Water  is one of the most important elements  needed  for survival for every living being. Water also has invaluable benefits when used in various types of therapies for human beings. There are documents that demonstrate the knowledge and use of hydrotherapy in old Chinese villages, but their use spread itself only from the nineteenth century, when Protestant pastor Sebastian Kneipp systematized it .

Etymologically, we find the origin of the word in the Greek terms’ Hydor ‘(water) and’ Therapeia ‘(therapy).

Although hydrotherapy techniques were used in ancient times, Hippocrates (460 to 337 BC), for example, mentions some of them; they were abandoned for a long time and only started to create a buzz in the eighteenth century through the work of doctors Sigmund Hahn (1664 1742) and his son Johann Sigmund Hahn (1696-1773). From this work, Vinceriz Priessnitz (1799-1851) created  the cold water therapy by associating it to sudorific implement . But who really renovated modern hydrotherapy was the Protestant pastor Sebastian Kneipp (1821 -1897), whose basic tenet was that the disease in humans happens when their natural force is undermined by an inadequate diet and unnatural lifestyle. His methods, known today as the “Kneipp cure” included not only complete and partial baths of hot and cold water, but jets of water, exercise, use of medicinal herbs and a healthy diet.

. Hydrotherapy then consists of applying water showers at different pressure and temperature according to different disease to treat, according to a progressive and treatment with graded doses  as weak incentives tend to weaken the body and strong stimuli hurt it too  (hot water calms and tones the nervous system, but if the temperature is excessive or the duration of the bath is very long may cause nervousness and insomnia).

There are different ways in hydrotherapy:

– Cleasings: Apply a thin film of water in certain areas of the body using a cloth. Usually done early in the morning (with cold water) or evening (with warm water).

- Jets: It consists of applying water jets with different pressure and temperature. Se suelen aplicar a una distancia de 2 – 4 metros de la persona utilizando una manguera de presión de 3 – 4 mm de diámetro. It is usually applied at a distance of 2-4 meters from the person using a pressure hose of 3-4 mm in diameter.

- Baths: Baths improve body metabolism and is indicated for the treatment of problems of hypotension, migraine, circulatory problems, rheumatism, skin diseases, depression and anxiety states, but are contraindicated in hypertension, heart failure , swollen varicose veins, myocardial infarction and thrombophlebitis.

- Sauna: Use of sauna is recommended to boost defenses and prevent colds, if problems in the joints and circulatory system, and also when there is physical or mental exhaustion.

– Inhalations: recommended for bronchial asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, respiratory infections and bronchitis.

- Wraps: It consists of wrapping the body part concerned with a damp cloth soaked in cold water, thus absorbing heat from the body, improves circulation and is used to treat inflammations, contusions and muscle aches or joint pains mainly.

Tags: hydrotherapy, hypotension, migraine, movement, nervousness, rheumatism, Sleep, stress

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