hydrotherapy

The healing power of water was already known in ancient times. Later in the 18th century, Johann and Sigmund Hahn called this therapy back to life. In the 19th century, Vinzenz Prießnitz was known for its various water applications. It was he who further developed hydrotherapy. At about the same time, Sebastian Kneipp treated with the forces of water.

Hydrotherapy is a stimulus therapy in which the water is only used externally. It includes about one hundred different ways of using the water. Hydrotherapy includes ablutions, steam treatments, rubbings, sauna, wraps, pads and medical baths with a variety of additives, castings, dry brushes, arm and foot baths, sitz baths, dew kicking and treading. Depending on the indication, the applications for the patients are selected, duration and intensity are determined. In hydrotherapy, both small stimuli, for example in the form of ablutions but also with strong stimuli, such as whole-body wraps are used.

Effect of hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy works with heat and cold stimuli of the water. This causes the body to react in some way. The bodies exposed to the water can either be cooled or warmed in a short time. The cold or warmth stimuli affect not only locally, but achieve an effect for the entire organism. Circulation, nervous system, metabolism and immune system are affected by the stimuli of water. Also a positive effect on soul and spirit is attributed to the water.

Improvement of blood circulation

Warm stimuli heat the body. This contributes to the calming, relaxation and blood circulation promotion. Cold stimuli help to make the vessels narrow at first, but then wide. This also contributes to blood circulation. The tissue is perfused, the lymph circulates better and the excretory function of the skin is supported.

Stimuli affect internal organs

The temperature stimuli of the water, absorbed by the skin, activate internal organs via so-called cutis reflex arcs. The skin absorbs stimuli, which reflexively effect in organs of the same segment. Depending on the type of application, this can lead to stimulation or even reassurance for the organism

Detoxification performance of the body

Temperature stimuli in hydrotherapy promote tissue perfusion, which also stimulates the release of toxins (toxins) to the outside. For example, in the case of wraps and overlays, which are still admixed with substances such as quark or essential oils, this can additionally support the toxin release.

Arndt-Schulz law and hydrotherapy

Rudolf Arndt and Hugo Schulz dealt with the stimulus therapy at the turn of the century. They justified the law named after them, which states that small stimuli fuel life, medium stimuli encourage life and strong stimuli inhibit life. A stimulus therapy uses different methods that are supposed to cause certain reactions. Examples are cold water, warm water, fasting, autologous blood and homeopathy. The body is given a small, medium or strong stimulus, whereupon an answer is expected.

So it is with hydrotherapy, which corresponds to the naturopathic principle "help for self-help". It is also one of the irritant therapies. Again, the above-mentioned Arndt-Schulz law is used.

The selected stimulus must be adapted to the starting position, the constitution and the disease of the patient. For example, in hydrotherapy, washing, dry brushing and partial casting are among the mildest stimuli. Medium strong stimuli are, for example, sitz baths, sauna and half baths. To the strong charms are over-heat baths and full-flashguns counted.

Different water temperatures

Cold means in hydrotherapy to 18 degrees Celsius, warm moves between 36 and 38 degrees Celsius, hot temperatures between 39 and 41 degrees Celsius.

Cold water is usually used in acute cases, such as in acute inflammation used. Warm water, on the other hand, is more commonly used in chronic conditions. Cold applications are never done on cold skin. First, the skin must be heated, for example with the help of a hot foot bath. The known calf rolls are also obsolete when the patient suffers from cold feet.

Fields of application of hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is used in cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the immune system, rheumatic diseases and metabolic diseases. Through the calming and relaxing effect of the water, soul and spirit come to rest. The water applications are used preventively, in the acute as well as in the chronic area.

Wraps and packs
It covers individual parts of the body or the whole body with a damp cloth. On the damp inner cloth, a larger, dry cloth is placed. A wrap that covers more than two-thirds of the body is called a wrap. Cold, hot or lukewarm wraps are used, depending on the indication. Cold wraps support blood circulation and stimulate blood pressure somewhat. Hot wraps are more relaxing, soothing and lower the blood pressure. In order to increase the effect, additives such as chamomile, cottage cheese, salt or horsetail are often added to the packages. The lukewarm coils are used, for example, as a calf wrap to lower the temperature of fever.

washings
Again, there are partial or full body applications. In the case of partial washing, the individual parts of the body are washed away with the help of a sponge from the heart, in circular movements. Subsequently, body parts or the whole body are covered with dry wipes, but not dried. Ablutions serve the blood circulation, stimulate the metabolism, have a detoxifying effect and are antipyretic.

bathrooms
Baths are mainly used for relaxation and relaxation. Gymnastic exercises in the water are performed for joint diseases, fractures or spinal complaints. Partial applications in the form of partial baths with warm or cold water serve to relieve pain and stabilize the circulation. Even with body aches, baths are used to alleviate the symptoms. (Sw)

Image: Bobby M.