Hydrotherapy to prevent and treat diseases.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is the use of water (Greek: hydros = water) to prevent and treat diseases. The healing power of water was already known in the oldest cultures, as evidenced by Roman thermal baths. The soothing and healing effects of water are explained in different ways. It is indisputable that the correct use of water can stimulate or regulate blood circulation, relieve pain, enhance blood circulation and increase overall well-being.

Origin and philosophy of hydrotherapy

In the nineteenth century, hydrotherapy experienced a real boom. During this time, several important trends in water treatment emerged:

Kneipp Therapy: Its system of treatment in which water is used in several ways, for example in the form of washing, bathing, dousing or laminating. In addition, Kneipp attached great importance to a healthy diet, adequate exercise, the use of medicinal plants and maintaining or restoring mental health.

Detour from Priessnitz: Vincenz Priessnitz (1799-1851) was a farmer and naturopath. He established a healing process in which compresses, poultices, sweat-stimulating procedures and water therapies were mainly used.

Kneipp and Priessnitz's applications are still often used today. They are also recognized by traditional medicine to treat certain complaints.

Hydrotherapy technology

Hydrotherapy can be used in several ways. The most common forms include:

Baths: A distinction is made between partial and full baths, cold or warm baths, and baths with or without bathing additives. Steam baths. Wash mostly with cold water.

Casts: Casts are performed on a part of the body, for example, as a knee splint, arm splint or face plaster. Water is always brought from a distance from the heart to near the heart, usually at first in the form of cold-blooded showers, and later as cold showers.

Wraps and packs: Wraps are warm or cool, wet towels around a part of the body. A distinction is made between thermal draw coils, heat accumulation and sweat. Some wraps are applied not only with water, but also with additives such as clay, quark, or plant materials. Packs are usually larger wraps that cover half the body or the entire body.

Use of hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is used for many ailments and diseases, for example: foot baths for circulatory disorders in the feet or the beginning of cold femoral baths for hemorrhoids knees for varicose veins and weak bladder or an acute attack of gout casts the arm to treat heart problems nervous or joint pain in the arm. Facial shower headache for beauty care or for tired eyes. Calf cooling wraps for febrile illnesses. Warm wraps on the chest for bronchitis. Abdominal wraps for menstrual cramps. Straw flower wraps for sciatica, back pain, abdominal cramps, or chronic bronchitis.

Side effects of hydrotherapy

If hydrotherapy is used correctly, side effects cannot be expected. However, precautionary measures must be observed with each form of treatment.