, and rejuvenate your body. By allowing the heat to infiltrate your body anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours, your sweat has detoxified your body. Remember that any longer than 2 hours could be dangerous because dehydration can make you pass out, so make sure you do have a lot of water on hand after taking a sauna.

A Jacuzzi or hot tub is the ultimate in backyard relaxation since they have become quite popular. Instead of a public bath, the hot tub is more of the American private bath even though they are often located outside in the open air. In order to relax the muscles, the most desired temperature should be between 92 and 94 degrees and for relieving the tension the heat can be raised to between 102 and 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Doctors warn against using this type of treatment for certain conditions. Diabetics, pregnant women, multiple sclerosis sufferers, and people with abnormally high or low blood pressure are not recommended to use saunas or hot tubs. Children and the elderly also need to use caution and people with certain skin conditions may worsen their condition due to circulating bacteria in the water that could cause infection, so please consult your doctor before prolonged use.

From healing pools with minerals help to alleviate pains involved with arthritis and skin conditions and body wraps that alternate hot and cold to saunas that inspire toxin flushing and public pools used as social go-betweens, using water as a transition from earth to human has proved to be successful. When I visited Rome, if I had been aware of Roman baths, I might have looked into taking a dip in one of their healing pools between throwing coins in the Trevi fountain and walking through the Coliseum; next time I will try to make hydrotherapy will be part of my itinerary.