Hydrotherapy: How it Works And What Conditions it Can Treat?

As the name itself suggest, hydrotherapy is a treatment, where water is used to treat the patients. In fact, this way of treating is said to be existing since the ancient Roman and Greek era. In addition, it will also form an integral part in most of the traditional systems of medicine. Please go through the following content in order to realize the great benefits offered by hydrotherapy with regard to health.

Hydrotherapy is used to treat many illnesses and conditions including:

- acne

- arthritis

- colds

- depression

- headaches

- stomach problems

- joint, muscle, and nerve problems

- sleep disorders

- stress

How Does Hydrotherapy Work?

Thermal as well as mechanical effects are the main things that influence the healing properties of therapy using water. In other words, the reaction of human body to cold and hot stimuli is what actually concentrated in hydrotherapy. The things left deeper in our body by the skin are carried by the nerves.

Hence, it of course stimulates the major part our body called immune system, which in turn produces some special hormones like stress hormones. It will also lead to improved digestion as well as circulation, as it also encourages the flow of blood. As a result, the sensitivity of our body towards pain will be lessened.

Basically, heat is employed to carry out some activities like reducing the activity of our internal organs and well as to soothe and quite our body. This is the reason why hot bath is always recommended for people experiencing some sorts of anxiety and tense muscles.

On the other hand, cold is employed for stimulating and invigorating and hence, for increasing the internal activities that are carried out within our body. Hence, cold bath or warm bath could hold well for stimulating your mind.

You will of course experience a kind of weightlessness when you submerge your body in some water sources like pool or bath. The reason is that water will relieve the body of much of gravity effects. In addition, you will also experience a massage kind of feeling, as water also has a special property called hydrostatic effect, which kneads our body gently. The touch receptors of our skin will be stimulated when water starts to move and as a result, the blood circulation will be improved, which in turn will release the tight muscles. Hence, you will of course overcome all sorts of inconveniences experienced in the body.

Types of Hydrotherapy

Just like many other therapies, hydrotherapy is also classified into some types. Some major techniques are like salt glow, wet sheet pack, body wrap, heating compresses, alternating hot and cold compresses, steam inhalation, friction rub, cold mitten, footbaths, contrast sitz baths, sitz baths, neutral baths, baths and showers etc.

Speaking about the external hydrotherapy, it involves application of ice or water to our body when it is well immersed in water, temperature based hydrotherapy involves various effects of cold or hot water on underlying tissues of skin.