Hydrotherapy is a healing modality that is often used in naturopathic medicine. It involves various methods of applying water at different temperatures in order to support the body’s innate self-healing processes.
The applications of hot and cold water promotes healthy blood and lymphatic flow and can thus help to:
- Improve circulation
- Support immune function
- Invigorate our vital organs
- Optimize overall metabolism and detoxification
Hydrotherapy also supports the balance of our autonomic nervous system, promoting the “rest and digest” parasympathetic response, which improves digestion and reduces stress.
There are a variety of hydrotherapy treatments, ranging from warming socks (really they are just cold, wet socks, but ‘warming’ sounds SO much nicer!) to a wet sheet wrap to a hot fomentation. Hot springs, ocean soaks, and river plunges are all considered hydrotherapy treatments too–Nature is full of water therapy. Even baths and showers can be used in a therapeutic manner.
While they all support the body in different ways, all of these hydrotherapy approaches have one main thing in common: they utilize the healing powers of water.
Constitutional Hydrotherapy
For this post, I want to discuss constitutional hydrotherapy: a simple and gentle hydrotherapy treatment that you can do at home. It’s safe and effective for adults and children alike!
Think of constitutional hydrotherapy as a general health “tonic.” It’s a great way to boost your overall vitality and maintain health. Constitutional hydrotherapy is especially helpful for respiratory infections as well as common gastrointestinal issues, as well as a number of other acute and chronic health conditions.
What You’ll Need for the Treatment
For this treatment, you’ll need two people: one person to give the treatment and the other to receive it.
You’ll also need:
- A comfortable surface like a bed or a couch
- A sink or bathtub for hot and cold water
- Plenty of blankets to stay warm
- 4 small towels (kitchen or hand towels work well): 2 towels for hot, 1 for cold, 1 dry towel
- Dishwashing gloves (to keep hands from getting burned by the hot water)
How to Perform Constitutional Hydrotherapy
Arrange the blankets on the bed or couch that they can be pulled over or wrapped around the person receiving the treatment.
The person being treated should lie on their back, unclothed from the hips up.
Now you’re ready to treat!
- Wet 2 towels in hot water (using gloves) and wring them out well. Place the hot towels on the person’s chest and abdomen, covering their torso from their hips to their collarbone. Place the dry towel over the warm towels and wrap the blankets around the person. Tuck them in tight to hold in the warmth. Rest for 5 minutes.
- Wet 1 towel in cold water and wring out well. Remove the hot towels after unwrapping the person from their cozy cocoon of blankets and lay the cold towel (yiiikes!) on their torso. Cover again with the blankets. (It really only feels cold for about 20 seconds, and then it starts to feel warm and cozy, I promise!)
- Rest for at least 10 minutes, or until the cold towel warms up. (This is important—if the towel hasn’t warmed up yet, allow the person to keep resting until it does.)
- Have the person flip onto their stomach and repeat the procedure. Start with 5 minutes of hot towels and then 10 minutes of cold.
Important things to note about this treatment:
- Test the hot towel against your inner wrist before placing it on someone else’s body. You don’t want it to be too hot and lead to a burn!
- Make sure the person getting the hydrotherapy treatment stays warm!! If they get chilled at all, add more blankets. Make sure that they are tucked in tight throughout the treatment in order to keep the warmth in, especially around their neck and feet.
- Caution: Take care with people who have diminished skin sensation, as they may not be able to tell if a treatment is too hot or too cold. People with low body temperatures may need a longer heating treatment.
Modification for Children
Have kiddos start on their stomachs and then flip onto their backs for the second half. They are more likely to oblige the wet towel treatment if they start on their tummies!
Have you ever tried constitutional hydrotherapy? Let me know in the comments section below!
Photo in featured image courtesty of Jesse Bridgewater.
