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Water
has been used as a valuable therapeutic agent since time
immemorial. In all major ancient civilizations, bathing
was considered an important measure for the maintenance
of health and prevention of disease. It was also valued
for its remedial properties. The ancient Vedic literature
in India contains numerous references to the efficacy of
water in the treatment of disease.
In modern times, the therapeutic value of water was
popularised by Vincent Priessnitz, Father Sebastian
Kneipp, Louis Kuhne and other European water-cure
pioneers. They raised water cure to an institutional
level and employed it successfully for the treatment of
almost every known disease. There are numerous spas and
"Bads" in most European countries where
therapeutic baths are used as a major healing agent.
Water exerts beneficial effects on the human system. It
equalises circulation, boosts muscular tone and aids
digestion and nutrition. It also tones up the activity of
perspiratory gland and in the process eliminates the
damaged cells and toxic matter from the system.
The common water temperature chart is : cold 100C
to 180C, neutral 320C to 360C
and hot 400C to 450C. Above 450C,
water loses its therapeutic value and is destructive.
The main methods of water treatment which can be employed
in the healing of various diseases in a do-it-yourself
manner are described below.ENEMA
Also known as rectal
irrigation, an enema involves the injection of fluid into
the rectum. In nature cure treatment, only lukewarm water
is used for cleaning the bowels. The patient is made to
lie on his left side extending his left leg and bending
the right leg slightly. The enema nozzle, lubricated with
oil or vaseline, is inserted in the rectum. The enema can
containing the lukewarm water is then slowly raised and
water is allowed to enter into the rectum. Generally, one
to two litres of water is injected. The patient may
either lie down on his back or walk a little while
retaining the water. After five to 10 minutes, the water
can be ejected along with the accumulated morbid matter.
A warm water enema helps to clean the rectum of
accumulated faecal matter. This is not only the safest
system for cleaning the bowels, but also improves the
peristaltic movement of the bowels and thereby relieves
constipation. A cold water enema is helpful in
inflammatory conditions of the colon, especially in cases
of dysentery, diarrhoea, ulcerative colitis, haemorrhoids
and fever. A hot water enema is beneficial in relieving
irritation due to inflammation of the rectum and painfull
haemorrhoids. It also benefits women in leucorrhoea.
COLD COMPRESS
This is a local application using a cloth which
has been wrung out in cold water. The cloth should be
folded into a broad strip and dipped in cold water or ice
water. The compress is generally applied to the
head,neck, chest, abdomen and back. The cold compress is
an effective means of controlling inflammatory conditions
of the liver, spleen, stomach, kidneys, intestines,
lungs, brain, pelvic organs and so on. It is also
advantageous in cases of fever and heart disease. The
cold compress soothes dermities and inflammations of
external portions of the eye. When the eyeball is
affected, the cold compress should follow a short
fomentation.
HEATING COMPRESS
This is a cold compress covered in such a manner
as to bring warmth. A heating compress consists of three
or four folds of linen cloth wrung out in cold water
which is then covered completely with dry flannel or
blanket to prevent the circulation of air and help
accumulation of body heat. It is sometimes applied for
several hours. The duration of the application is
determined by the extent and location of the surface
involved, the nature and thickness of the coverings and
the water temperature. After removing the compress , the
area should be rubbed with a wet cloth and then dried
with a towel. A heating compress can be applied to the
throat, chest, abdomen, and joints. A throat compress
relieves sore throat, hoarseness, tonsillitis,
pharyngitis and laryngitis. An abdominal compress helps
those suffering from gastritis, hyperacidity,
indigestion, jaundice, constipation, diarrhoea, dysentery
and other ailments relating to the abdominal organs. The
chest compress also known as chest pack, relieves cold,
bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, fever, cough and so on,
while the joints compress is helpful for inflamed joints,
rheumatism, rheumatic fever and sprains.
HIP BATHS
The hip bath is one of the most useful forms of
hydrotherapy. As the name suggests, this mode of
treatment involves only the hips and the abdominal region
below the navel. A special type of tub is used for the
purpose. The tub is filled with water in such a way that
it covers the hips and reaches upto the navel when the
patient sits in it. Generally, four to six gallons of
water are required. If the special tub is not available,
a common tub may be used. A support may be placed under
one edge to elevate it by two or three inches. Hip bath
is given in cold, hot, neutral or alternate temperatures.
