Hydrotherapy at Home: Heat


Hydrotherapy is the use of water to relax or heal. The main way it achieves this is by heating or cooling the body which results in improved circulation, increasing the flow of nutrients and carrying away wastes from tissues and organs. Heat therapy is easy to use at home to relieve tension and relax the muscles.

Tips for heat therapy

Moist heat applications are considered very effective for the discomforts of arthritis, as well as general soreness and stiffness.

You probably know that standing under a hot shower can reduce your back, neck, or arthritis pain, and that soaking in a tub can help ease men­strual and muscle cramps. In the shower, try rotating your neck and shoulders and stretching out your calf muscles. Add Epsom salts and drops of essential oil such as lavender, ylang-ylang, or rose to bath water to enhance relaxation and soothe joint or muscle stiffness.

Saunas or steam baths help relieve anxiety and tension, and have been used for centuries to promote health by sweating. Follow a bath or sauna with a quick cool shower to seal in the heat by closing the pores. It also pushes the blood back to the internal organs, and leaves you feeling strong, relaxed and balanced, rather than lethargic.

Use a hot footbath to relieve upper body congestion, for example a sore throat or headache, because the blood is drawn down from the head and internal organs toward the capillaries of the feet.

For upper body tension or congestion, try soaking a towel in hot water mixed with a few drops of essential oils for relaxation (try lavender) or relieving congestion (try eucalyptus). Have your friend or loved one place the wrung-out towel over your upper back, then cover it with a dry towel or fleece (which tends to hold in the heat better). Or use a commer­cial heat pack according to directions.

Precautions
If you are pregnant, or have a heart condition, diabetes, or high blood pressure, consult with your physician before using hydrotherapy. Use caution if you have sensitive skin.

Be careful with heat applications to avoid burning. If you use an electric heating pad, don’t fall asleep!
*** Massage should not be considered as a replacement for professional medical treatment: a physician should be consulted in all matters relating to health and especially in relation to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. In some cases, a primary physician’s approval/prescription is required before any bodywork is administered. Care should be taken during pregnancy, particularly in the use of essential oils and pressure points. Essential oils should not be ingested, and should be used for babies and children only on professional advice.