Hydrotherapy: Beauty and Health With the Help of Water

The beneficial effects of hydrotherapy have been known since ancient times.

Hippocrates recommended bathing in mineral water for therapeutic purposes, the Egyptians believed that water purified their spirits, the Greeks set up relaxation centers near rivers, and the Romans gained fame through the baths where they pampered themselves with steam baths and massages.

Even in the Bible, water is recognized for its value and symbolic use in purifying the body and mind.

The therapeutic and symbolic use of water disappeared during the Middle Ages to return to the public's attention in the 19th century when Abbot Sebastian Kneipp laid the foundations of the first hydrotherapeutic center in England.

Hydrotherapy at the salon

Nowadays, hydrotherapy is a key element of spa salons, along with relaxing massages, aromatherapy, physiotherapy, and ambient music.

"Hydrotherapy is, in fact, a mix of therapies: a steam bath, complete with Vibro massage and Vichy showers. Essential oils, vitamins, chromium, and aromatherapy put all your senses to work," says Anne Toth, executive director of Eden Spa.

According to the specialist, the benefits of hydrotherapy include:

• stimulating digestion and blood circulation;
• strengthening the immune system;
• relaxation of the body;
• pain relief;
• along with other therapies (body wraps, massage) help reduce cellulite.

Specialists recommend 2-3 sessions per week for visible results. In terms of reducing cellulite, these therapies recommend a balanced and healthy diet, as well as regular exercise.

For certain categories of people, hydrotherapy also has contraindications, not being indicated for those who have skin diseases, high or oscillating blood pressure, cancer, infections, and acute inflammation.

Therapeutic baths: benefits

Therapeutic baths are one of the forms of hydrotherapy and are done only on the doctor's recommendation. It will determine the duration of treatment or the combination of these therapies with others.

Depending on the temperature of the water, the therapeutic baths can be:

• cold (water is below 20 degrees Celsius) - should not last more than a minute, because they become dangerous. They have a tonic effect on the body;
• cool (water has a temperature between 20-30 degrees Celsius). Like the cold ones, it tones the body;
• warm (water is 35-38 degrees Celsius) - have sedative effects and improve sleep, is recommended for people with insomnia;
• hot (water is over 38 degrees Celsius) - increase body temperature and are recommended for people who have been exposed to cold or those who have specific sensations at the beginning of a cold: dizziness, pain throughout the body, persistent cold sensation.

Baths with herbs and salts: complete relaxation

Several plants are known for their calming effects. If you want to relax after a tiring day, you can put, in the tub with hot water, a canvas bag with a mixture of chamomile, hops, valerian, and lavender. For 30 minutes you can relax in this fragrant liquid.

Baths with various salts are known for their beneficial effects on diseases of the nervous system, cardiovascular, or skin. You can take a bath every two days with various salts (for example, sea salt): put in a canvas bag 250-300 g of salt in a tub of warm water. Such a bath takes about 20 minutes.

Other forms of hydrotherapy

• The wraps are mainly used as a method for treating local inflammation and fever;
• Cold compresses are used for invigorating, toning the body, circulatory problems, and respiratory infections;
• Showers are of several types and are applied to different parts of the body, depending on the health problems being treated. Thus, there are showers for hands, feet, chest, face, back, etc.
• Steam baths (saunas) help eliminate toxins from the body and have a relaxing effect.

Hydrotherapy: contraindications

Although they have many health benefits, there are some contraindications to hydrotherapy. For example, diabetics, people with multiple sclerosis, those with high blood pressure, and pregnant women should avoid hot baths and saunas.

The same recommendation applies to children. Therefore, if you want to follow such therapies and avoid further complications, consult your doctor first.