COLD HIP BATH
The water temperature should be 100C
to 180C. The duration of the bath is usually
10 minutes , but in specific conditions it may vary from
one minute to 30 minutes. If the patient feels cold or is
very weak, a hot foot immersion should be given with the
cold hip bath.
The patient should rub the abdomen briskly from the navel
downwards and across the body with a moderately coarse
wet cloth. The legs, feet and upper part of the body
should remain completely dry during and after the bath.
The patient should undertake moderate exercise like
yogasanas, after the cold hip bath, to warm the body.
A cold hip bath is a routine treatment in most diseases.
It relieves constipation, indigestion, obesity and helps
the eliminative organs to function properly. It is also
helpful in uterine problems like irregular menstruation,
chronic uterine infections, pelvic inflammation, piles,
hepatic congestion, chronic congestion of the prostate
gland, seminal weakness, impotency, sterility, uterine
and ovarian displacements, dilation of the stomach and
colon, diarrhoea, dysentery, hemorrhage of the bladder
and so on. The cold hip bath should not be employed in
acute inflammations of the pelvic and abdominal organs,
ovaries and in painful contractions of the bladder,
rectum or vagina.
HOT HIP BATH
This bath is generally taken for eight to 10
minutes at a water temperature of 400C to 450C.
The bath should start at 400C. The temperature
should be gradually increased to 450C. NO
friction should be applied to the abdomen. Before
entering the tub,the patient should drink one glass of
cold water. A cold compress should be placed on the head.
A hot hip bath helps to relieve painful menstruation,
pain in the pelvic organs, painful urination, inflamed
rectum or bladder and painful piles. It also benefits
enlarged prostatic gland, painful contractions or spasm
of the bladder, sciatica, neuralgia of the ovaries and
bladder. A cold shower bath should be taken immediately
after the hot hip bath.
Care should be taken to prevent the patient from catching
a chill after the bath. The bath should be terminated if
the patient feels giddy or complains of excessive pain.
NEUTRAL HIP BATH
The temperature of the water should be 320C
to 360C. Here too, friction to the abdomen
should be avoided. This bath is generally taken for 20
minutes to an hour. The neutral hip bath helps to relieve
all acute and sub-acute inflammatory conditions such as
acute catarrh of the bladder and urethra and subacute
inflammations in the uterus, ovaries and tubes. It also
relieves neuralgia of the fallopian tubes or testicles,
painful spasms of the vagina and prorates of the anus and
vulva. Besides, it is a sedative treatment for erotomanis
in both sexes.
ALTERNATE HIP BATH
This is also known as revulsive hip bath. The
temperature in the hot tub should be 400C to
450C and in the cold tub 100C to 180C.
The patient should alternately sit in the hot tub for
five minutes and then in the cold tub for three minutes.
The duration of the bath is generally 10 to 20 minutes.
The head and neck should be kept cold with a cold
compress. The treatment should end with a dash of cold
water to the hips.
This bath relieves chronic inflammatory conditions of the
pelvic viscera such as salpingitis, ovaritis, cellulitis
and various neuralgias of the genito-urinary organs,
sciatica and lumbago.
SPINAL BATH
The spinal bath is another important form of
hydrotherapic treatment. This bath provides a soothing
effect to the spinal column and thereby influences the
central nervous system. It is given in a specially
designed tub with its back raised so as to provide proper
support to the head. The bath can be administered at
cold, neutral and hot temperatures. The water level in
the tub should be an inch and a half to two inches and
the patient should lie in it for three to 10 minutes.
The cold spinal bath relieves irritation, fatigue,
hypertension and excitement. It is beneficial in almost
all nervous disorders such as hysteria, fits, mental
disorders, loss of memory and tension. The neutral spinal
bath is a soothing and sedative treatment, especially for
the highly strung and irritable patient. It is the ideal
treatment for insomnia and also relieves tension of the
vertebral column. The duration of this bath is 20 to 30
minutes. The hot spinal bath, on the other hand, helps to
stimulate the nervous, especially when they are in a
depressed state. It also relieves vertebral pain in
spondylitis and muscular backache. It relieves sciatic
pain and gastrointestinal disturbances of gastric origin.
