Cold Plunge, Deluge, Balneotherapy, Sweat Lodge: These are not the grunge bands from the 80’s, but different varieties of hydrotherapy, which uses water in the maintenance of health or treatment of disease.

Hydrotherapy has ancient roots in Greek and Roman civilizations. The Old Testament of the Bible mentions the healing powers of mineral waters and used water as a cleansing way to baptize people into Christianity. Different indigenous cultures have worshipped water and often use water in official cultural ceremonies to signal cleansing or healing.

In the early 19th century, various proponents of water therapy came to the forefront and spas and mineral baths gained attention for curative and stress-relieving properties. More attention in recent years has given rise to the benefits of water therapy and water-based exercise.

Water Exercise
According to www.spine-health.com, water therapy exercise programs (sometimes called pool therapy, hydrotherapy or aquatic therapy) consist of a variety of aquatic-based treatments and exercises that are designed for back pain relief and to condition and strengthen muscles.

Further, water therapy exercise offers many of the same benefits associated with land-based exercise programs and is especially helpful in cases where a land-based exercise program is not possible due to pain, decreased bone density, disability or other factors. Water therapy is particularly good for people with conditions such as:

• Osteoarthritis (arthritis in the hands)
• Advanced osteoporosis (with susceptibility to and/or pain from fracture)
• Muscle strain or tears

Currently, hydrotherapy is used by a variety of institutions including medical facilities, gyms and spas. The origin of the word spa is “Sanitas Par Aqua” which translates from Latin to mean “health by water.”

Water-based Therapies
Hydrotherapy involves treatment with water in the form of ice, liquid or steam. Some of the more common examples of hydrotherapy include using water to clean wounds; making warm moist compresses, ice packs, whirlpool or steam baths; and drinking water in order to reduce dehydration.

In most types of hydrotherapy, water is either directly applied to the desired area (an ice pack or a warm compress) or the body is immersed in water (a hot tub or bath).

Relieving Stress and Tension
The recuperative and healing properties of hydrotherapy are based on its mechanical and/or thermal effects. Generally, heat quiets and soothes the body, slowing down the activity of internal organs. In contrast, cold stimulates and invigorates, increasing internal activity.

Tense muscles and anxiety from stress can be relieved by a hot shower or bath, where a warm shower or bath followed by a short, invigorating cold shower can help stimulate a tired and stressed body or mind. Submerging into a bath, pool, or a whirlpool creates a feeling of buoyancy and weightlessness, relieving the body from the constant tug of gravity.

Water, in motion, stimulates touch receptors on the skin, boosting blood circulation and releasing tight muscles. Water seems to have special powers in eliminating stress and helping restore and rejuvenate our bodies. Water calms the lungs, heart, stomach and endocrine system (made up of the pituitary, thyroid, thymus, pancreas and adrenal glands, along with testes in men and ovaries in women) by stimulating nerve reflexes on the spinal cord.

Saunas
Saunas are deeply relaxing and are a great way to melt away stress. A sauna is an eliminative procedure using dry heat (produced by adding water to heated coals or a heated element). Saunas stimulate blood flow, increase heart rate, have an immune-balancing effect, promote hormone production, encourage mucose secretions in the respiratory system, open airways, reduce resistance to respiration, promote relaxation and may improve mental outlook.

Hydrotherapy has passed the test of time, emerging as a viable and curative healing source for many cultures and people. By combining the time-tested benefits of hydrotherapy with the wisdom of traditional medicine, American and European naturopathy and cutting-edge Western technology, you can create healing and stress-relieving benefits for your body and mind.

Cari Curri is a trained massage therapist, licensed esthetician and co-owner of Kalianas Wellness Sanctuary in Indian Harbour Beach. For more information, call (321) 777-4242 or visit online at www.kalianas.com.