Hydrotherapy for Health & Wellness
Theory, Programs & Treatments

Introduction Introduction

Chapter 1: Principles of the Natural Behavior of Water

This chapter presents information on understanding the behavior of water that is relevant for therapists performing hydrotherapy treatments. Understanding how water behaves during hydrotherapy treatments, as well as how water behaves the inside the human body, provides a therapist with greater understand of behavior of water and a greater confidence in its use as a therapeutic modality. 

This chapter introduces the principle ways in which water behaves. It is the natural behavior of water that allows for all the complex physiological activities in the human body, for the beautiful expressions of water in the natural environment and for its use as a therapeutic tool in hydrotherapy. Each of the principle behaviors of water are measurable and predictable, which allows them to be used with greater precision. The following are the principle behaviors ofwater that are presented in this chapter:

Heat capacity   Solvent    pH levels   Suspension    Gravity     Pressure    Osmosis     Evaporation   Buoyancy

Teaching exercises are given for each principle, providing students with hands-on experience.

In Chapter 2, we learn that all water that we use for hydrotherapy (and all other uses) has its source in the hydrosphere—the Earth’s one dynamic water system. The total amount of water on Earth remains relatively constant and is found in beautiful natural dynamic expressions, including the oceans, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, rain, snow, ice, glaciers, and hot springs. This one dynamic, integrated water system is continually purifying itself and distributing this “fresh” water to all areas of the planet. The hydrosphere is not only the source of water used for hydrotherapy treatments, but also much of the understanding of the principles of hydrotherapy has been gained over time from people’s experiences with water in natural settings—for example, at hot springs or the ocean. Greater knowledge of the hydrosphere connects us to the “source” of water as well as providing greater insights into the natural behavior of water as it is used in hydrotherapy.

 The study of water also provides a greater understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the human body. The human body is approximately 60% (10 gal) water, and all this water is in a continual state of dynamic circulation. Water in the body is an essential part of every one of our 100 trillion cells and of every physiological process that takes place in our bodies. The fact that the body is mainly water provides insight into why hydrotherapy is such a powerful therapeutic tool. In hydrotherapy, water is brought into contact with the body to transform the fluid dynamics of water inside the body. Hydrotherapy can be used to work on localized areas of the body or the body as one integrated system. This chapter presents insights into working with the body at the structural level and also at the dynamic fluid, cellular level.

Chapter 4: The Balanced Hydration Program: A Key to Health and Wellness

Chapter 4 discusses why proper hydration is so essential for our health and wellness and why when the body’s hydration level falls below a certain level, problems begin to develop and become greater with increasing levels of dehydration. Today, we have a better understanding of how much water the body naturally loses each day and how much water intake is needed to stay properly hydrated. This chapter presents the Balanced Hydration Program, which allows you to consult with your clients to help them improve their daily hydration behaviors. This program provides recommendations not only about the optimal amount of water but also about the percentage of drinking water relative to water from beverages, the timing of water intake throughout the day, and the source and quality of water intake. By making improvements in these key areas, a client can make significant, positive changes in his or her total daily hydration behavior. The benefits of this program can be very significant, not only for improved hydration, but also for weight management as well as decreasing the level of intake of potentially harmful (toxic) chemicals.

Certain key elements are common to all the hydrotherapy treatments taught in Chapter 7. Chapter 5 discusses each element in detail. A greater knowledge of each key element helps in the understanding the significance of each element and how they function together to produce desired therapeutic outcomes. The following are the key elements of a hydrotherapy treatment that are discussed in this chapter:

• Client   

• Therapist   

• Hydrotherapy equipment  Products, including herbs, seaweed, algae, mineral salts, clay, essential oils, and hydrosols

• Water: The role of water in each hydrotherapy treatment

• Steps of the treatment: The step-by-step instructions for each treatment

• Facility: Includes the hydrotherapy treatment room and other rooms used in the hydrotherapy program

An understanding of these different elements is helpful in being able to design specific hydrotherapy treatments and programs to be used as part of ongoing health and wellness programs.

The use of water in hydrotherapy treatments creates certain unique conditions that require special hygiene and safety procedures. Water used in hydrotherapy treatments can come into contact with all or part of the client’s body. This water can then come into contact with the hydrotherapy equipment, floor, and other surfaces in the treatment room. Because a large number of germs can be contained in just one drop of water, all equipment and surfaces that have come into contact with water used during the treatment must be cleaned and disinfected. Proper disinfection procedures are necessary to kill germs and thereby eliminate possible infection of the client or the therapist.

There are also special safety issues associated with the use of water in hydrotherapy treatments, including protection against scalding or slipping. In addition, some hydrotherapy treatments, especially heating treatments, can make clients dizzy, causing them to have difficulty when moving. Therapists must take added measures to ensure each client’s safety.

