What is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is the use of water, to stimulate our physiology. There are different forms of hydrotherapy we can use to stimulate our vital force and increase our body's ability to respond to stress (which includes mental/emotional, physical stress or illness). When we use water. usually cool water and then hot/warm water we can stimulate an increase in circulation, or a pumping action within the blood vessels. with increase circulation, that's is more immune cells moving to target healing within the body.
I'd like to introduce you to 2 forms of hydrotherapy you can do at home!
The first is Magic Socks! This one may sound weird, but trust me, it works! I often recommend this for when someone is feeling under the weather, feeling sick, especially for kiddos! Sometimes we get tired of taking more supplements or medicine, hydrotherapy is a great way to address illness and be doing something that supports the body.
MAGIC SOCKS Therapy
The sock rthapy is best if repeated for three nights in a row, or as instructed by your physician.
Indications: Sore throat or any inflammation or infection of the throat, neck pain, ear infections, headaches, migraines, nasal congestion, upper respiratory infections, coughs, bronchitis, and sinus infections.
Supplies:
1 pair white cotton socks
1 pair thick wool socks (or two additional pairs of cotton socks)
Towel
Warm bath or warm foot bath
Directions:
1. Take a pair of cotton socks and soak them completely with room temperature water. Be sure to wring the socks out thoroughly so they do not drip.
2. Warm your feet first. This is very important as the treatment will not be as effective and could be harmful if your feet are not warmed first. Warming can be accomplished by soaking your feet in warm water for at least 5-10 minutes or taking a warm bath for 5-10 minutes.
3. Dry off feet and body with a dry towel.
4. Place wet cotton socks on feet. Cover with thick wool socks (or two pairs of cotton socks). Go directly to bed and sleep well covered. Avoid getting chilled.
5. Keep the socks on overnight. You will find that the wet cotton socks will be dry in the morning.
Effects of the Magic Sock therapy: This acts to reflexively increase the circulation and decrease congestion in the upper respiratory passages, head, and throat. It has a sedating action and many report that they sleep much better during the treatment. This treatment is also effective for pain relief and increases the healing response during acute infections.
The second is Contrasting Hot and Cold Showers
All you need is a shower with the ability to rapidly switch temperatures between hot and cold, and a dry towel. It's best to alternate between hot and cold for three to four cycles:
HOT phase: turn the temperature up as hot as tolerable for two to three minutes
COLD phase: turn the temperature down very cold for 15 seconds
Always end on COLD, and briskly dry off with a towel when finished.
It can be a little jarring at first, but the more you can continue to use the alternating hot and cold, the more you will be able to tolerate colder cold and that brisk feeling will get your heart pumping!
If at first you cannot stand the 15 seconds of the cold, work you way up, and start with 2-3 seconds. Then slowly increase your time to 15 seconds. When you've mastered the 15 seconds, then you can continue to increase cold to 30 seconds, even up to 1 minute!
This is a great way to stimulate your body's vital force, increase health, and ward off illness or stimulate the immune system to combat illness more efficiently. I like to recommend this therapy every time you take a shower! Sometimes this is easier to do for folks, because most folks shower already. So lets use the time in the shower to not just get clean but also stimulate your body's natural ability to heal itself!