Origin of Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is of different types and can be done at home, in spa or health centers. The different types of Hydrotherapy include:

1. 1. Turkish bath – These involve steam rooms that are filled with humid air. Steam helps in releasing the toxins from the body and removes impurities which can cause diseases.
   2. Sauna – In this case, the dry and warm air assists the body in sweating thereby releasing toxins.
   3. Watsu – This involves aquatic massage, wherein a therapist massages you while you are floating in a warm water pool.
   4. Warm water bath – Epsom salt, dead sea salt, mineral mud, moor mud, ginger or aromatherapy oils are added to warm water and you soak yourself in it for 30 minutes.
   5. Sitz bath – There are two adjacent tubs, one filled with cold water, another with hot. You sit in one tub with your feet in the other and then reverse is done. This is especially helpful in the case of hemorrhoids, premenstrual (PMS) and menstrual problems.
   6. Compress – Hot and cold compresses are done using towels. These are placed on specific areas of the body. This is especially helpful in reducing stiffness and sore muscles by promoting blood flow (hot compress). A cool compress is generally used to reduce swelling or inflammation.
   7. Hot fomentation – Hot water bottles are used to treat cold and chest congestion. Not only does it provide relief from the problem, it also reduces the duration of the illness.
   8. Wraps – Instead of using towels, this process involves flannel sheets. You are required to lie down and cold sheets are used to wrap the body, followed by dry towels and eventually blankets. As the body warms up, it dries the wet sheets. This process is helpful for treating skin disorders, muscle pain, and colds.
   9. Warming socks – This unique therapy involves putting on a pair of wet socks on your feet and putting on a pair of dry wool socks over them. Go to bed wearing these and remove them in the morning. The cold, wet socks help in improving circulation and reducing upper body congestion.
   10. Contrast hydrotherapy – Alternating between cold and hot temperatures is what this Hydrotherapy is all about. After taking the shower, turn the temperature to as cold as you can bear it and turn it off completely after 30 sec. People also alternate between warm and cold water for 3 cycles, ending with cold water.
   11. Hydrotherapy pool exercise – This involves exercising in a warm water pool as it offers very little resistance. This therapy is extremely beneficial for arthritis, back pain and other musculoskeletal problems. While water aerobics is fast, Hydrotherapy exercises are slow and done under the guidance of a physiotherapist.