What is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is the use of water to revitalize, maintain, and restore health.
Why it is used?
From a naturopathic perspective, hydrotherapy is used to stimulate the body’s own innate power to heal. This is one of the founding principles of naturopathic medicine.
Hydrotherapy returns the body to its’ natural state of balance between the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems. The parasympathetic system is what is nicknamed the “rest and digest” system. It can loosely be considered the opposite of the sympathetic system, which activates what is often termed the “fight or flight” response.
In order for the body to be in optimal health, there must be a balance between the two systems. Unfortunately, it has been found that many people are operating on automatic sympathetic mode. An unbalanced sympathetic mode produces stress and continued stress, facilitate “dis-ease” in the body.
When you undergo a hydrotherapy treatment, you become more relaxed, your parasympathetic system starts to ramp up and your body starts to heal. Another way to describe the physiological basis of hydrotherapy is to look at the therapeutic aspects of hot and cold water. Cold water stimulates, it causes superficial blood vessels to constrict, which directs the blood to internal organs. Hot water relaxes, causes blood vessels to dilate, and removes wastes from body tissues. Alternating hot and cold water improves elimination, decreases inflammation, and stimulates circulation.
All of these factors allow the innate power of the body to heal. Hydrotherapy treatments include saunas, steam baths, foot baths, sitz baths, and the application of cold and hot water compresses.
What conditions does it treat?
Hydrotherapy can be used to treat or enhance the treatment of a variety of acute and chronic conditions. Please consult with Dr. Effy Germanis ND, R.Ac for the best options for your situation. It is the philosophy of Naturopathic Doctors to educate and inspire patients to feel empowered about their wellness through promoting self-healing.
Can I use hydrotherapy to treat this specific condition?
The philosophy of hydrotherapy is a simple one. It will help you to relax and balance your body. When relaxation and balance occurs, the body heals itself naturally. If you need advice on treating a specific condition with hydrotherapy, please consult with Dr. Effy Germanis ND R.Ac.
- Alternative hot/cold
- Sauna
- Bath salts: Epsom salt and essential oils
- Colonics or Colon hydrotherapy
- Cold wet sock
- Wet sheet wrap
- Stream bath/Nebulizer
- Hot fomentation
- Compresses
- Hydrotherapy may be used as part of an entire treatment plan and/or as a single therapy.
- Lifestyle Counselling
The foundations of naturopathic medicine are responsibility for one’s own health and prevention of illness before it’s onset. Dr. Effy Germanis ND, R.Ac guides her patients in adapting their attitudes, emotions, and behaviors to remove the obstacles to optimal health. Dr. Effy Germanis ND, R.Ac is trained in various techniques of mind-body medicine and lifestyle modification. These include:
- relaxation and stress-reduction practices
- exercise instruction
- environment modification
- personally-catered weight-management systems and
- positive thinking.
These practices are employed to help each patient attain well-being; reduce risk of preventable disease; and improve overall quality of life.
