Water Therapy (Hydrotherapy)
How to Use Water therapy (hydrotherapy) in Its Various Form for Your Health Benefit
Water is one of nature’s greatest gifts to man it is essential for sustaining life on earth for without it life will cease to exist.
Water is known to come with some healing ability to some of our common ailments regarding skin health, feet, body pain and injuries, nasal congestion, mental health, diarrhea, constipation headaches, etc.
Gastrointestinal and renal functions, Drinking water increases the production of new blood and muscle cells most importantly in body metabolism.
Water helps in weight loss, there is a growing body of evidence that supports the importance of adequate hydration in maintaining proper health.
The Japanese have been known to engage in the use of water therapy in the treatment and prevention of common ailments. water has been used since the dawn of history.
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Water Therapy (Hydrotherapy)
Is the scientific term of treatments in which water is used in its various form for pain relief and treatment.
Hydro means water; Therapy means treatment in other words water cure.
However, it is most important to realize that though hydrotherapy is very valuable, it is no substitute for good medical care and examination by a medical doctor.
Make no mistake about this. In any serious illness, you must rely on your doctor’s advice. Under his guidance, you can do much to help yourself.
Water therapy (hydrotherapy) is very safe if it is done under the knowledge and supervision of a medical practitioner. The bottom line is never to rely on hearsay.
Water is a very adaptable substance. At low temperatures, it turns to ice. At normal room temperature, it is a liquid. When heated it readily turns to steam.
All of these changes have a marked effect upon the body, and water can be used to our greatest advantage in each form.
Ice is very useful in treating acute swellings of the tissue, especially following some injury such as a badly sprained ankle.
On the other hand, hot water, or heat in any form, increase the blood flow to the affected area.
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Even steam is very useful in relieving congestion. Here are a few water therapy (hydrotherapy) treatments commonly used today:
Medicated Steam Inhalation
This is an effective form of treatment for a head cold. Fill the vessel or bowl half full of water. Add a little oil of eucalyptus or similar medication.
These simple medicine help to open the windpipes and relieve the congestion. Open the nasal passages and get relief from the symptoms of a cold or sinus infection the steam itself is the most important part of the treatment.
Basic Items you need:
- Large bowl or vessel
- Water
- A pot or kettle
- A stove or microwave for heating up water
- Towel
The process and procedure:
- Heat up the water to boiling.
- Carefully pour the hot water into the bowl.
- Make sure the steam is coming out
- You can use an umbrella by opening it, place it behind the patient’s head, throw a sheet over the umbrella to provide a tent, and covering.
- You can also use a towel to cover and surround it over the back of your head.
- Allow the steam to pass up as you slowly lower your head toward the hot water give yourself a few inches away from the water.
- Inhale slowly and deeply for soothing relief, through your nose for at least up to 6 minutes.
- This medicated steam inhalation is very useful in treating head colds, sinus trouble, bronchitis, croup, and pneumonia.
Be mindful of the hot water especially when treating a young child. Always have an adult stay close by to prevent any accidents.
Do not allow the patient to become burned or chilled during this procedure.
Emergency Treatment for Croup
Water therapy (hydrotherapy) can be employed in the treatment of croup. Croup is a type of respiratory condition that is usually caused by a virus. Croup occurs most often during the fall and winter seasons, but it can occur year-round. It usually affects young children.
It causes swelling around the voice box (larynx), windpipe (trachea), and bronchial tubes (bronchi)
Symptoms include a barky cough, stridor, hoarse voice, Fever, and runny nose.
If your child has a sudden attack of croup in the middle of the night, try to have him breathe steam in some form without delay.
Steam inhalation as described above is satisfactory. Be sure to call the doctor as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, keep yourself calm and quiet and avoid any sign of panic. Otherwise, the child might share your fright and thus find it still harder to breathe normally.
Most children with mild croup symptoms can be successfully treated at home by their caregivers.
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Hot Feet Bath
Another very useful and effective water therapy (hydrotherapy) treatment is the hot foot bath. This simple water therapy (hydrotherapy) procedure helps in boosting the immune system.
Soaking your feet can reduce swelling and pain after a long day on one’s feet.
This water therapy (hydrotherapy) treatment helps in lowering high blood pressure, a foot soak increases circulation and relieves pain.
It also helps in reducing depression and anxiety. It can also be used to soften tissues during a spa foot treatment to soften and beautifies the feet.
Help in relieving congestion in the nose and sinuses, and aids those who suffer from cold feet. It is also valuable in relieving nervous tension.