FULL WET SHEET PACK
This is a procedure in which the whole body is
wrapped in a wet sheet, which in turn is wrapped in a dry
blanket for regulating evaporation. The blanket should be
spread on the bed with its edges hanging over the edge of
the bed. The upper end should be about eight inches from
the head of the bed. Then spread a linen sheet wrung out
in cold water over the blanket so that its end is
slightly below the upper end of the blanket. The patient
should lie on the bedsheet with his shoulders about three
inches below the upper age. The wet sheet should be
weekly wrapped round the body of the patient, drawn in,
tightly tucked between the legs and also between the body
and the arms. The sheet should be folded over the
shoulders and across the neck. Now the blanket should be
drawn tightly around the body and tucked in along the
side in a similar manner, pulling it tightly. The ends
should be doubled up at the feet. A turkish towel should
be placed below the chin to protect the face and neck
from coming into contact with the blanket and to exclude
outside air more effectively. The head should be covered
with a wet cloth so that the sculp remains cold. The feet
should be kept warm during the entire treatment. If the
patient’s feet are cold, place hot water bottles
near them to hasten reaction. The pack is administered
for half an hour to one hour till the patient begins to
perspire profusely. He may be given cold or hot water to
drink.
This pack is useful in cases of fever especially in
typhoid and continued fevers, and benefits those
suffering from insomnia, epilepsy and infantile
convulsions. It is useful in relieving chronic cold and
bronchitis and helps in the treatment of rheumatism and
obesity.
HOT FOOT BATHS
In this method, the patient should keep his or
her legs in a tub or bucket filled with hot water at a
temperature of 400C to 450C. Before
taking this bath, a glass of water should be taken and
the body should be covered with a blanket so that no heat
or vapour escapes from the foot bath. The head should be
protected with a cold compress. The duration of the bath
is generally from 5 to 20 minutes. The patient should
take a cold shower immediately after the bath.
The hot foot bath stimulates the involuntary muscles of
the uterus, intestines, bladder and other pelvic and
abdominal organs. It also relieves sprains and ankle
joint pains, headaches caused by cerebral congestion and
colds. In women, it helps restore menstruation , if
suspended, by increasing supply of blood especially to
the uterus and ovaries.
COLD FOOT BATH
Three to four inches of cold water at a
temperature of 7.20C to 12.70C
should be placed in a small tub or bucket. The feet
should be completely immersed in the water for one to
five minutes. Friction should be continuously applied to
the feet during the bath, either by an attendant or by
the patient by rubbing one foot against the other.
A cold foot bath, taken for one or two minutes,relieves
cerebral congestion and uterine hemorrhage. It also helps
in the treatment of sprains, strains and inflamed bunions
when taken for longer periods. It should not be taken in
cases of inflammatory conditions of the genito-urinary
organs, liver and kidneys.
STEAM BATH
Steam bath is one of the most important
time-tested water treatments which induces perspiration
in a most natural way. The patient, clad in minimum loin
cloth or underwear, is made to sit on a stool inside a
specially designed cabinet. Before entering the cabinet,
the patient should drink one or two glasses of cold water
and protect the head with a cold towel. The duration of
the steam bath is generally 10 to 20 minutes or until
perspiration takes place. A cold shower should be taken
immediately after the bath.
Very weak patients, pregnant women, cardiac patients and
those suffering from high blood pressure should avoid
this bath. If the patient feels giddy or uneasy during
the steam bath, he or she should be immediately taken out
and given a glasss of cold water and the face washed with
cold water.
The steam bath helps to eliminate morbid matter from the
surface of the skin. It also improves circulation of the
blood and tissue activity. It relieves rheumatism, gout,
uric acid problems, and obesity. The steam bath is
helpful in all forms of chronic toxemias. It also
relieves neuralgias, chronic nephritis, infections,
tetanus and migraine.
IMMERSION BATHS
This is also known as full bath. It is
administered in a bath tub which should be properly
fitted with hot and cold water connections. The bath can
be taken at cold, neutral, hot, graduated and alternate
temperatures.
COLD IMMERSION BATH
This may be taken for four seconds to 20 minutes
at a temperature ranging from 100C to 23.80C.
Before entering the bath, cold water should be poured on
the patient’s head, chest and neck and the head
should be protected with a cold moist towel. During the
bath, the patient should vigorously rub his or her body.
After the bath the body should be quickly dried and
wrapped up in a blanket. If the climate is favourable,
moderate exercise should be undertaken.
This bath helps to bring down fever. It also improves the
skin when taken for five to 15 seconds after a prolonged
hot bath, by exhilarating circulation and stimulating the
nervous system.
