Hydrotherapy Nature Cures
The roots of Naturopathic Medicine and water cure (or Hydrotherapy) stem back to Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations. Hippocrates prescribed bathing in spring water to treat sickness and this was revived in Germany in the 1820’s as a Bavarian Monk, Vincent Priessnitz began spreading his great successes in treating patients using water as medicine.
The idea of a nature cure, is that using fresh air, sunshine, proper diet, exercise and meditation could help the body to heal itself. In terms of our Naturopathic Principals, we refer to this as Vis medicatrix naturae, or the Healing Power of Nature.
You’ve all received cold and flu tips in the past and know to rest up and wash your hands lots and to consider supplements tailored to your body, but today I wanted to dig back into our roots and teach you how to use simple water to help with your cold or flu.
Netipot
Many people are familiar with the use of a netipot to help decrease nasal congestion, loosen phlegm and make breathing a little easier during winter months. ALWAYS ensure you’re using either filtered or boiled water in your netipot. Using warm TAP water is DANGEROUS and absolutely contraindicated due to the potential for bacteria, amoeba and parasites.
Technique:
- Using 8oz of warm (not too hot!) sterile or previously boiled tap water, mix in ¼ tsp of non-iodized salt and put it into your glass or ceramic netipot (don’t use plastic).
- Lean your head forward and turn your head to one side over the sink and begin to pour the water into the upper nostril. Breathe through your mouth.
- Repeat on the other side with your head tilted in the opposite direction.
- Feel free to go back and forth a number of times as needed to help clear nasal congestion and blow your nose to help get more mucous out.
Tips:
- It’ll take a little practice to get used to this. Change the angles of your tilted head and lean over more if you’re having trouble.
- Doing this morning and night will help to relieve congestion and build up
Cautions:
- DO NOT USE TAP WATER
Cold Sock Treatment
I love recommending this technique for patients where we can’t give big immune support, who are on a number of medications or who are pregnant (or breast feeding!) because it’s so safe and effective. It’s another one that you can add to, or use instead of the netipot to help decrease sinus and nasal congestion and help add circulation throughout your body.
Technique:
- Before bed, soak a pair of cotton socks in cold water, and wring them out so they are damp, but not dripping wet.
- Put the cotton socks on, and over top of them, put on some nice thick wool socks.
- Go to sleep and notice the decreased congestion you have in the morning!
Tips:
- Don’t do this if your bed is freezing or you know you’ll be cold all night long.
- Use this nightly during your illness until you’re feeling better
Aromatic Steam Therapy
This is another great method to calm and soothe those inflamed and stuffed up sinuses, and to help relive coughs by getting some warm moisture into your nose, throat and lungs.
Technique:
- Boil some water, and put it into a shatter-proof bowl in the sink and let it cool for a few minutes.
- While it’s cooled but still steaming, take a big towel, and CAREFULLY lean over the sink (about 12 inches or 30cm above the bowl) with the towel over top of your head, creating a steam tent
- Spend about 30 seconds or more if you’re feeling good, taking long deep breaths and letting the steam help break up any congestion and soothing your lungs
Tips:
- Consider adding in 1 drop of essential oils like eucalyptus, thyme, tea tree or lemon to aid as a decongestant
Cautions:
- Don’t burn yourself! Make sure your head isn’t too close and the water isn’t too hot when you make your steam tent
Hydration
So many of my patients tend to be chronically dehydrated, and such an important part of feeling better and supporting your body while you’re sick is drinking enough fluids. Often you’ll lose your appetite when sick, however ensuring you’re consuming lots of liquids (not sugary juice or pop though!) will help to nourish your cells and membranes. Remember that drinks like herbal teas, organic coconut water and bone broth count in terms of your daily consumption. If you haven’t seen them, have a peek at my blogs on why hydration is important and hydrating options beyond water as well.
Contrast Showers
As with the cold sock treatment, contrast hydrotherapy will help to increase circulation throughout your body and strengthen your immune system by helping to increase WBCs. Increased circulation can help bring nutrients and oxygen to immune cells and damaged/sick tissues, and help metabolic wastes and inflammatory by-products be carried away. I’ve prescribed contrast hydrotherapy in patients with low white blood cell counts, as contrast showers have been shown to help increase them.
The technique:
- After you finish your shower, turn the tap to as cold as you can stand for 60 seconds
- Switch back to warm for about 90 seconds, then repeat this cycle another 2 times.
- ALWAYS finish with cold water.
Tips:
- Start slowly and work up to 60 seconds of cold.
- If you’re very sick or are frail in health, use luke warm water instead of cold
Cautions:
- Avoid in pregnancy, hypertension, dizziness, light-headedness, raynaud’s, blood clot disorders, intermittent claudication and in heart and vascular issues unless instructed by your Naturopathic Doctor
Need More Immune Support?
Are you struggling and need more support with immune health tailored to your specific needs? Come and see me and we can go through your options together!
References:
A Complete Handbook of Nature Cure
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2774269/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21086819
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26325561
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