Not only is it effective in easing head colds and tension headaches, but it is also an excellent way of relieving pelvic cramps, and is certainly better than using pain-killing drugs.
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Procedure:
- The foot tub should be half-filled with warm water, several degrees above ordinary body heat.
- Test the temperature with your hand. If too cool, add more warm water, but always be careful not to burn the skin.
- Keep the patient warm during this treatment.
- Wrap a blanket around him and apply a cold compress to the head.
Hot Water Bottle a Form of Water Therapy (Hydrotherapy)
This method may sound archaic and old fashion. Yet the hot water bottle is still very useful and inexpensive.
The Hot Water Bottle is a bottle filled with hot water and sealed with a stopper, used to provide warmth, typically while in bed, but also for the application of heat to a specific part of the body.
It is the original method of heat therapy, providing relief from the pain associated with everything from a toothache to cold feet.
Patients with a variety of conditions and injuries such as arthritis, stomach cramps, fibromyalgia, and sports injuries will all appreciate this soothing, comforting pain relief that comes with this Water therapy (hydrotherapy) method by placing the warm, weighty bottle on the afflicted area.
Never use a hot water bottle without a cover, as this may burn the skin. When the treatment is completed, be sure to empty the bag and allow it to dry. This simple treatment is beneficial in cases of shock.
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Heat Compress
This form of Water therapy (hydrotherapy) involves wrapping towels soaked in warm or cool water on a body part to increase circulation or reduce inflammation.
Heating compresses causes warming to the area being treated through the application of cold. By applying cold it causes the blood to circulate to the inner core of the body where it is warmed and re-oxygenated and then circulated back to the affected area.
This is an excellent means of treating a sore throat. It is often more effective than expensive medications.
- First, select a piece of cloth, such as a large handkerchief. Fold it about three inches wide and twelve to fifteen inches long.
- Dip this in cold water and wring it out as dry as possible. Wrap this around the patient neck or affected area and cover it with several thicknesses of flannel or woolen material about four inches wide.
- Fasten the compress in place with safety pins and leave it on all night. Within a few minutes, the compress will feel warm and will have a soothing effect on the throat. This compress should be changed every eight hours.
Benefits of Heating Compress
The heating compress is very useful in treating hoarseness or laryngitis, and also in relieving stiffness in the neck muscles following an injury.
Many cases of acute tonsillitis have been successfully treated by this simple means. Be sure the compress is neither too tight nor too loose.
Continue this simple treatment for several nights in succession, and you will be surprised at the relief it will bring.
Please note: This procedure should be done under the supervision of experienced medical personnel.
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Hot Packs and Fomentations in Water Therapy
A fomentation is simply the application of moist heat to the body surface (localized area). A fomentation consists of blanket material: 50% wool to retain heat and 50% cotton to retain moisture and be more durable.
Hot packs and fomentations are useful in treating local pains and muscle injuries in the arms, legs, and back.
Hot packs and fomentation are of value in treating:
- Joints pains
- Chest colds influenza
- Croup
- Bronchitis
- Laryngitis and pleurisy
- Inflammation in any part of the body.
Patients suffering from arthritis may also derive benefit from this form of water therapy (hydrotherapy), but the greatest value of this form of treatment is found in cases of colds and respiratory infection.
Ice Packs
Cold, water therapy (hydrotherapy) is the application of cold over an affected area to reduce pain and decrease blood flow. It is commonly used in first aid to minimize pain and swelling after an injury.
In order to eliminate the risk of frostbite, ice, and ice packs should be wrapped in a small towel, and should not be placed directly on the skin.
Ice or gel-filled ice packs, cold wet towels can be used to apply cold in the affected area.
Ice packs are useful in treating injured joints and muscles, especially during the acute stage.
Procedure:
- Wrap a light towel around the part to be treated.
- Next, pack small pieces of ice over the area, and cover this with some light plastic waterproof material or gel-filled ice packs
- Add another towel and leave the whole pack in place for twenty to thirty minutes.
- Be sure the bed is protected by a plastic or rubber sheet to avoid wetting the bedsheet. Repeat the treatment every three or four hours, as may be needed.
- Depending on the body part being iced. Your therapist will advise you on the ideal duration for you.
- If you wish to reapply the ice, wait for twenty minutes between applications. This treatment is valuable for cases of acute bursitis and for sprains of the wrist, ankle, or other joints.
References
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/cold-compress
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30609670/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26200171/
