The Tribune

By Dr Monique Thompson

OVER the past few weeks we have been looking at the various treatment modalities that naturopathic medical doctors use to promote healing.

This week, we look at a therapy that has a very long history of use – having been used in ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian societies – as a very effective means of treating disease. This treatment is hydrotherapy.

Hydrotherapy is the use of water and its properties to prevent and treat disease. Although this form of therapy has been used for many centuries, it is still readily used today.

Using a cold towel on your head to relieve a headache, taking a hot shower to help you relax when you are feeling a bit stressed out, and using an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling after a muscle strain are all common examples of hydrotherapy.

I remember walking into my very first class during my first course in hydrotherapy thinking, “Come on, how hard can this be?” Boy, was I headed for a reality check with Dr Sara Hazel!

Although it is rather simple by definition, and some forms of hydrotherapy can be quite simple (as demonstrated above), there are many forms of hydrotherapy and several factors that each play key roles in treatment outcomes.

Therapeutically, water can be used internally or externally. Internal uses include steam inhalations, and simply drinking water (a chemical process) to flush various organs as well as the system in general and to aid in detoxification. Mechanical uses such as enemas, douches and colonic irrigations are also examples of internal hydrotherapy.

External applications are more extensive. The three properties that mainly affect physiological responses here are the temperature of the water, the pressure with which it is applied and the length of time of the application. External applications include sitz baths (or hip bath), foot baths, heating compresses, wet sheet wraps, fomentations, alternating baths, salt glows, cold mitten friction, constitutional hydrotherapy, wet socks and poultices. Each treatment procedure may be different, but all involve hot, cold, and/or neutral water being applied to the body in some way for therapeutic gain.

Simply stated, hydrotherapy works by influencing the flow of blood. When you consider that the Bible says, “For the life of a creature is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11), hopefully you begin to realise the importance of that specific function of hydrotherapy. As heat is applied to the body, blood vessels dilate (open), and with cold application, they constrict (close). This pumping action leads to improved circulation by increasing blood flow, increased nutrient delivery to the cells, increased oxygen absorption, increasing metabolism, increased waste products being taken way from cells, and influences tissue tonicity. These physiologic changes help account for the health benefits attained.

Generally speaking, hydrotherapy treats a wide range of conditions. As we take a more in-depth look at specific applications in future articles, the indications and uses for that therapy will be identified. And although there are some commonalities among procedures that allow them to be used to treat the same condition, the procedure itself carries different indications and contraindications so may not be suitable for all patients. For example, a hot foot bath and wet socks can both be used to treat chest congestion. However, in a patient with diabetes the hot foot bath should be avoided. Conditions commonly treated with hydrotherapy include inflammation, generalised pain, swelling, arthritis, autoimmune conditions, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, fatigue, diarrhoea, menstrual cramps, inflammatory bowel disease, joint pain, anxiety, tension, headaches, sports injuries, toxicities, and many others.

For effective and safe treatments it is important that you are treated by a knowledgeable, qualified health professional as the precautions and contraindications vary with each form of application listed above, and the factors of pressure, time and temperature must be accurate for treatment success.

On the same token, the side effect profile varies as well, based on which form of treatment is applied and the condition being treated. This is important because although the side effect profile is low, it is important for your therapist to know what responses are normal and which are not. For example, when patients receive a wet sheet wrap specifically to aid in detoxification of their system, it is expected that some will get a mild headache as toxins are released. Possible side effects may include headache, vertigo, nervousness, insomnia as the body is stimulated to varying degrees, nausea, palpitations, faintness and chilliness.

In closing, hydrotherapy really is ancient wisdom in modern times. It is a great preventative tool, and an especially effective treatment when combined with proper nutrition and other healthy lifestyle choices.

• Dr Monique Thompson is the founder of Cornerstone Healing Institute, an integrative family medicine clinic, and can be contacted at 356-0083 with any questions/comments. Visit www.chibahamas.com for more information. This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.