In this chapter, students learn the general principles of performing treatments in a specific category of hydrotherapy, for example, steam therapy. Students also learn how to perform a variety of treatments in that category, for example, steam treatments for relaxation, detoxification, skin care, preparation for massage, and inhalation therapy. This provides both the knowledge and skills to work with any treatments in all of the categories. It also provides the knowledge and skills to design new treatments in each category. The key categories of hydrotherapy treatments covered are hydrotub (bath), underwater hydromassage, steam, shower, hydromassage table, hot and cold compresses, cryotherapy, and misting.

Chapter 8: History of Hydrotherapy - Ancient to Present

The study of the historical use of hydrotherapy shows that it has been a major component of the great health and wellness traditions throughout time. We find the use of hydrotherapy in Ayurveda from India and in the traditional health and wellness programs of Japan, both of which are more than a thousand years old. Both of these traditions have also been used continuously until the present day and are now popular at wellness centers and spas around the world. The great hydrotherapy traditions of the Greeks and Romans have had a major influence on modern hydrotherapy. In addition, the use of hydrotherapy, including medical hydrotherapy, by many European countries has been used continually for several hundred years. The history of hydrotherapy teaches us that it has worked for thousands of years and can be applied in similar ways today to help clients achieve the same health and wellness goals that clients have always valued.

Chapter 9: Future of Hydrotherapy

This chapter discusses ways in which hydrotherapy is continuing to develop insights into the further development of hydrotherapy in the future. The areas discussed in this chapter include the following:

Water: Continuing scientific developments in understanding the behavior of water, especially at the molecular level and its behavior in the human body.

Natural products: More natural products are becoming available from around the world as well as a greater understanding of their use in hydrotherapy.:37 PM

Hydrotherapy equipment: Improvements in design features, such as greater comfort, better control over water temperature and pressure, and more multipurpose equipment.

Wisdom from the past: Greater research and understanding into the historical uses of hydrotherapy can provide deeper insights into the development of hydrotherapy in the future.

Shared knowledge: Through the Internet and other modern forms of communication, greater sharing of information about hydrotherapy among therapists from around the world will lead to a greater global team approach in the further development of treatments and programs.

Hydrosphere: A greater understanding of the behavior of the hydrosphere in the future, can lead to a greater understanding of the natural behavior of water as well as our connection to the planet’s one global water system. and the total concept of nature leading to better insights into the further development of hydrotherapy.

Nature Paradigm: We are gaining a greater understanding of the total concept of what we mean by nature and what is natural, including alternative health approaches such as hydrotherapy. This will continue to provide insights into the use of hydrotherapy and a greater appreciation of how all natural systems are intimately connected.

Chapter 10: Unique Uses of Water for Health & Wellness

This chapter discusses some of the “unique” uses of water for healing and wellness. Much is known about water—both scientifically and from the use of water in traditional hydrotherapy treatments. However, much remains to be learned about the full potential of the use of water as a therapeutic modality. A better understanding of the role of water in healing and wellness may come from insights gained through many of the unique uses described in this chapter.

One area of the special use of water for healing and wellness involves water in natural settings. Nothing is done to the water, it

just seems to have special qualities that produces unique effects. Some of the examples discussed include:

• Healing baths

• Sacred baths

• Special hot springs, waterfalls, lakes

• Natural water settings for meditation and contemplation

• Water from some remote locations know for its special power for producing greater health and longevity

• The beneficial effects from the recreational use of water in natural settings

Another area of the unique use of water includes normal water that has been modified by some form of technology or human intention that then transforms the people it comes in contact with, such as the following:

• Crystals or gemstones

• Color light therapy

• Natural and primordial sounds

• Transforming water through intention (e.g., blessing water)

• Enhanced drinking water for greater health and wellness

• Principles of feng shui and Sthapatya Veda for enhancing the “chi” or “prana” (life force) of the water

In all of these example, the question is, “What is it about these waters that gives them special healing and wellness properties and how can this understanding allow us to use more of its full potential for health and wellness?"

This chapter provides education on how to market and promote hydrotherapy treatments and programs. Clients are often not as familiar with hydrotherapy as they are with more traditional programs such as massage and skin care. Therefore, it is necessary to find creative ways to educate and interest clients in a facility’s hydrotherapy programs. The following are some of the suggestions for promoting these programs:

• Engaging brochures, DVD presentations, and Web sites

• Personal client interview to provide education and recommendations about all programs, including hydrotherapy

• Water themes as part of a facility’s atmosphere and décor—  for example, small fountains, natural sounds of water, or beautiful photographs of natural water settings.