Some Spa Tips for Using Hydrotherapy at Home

With the advances of modern plumbing and accessories, many of us can now make our own adaptations of hydrotherapy for home use. I will not get into the history of water therapy here, but perhaps later I can write up something on that subject. Meanwhile, there is plenty of historical material online regarding the contributions of people like Sebastian Kneipp and Vincent Priessnitz, the fathers of therapeutic hydrotherapy.

The primary basis of hydrotherapy is that cold water causes blood vessels to constrict (vasoconstriction) while hot water causes blood vessels to expand (vasodilation). The greater the contrast in water temperature, the greater the effect created on a given customer/client. Vasoconstriction helps flush out waste material from swollen muscles or injured tissue, while vasodilation floods the area with fresh oxygenated blood.

At this point I am obligated to mention that people with high blood pressure, who are taking blood pressure medications, who have problems sensing hot and cold (like advanced diabetes), people with edema or thrombosis or hi risk pregnancy or varicose veins, should NOT have a full treatment of hydrotherapy with very hot water. Also persons with a fever or active infection, or broken skin or bruises, should be very cautious about exposing themselves to extreme temperatures. People who are taking medications for any of the above conditions may have to be cleared by a doctor before receiving hydrotherapy. People with mild versions of the above conditions may be able to have hydrotherapy but at reduced temperature extremes or for a reduced length of time.

We already instinctively know some of the basic principles of hydrotherapy. Hot baths or showers help us relax and get ready for bed. Cold showers help us get up and at ‘em in the morning when getting ready for work. Of course, prolonged exposure to icy water will start to cause hypothermia and reduced blood circulation to the extremities.

The Bath --
Take the basic hot bath and soak. What things can you add to the water to enhance the benefits?
Epsom salts -- for muscle relaxation and to stimulate perspiration.
Apple Cider Vinegar -- 2-3 cups added to a bath will relieve itching; smaller amounts are invigorating.
Oatmeal -- 3-4 cups relieves sunburn or other skin inflammation. NOTE: you may not want to deal with the cleanup! An alternative is to put a scoop into an infuser such as a tea ball, or sewn into a sachet-type cloth bag.
Chamomile or lavender sachets or essential oils for relaxing.
Powdered seaweeds or muds act to normalize skin. NOTE: here again, as with oatmeal, you may not want to deal with cleanup. There are mud-based concoctions in a tube that are easy to use; they are ideal for applying to your face while you soak in the tub. The established brand Queen Helene has a “Mint Julep Masque” that is kaolin based; it shrinks pores and pulls out dirt from pores as it dries. A more recent product is You-Nique, with an acacia, aloe and cornstarch base that is billed as the natural facelift.
Essential oils -- You have a wide choice of scents to choose from. Most people report better results with natural essential oils, as the man-made versions sometimes cause headaches or allergic reactions. I will have to deal with subject of essential oils separately in another article

The Shower --
Many of us are in and out of the shower without thinking twice about it. But using hot and cold water for therapeutic effect has a long history. If you have a hose attachment on a removable shower head, all the better. But even if you have a fixed shower head, you can still benefit from hot and cold therapy.
Use hot water for your normal quick bathing, but finish with a cool or cold rinse. This is very invigorating to the circulation. Those who are a bit skittish about this may choose to only put their feet and hands/arms under the cold water, but may find that they grow to tolerate whole-body immersion under the flow.

Water Treading --
One of Sebastian Kneipp’s techniques was water treading -- walking in a cold mountain stream. This also is very therapeutic for legs aching from working hard all day, or for hikers needing a break in their mountain climbing. Those of us who live far from mountain streams (that’s most of us) have to make do with simulated mountain streams, in the form of a bathtub filled with cold water. It helps with cramping, poor circulation, exhaustion or weakness, varicose veins, any foot problems. The water should be at least up to the ankle and may be up to the knees.

Scotch Shower --
Those of you with a hose on your shower head attachment can try a form of Scotch shower -- a focused stream of water on problem areas, or applied in a flowing patterns over the whole body. Areas of muscle cramps benefit from application of hot and cold alternating water flow.
As always, drink plenty of water after any spa massage or other treatment. Physical and hydrostatic manipulation pushes waste material out of the muscles and blood vessels -- clients who do not drink enough water often feel flu-like symptoms.

Thanks for stopping by, and check back again for more information and tips.