The Impact of Hydrotheraphy

The Impact of Hydrotherapy
What exactly is Hydrotherapy?It is the use of water to revitalize,maintain and restore good health.Water has been our central most natural resource since the beginning of time.Surprisingly hydrotherapy dates as far back as fourth century B.C. where virtually any form of medical care was practiced in a bath house,cold water drips and rubs were used in treating ailments.In the 19th century Father Sebastain Kneipp believed that diseases that could be cured by the use of water which eliminated waste from the body.

We all know that drinking 8-12 glasses of water a day keeps our insides healthy and hydrated so ,it only stands to reason that our outsides need the same care.Unfortunately most people would rather reach for something over the counter to ease their pain.Little do most people know they do use forms of hydrotherapy often.Ever use cold water to sooth a burn? or a ice pack to ease the swelling of a twisted ankle?,those are basic forms of hydrotherapy.

While cold water is stimulating to the nerves by causing blood vessels to constrict making it seem like a numbing effect to the injured part of the body ,warm water is relaxing and causes the blood vessels to dilate removing waste from body tissues. Often times new injuries such as sprained ankles,pulled back muscles and overextension will require alternating cold and warm water treatments for at least the first 24 hours.Alternating helps to decrease the inflammation and increase stimulation.