This bath should not be given to young children or very
elderly persons, nor be taken in cases of acute
inflammation of some internal organs such as acute
peritonitis, gastritis, enteritis and inflammatory
conditions of uterus and ovaries.
GRADUATED BATH
The patient should enter the bath at a
temperature of 310C. The water temperature
should be lowered gradually at the rate of 10C
per minute until it reaches 250C. The bath
should continue until the patient starts shivering. The
graduated bath is intended to avoid nervous shock by
sudden plunge into the cold water. This bath is often
administered every three hours in cases of fever.
It effectively brings down the temperature except in
malarial fever. Besides, it also produces a general tonic
effect, increases vital resistances and energises the
heart.
NEUTRAL IMMERSION
BATH
This bath can be given from 15 to 60 minutes at a
temperature ranging from 260C to 280C.
It can be given for long duration, without any
ill-effects, as the water temperature is akin to the body
temperature. The neutral bath diminishes the pulse rate
without modifying respiration.
This treatment is the best sedative. Since the neutral
bath excites activity of both the skin and the kidneys,
it is recommended in cases relating to these organs. It
is also beneficial for cases of organic diseases of the
brain and spinal cord, including chronic inflammatory
conditions such as meningitis, rheumatism and arthritis.
A neutral immersion bath taken for 30 to 60 minutes is
highly beneficial in general dropsy, due to cardiac or
renal diseases. It also helps those suffering from
multiple neuritis, alcoholism and other narcotic habits,
chronic diarrhoea, peritonitis and chronic affections of
the abdomen. In such cases the bath may be given daily
for 15 to 30 minutes. This bath is also useful in the
toxemic conditions caused by dyspepsia and pruritus. The
neutral bath should not be prescribed in certain cases of
eczema and other forms of skin diseases where water
aggravates the symptoms, nor in cases of extreme cardiac
weakness.
HOT IMMERSION BATH
This bath can be taken from two to 15 minutes at
a temperature from 36.60C to 400C.
Generally this bath is started at 370C and the
temperature is then gradually raised to the required
level by adding hot water. Before entering the bath, the
patient should drink cold water and also wet the head,
neck and shoulders with cold water. A cold compress
should be applied throughout the treatment. This bath can
be advantageously employed in dropsy when there is
excessive loss of tone of the heart and blood. This bath
also relieves capillary bronchitis and bronchial
pneumonia in children. It relieves congestation of the
lungs and activates the blood vessels of the skin
muscles. The bath should be terminated as soon as the
skin becomes red.
In pneumonia and suppressed menstruation, the bath should
be administered at 37.70C to 400C
for about 30 to 45 minutes. This bath should be given
when the menstruation is due and may be repeated for two
to three days in succession. In dysmenorrhoea, this bath
should be given at 380C to 44.40C
for 15 minutes.
In chronic bronchitis a very hot bath taken for 5 to 7
minutes should be accompanied with rubbing and friction.
This relieves congestion of the mucous membrane and
provides immediate relief After the bath, oil should be
applied to the skin if necessary.
The hot bath is a valuable treatment in chronic
rheumatism and obesity. It gives immediate relief when
there is pain due to stones in the gall bladder and the
kidneys. The hot bath should not be taken in cases of
organic diseases of the brain or spinal cord, nor in
cases of cardiac weakness and cardiac hypertrophy.
EPSOM SALT BATH
The immersion bath tub should be filled with
about 135 litres of hot water at 400C. One to
1 1/2 kg. of Epsom salt should be dissolved in this
water. The patient should drink a glass of cold water,
cover the head with a cold towel and then lie down in the
tub, completely immersing the trunk, thighs and legs for
15 to 20 minutes. The best time to take this bath is just
before retiring to bed. This is useful in cases of
sciatica, lumbago, rheumatism, diabetes, neuritis, cold
and catarrh, kidney disorders and other uric acid and
skin affections.
Precaution
Certain precautions are necessary while taking these
therapeutic baths. Full baths should be avoided within
three hours after a meal and one hour before it. Local
baths like the hip bath and foot bath may, however, be
taken two hours after a meal. Clean and pure water must
be used for baths and water once used should not be used
again. While taking baths, temperature and duration
should be strictly observed to obtain the desired
effects. A thermometer should always be used to measure
the temperature of the body. Women should not take any of
the baths during menstruation. They can take only hip
baths during pregnancy till the completion of the third
month.
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