The Forgotten Art of Hydrotherapy, Part II

By Daniel H. Chong, N.D.

From: Article Source

Alternating Hot and Cold Sitz Bath - The sitz bath is an immersion bath with the patient seated in a tub with water covering the hips, buttocks and lower abdomen. It is powerful in its ability to affect the lower abdominal and pelvic organs.

Sitz baths are useful in vaginal infections, chronic urinary tract infections, pelvic congestion, pelvic inflammatory disease, hemorrhoids, fissures, prostatitis, constipation, postpartum, improving neuralgias and insomnia.

Supplies Needed:

Two wash tubs large enough for you to sit in comfortably (bathtub may be used)

Directions:

1. Place both tubs in your bathtub and run hot water from the faucet directly into one tub.
2. Fill one tub with hot water (about 106F to 110F) to about 1/2 inch above your navel. Fill the other tub with cold water (55F to 75F) to 1/2 inch below the navel. When you first start doing the treatments, the contrast between the water temperatures may be made minimal until you are accustomed to the treatment.
3. Sit in the hot tub for three minutes and then the cold tub for 30 seconds. Do three sets of hot and cold, always starting with the hot, and finishing with the cold. Dry off completely after the treatment is finished.

The Castor Oil Pack - The castor bean (Oleum ricini), also known as Palma Christi due to its shape and healing properties, is known principally as a cathartic (strong laxative) when taken internally.

A gentler use is in the form of a pack placed over the abdomen, usually with heat applied. The oil is absorbed into the lymphatic circulation to provide a soothing, cleansing, and nutritive treatment. Castor oil does not have a laxative effect when used topically.

The castor oil pack is not technically a hydrotherapy treatment, but it has many applications, and is specific for assisting detoxification and for digestion enhancement.

Other conditions that respond well include: headaches (decreases frequency), liver disorders, constipation, intestinal disorders, in cases of uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts that are non-malignant, gallbladder inflammation or stones, conditions with poor elimination, nighttime urinary frequency and inflamed joints. It is not to be used during pregnancy, over bleeding areas, or during menstruation.

Supplies Needed:

• Castor oil
• Plastic wrap or sheet of plastic, wool or cotton flannel (cut large enough to cover entire treatment area when folded into thirds)
• Hot water bottle
• Old bath towel
• Old t-shirt

Directions:

1. Fold flannel three sheets thick so it is still large enough to fit over your
   entire upper abdomen and liver.
2. Use the oil at room temperature.
3. Soak flannel with the oil so that it is completely saturated.
4. Lie (or recline) on your back, with your feet elevated (use of a pillow under your knees and feet works well), placing flannel pack directly onto your abdomen, cover with a small sheet of plastic and place a hot water bottle on top of the plastic.
5. Cover everything with an old towel to insulate the heat. Take caution not to get the oil on the whatever you are laying on, as it can stain. If necessary, cover that surface with something to protect it.
6. Leave pack on for 45 to 60 minutes. This is an excellent time to practice visualization, meditation or relaxation breathing. (This involves placing one hand on your diaphragm and the other on your lower abdomen. As you breathe in, allow your lower abdomen to fill first, eventually filling your whole lung, but DON'T STRAIN. With each breath out practice relaxing your jaw and shoulders. As you practice more, relax all muscles in your body). Alternatively you may just go to sleep. Some people will wear the pack all night using an ace bandage to hold it in place.
7. After finishing, to remove the oil from your skin wash with a solution of 2 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart water, or just soap and water. If used in the middle of the night, you can just wipe with an old towel. Be sure to use the same towel, and wash that towel by itself, as the castor oil can make other clothes smell if washed together.
8. Store the pack in a large zip-lock bag, or plastic container, leaving it by your bed. Reuse the pack several times, adding more oil as needed to keep the pack saturated. Replace the pack after it begins to change color.
9. For maximum effectiveness, it is necessary to apply the pack as often as possible. Try for at least four consecutive days per week for one month. Patients who use the pack daily will receive the most beneficial effects.

Warming Socks Treatment - This is probably the most frequently prescribed hydrotherapy treatment in naturopathic offices. It is easy to do, takes very little time, and is extremely effective.

Used to treat colds, headaches, sore throats, ear infections, and almost any other problem involving congestion or infection in the upper body and head, this treatment is one that every household should know about. It is also helpful in some cases of insomnia, and can be used on a regular basis to encourage general immune stimulation.

Directions:

1. It is imperative that before you begin this treatment you warm your feet first. This is very important as the treatment will not be as effective and could be harmful. Warming can be accomplished by soaking in warm water for five minutes.
2. Next, take a pair of cotton socks and wet the portion covering the feet with cold water. Be sure to wring the socks out so they are damp, but not dripping.
3. Place the cold socks on your feet. Cover these with thick wool socks. Go to bed, being sure to wrap up well with a warm blanket. Avoid getting chilled.
4. Please DO NOT remove socks in the middle of the night. This is a common mistake and will ruin the effectiveness of the treatment. They may still be wet in the middle of the night, but trust that they will be dry in the morning. Many patients also report that they sleep much better during the treatment.

Alternating Footbath - This technique is commonly used to increase blood flow to the feet and help reduce swelling and pain in that area. It is also commonly used with congestion headaches as well as numerous local problems of the feet and legs.

Supplies Needed:

• Two containers (such as large plastic pails)
• Thermometer
• Sheet and/or blanket
• Cloth for compress if needed

Directions:

1. Add hot water (105 to 110F) to one of the pails. Do not exceed 120F. Add cold water (45-55F) to the other pail.
2. Find a comfortable place to sit. Immerse your feet and legs up to the mid-calf area. Cover yourself with a wool sheet and/or blanket. Leave feet in place for three minutes.
3. Now immerse your feet in the cold pail for 30 seconds.
4. Alternate the hot/ cold cylce a total of 3 times. Always finish with the cold.
5. If you begin sweating, place a cold compress with a wash cloth on your forehead.
6. Dry your feet and legs thoroughly and completely when finished.
7. If possible, rest for 30 minutes after the procedure with your feet elevated.

Precautions:

Water temperature should NOT exceed 103F in peripheral vascular disease or in advanced diabetes.

Constitutional Hydrotherapy - Perhaps the most powerful and useful of all hydrotherapy treatments, the constitutional is a special technique that can greatly improve recovery from a wide variety of acute and chronic illnesses.

It has been used countless time by many naturopaths as part of a treatment plan for such conditions as cancer, AIDS, arthritis, fibromyalgia, heart disease, migraines, environmental toxicity, and many others. This treatment is helpful in any case where detoxification, immune stimulation, and digestion enhancement are needed.

This treatment is best prescribed by a trained physician who is well versed in the theory and practice of naturopathic hydrotherapy.

However, a modification of the treatment, which is still very powerful, can be performed by yourself, or with the help of someone else, in your home. The instructions for this home version are as follows.

Directions:

1. While lying on your back, cover the bared chest and abdomen with two thicknesses of a terrycloth towel wrung out in hot water that is tolerable to touch. Cover the entire body with a wool or Velux blanket. Leave the hot towels in place for five minutes.
2. Replace the hot towels with a single thickness of towel wrung out in cold water. Cover again with wool or Velux blanket. Leave cold towel in place for 10 minutes. DO NOT remove the towel until it becomes warm, or 12 minutes have gone by. If the towel is not warmed within 12 minutes, remove it.
3. Roll over and repeat the same treatment on the back.
4. The treatment should take about a half hour.
5. If you have no one to help you, please follow these directions: Take a hot shower for five minutes. Get out and dry quickly. Take a towel wrung out in cold water and wrap it all around the trunk of the body, from armpit to groin. Cover entire body with wool or Velux blanket. Leave cold towel in place for at least 20 minutes, or longer, until the towel is warmed up.

Hydrotherapy treatments can fit seamlessly in with the diet, nutrition and lifestyle plan prescribed by Dr. Mercola. In fact the constitutional hydrotherapy treatment will help a person to better digest, absorb and assimilate the wealth of newfound nutrients from The No-Grain Diet. Aside from these assets, the constitutional hydrotherapy treatment can also be helpful with stress relief and depression, another of Dr. Mercola's crucial components necessary for optimal health.

Dr. Daniel Chong is a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in Beaverton, OR. His practice focuses on chronic disease and pain management. In his practice, he strives to integrate the treatment and healing philosophies of classical naturopathic medicine, Dr. Joseph Mercola, and Dr. Weston A. Price. He may be contacted at:

Chiropractic and Naturopathic Physicians Clinic
12195 SW Allen Blvd.
Beaverton, OR 97005
(503) 646-0697
danielchongnd@earthlink.net