The Healing Power of Water

These days it seems everyone is looking for a ‘magic cure’ for our many list of ailments. Our health care practitioners are very skilled in offering many valuable therapies, which work, might I add, from hypnotherapy to colorpuncture to homeopathy. But, what if I told you something as simple as water can assist in symptom relief and sometimes cure most any ailment? Well, it can, plain old water, in varying temperatures, applications and lengths of time can be very valuable for the mildest conditions such as conjunctivitis or chicken pox relief to bronchitis and even cancer. It’s called hydrotherapy.

There is a long European tradition of using water for healing, as evidenced by the famous mineral water hot springs. Common folk and medical doctors promoted practices for health using water. In the 1800’s Sebastian Kneipp cured himself of TB and started treating his sick parishioners with the methods that worked on him. He advocated barefoot walking in the dew or snow.

In the United States, John Harvey Kellogg established the famous Battle Creek Sanatorium, which used many water treatments. Naturopaths inherited this tradition and still use many of these proven techniques.

One of the most valuable of these techniques is Constitutional Hydrotherapy, which must be done in an office by a skilled naturopathic physician. This therapy gets its name because it serves to change the ‘constitution’ of the patient, affecting the circulatory, neurologic and metabolic systems of the body. It can be very effective in improving ailments from skin disorders to chest congestion which benefit from improved circulation, thyroid or adrenal dysfunction and even stress and anxiety by quieting and rebalancing the nervous system. It is very safe and relaxing…most liken it to a soothing spa treatment.

Daily practices with intelligent use of water can be incorporated into our lifestyle to promote good health; here are a few great ways.

1. Shower at a comfortable temperature, and then bring hotter water to the head and spine and friction your body. Turn to cold water for as long as you can tolerate it, then go back to hot, alternating 3 or 4 times. You will feel a refreshing buzz as your circulation is stimulated.

2. When using the sauna at the gym, stay in only until your breath is warm. The steam room will warm you up faster. Always finish with a cold-water shower.

3. For those who may live in a cold climate part of the year, walk barefoot each morning in the morning dew until you almost feel achy. The more you move the longer you can stay in it. Come inside and immediately put on wool socks. If you continue this year round, you will be acclimated to the snow and you can walk in it barefoot each morning. This practice enhances the immune system and you may not get sick all winter.

4. The arid land or city-bound variation of dew walking is to tread cold water in a bathtub, pacing back and forth with the water mid-calf high. Continue until your feet experience a flush of warmth, then step out and dry them briskly with a coarse towel and get into warm footgear or into bed. This is also a treat for run-down conditions, tired or aching swollen feet, or insomnia.

5. The Neti Pot comes from the Indian Ayurvedic tradition. It is very useful for irritating allergies and sinus congestion. The idea is to pour salt water through the nostrils from side to side, facilitated by using a container that looks like a teapot with a short spout. The Neti Pot may be purchased from a health food store or naturopathic clinic. Fill your pot with lukewarm water and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt. (The water will burn your nose if you leave out the salt) Angle your head to the side over a sink or basin, and pour the contents in one nostril so that it flows out the opposite one. Refill the Neti Pot and pour in the opposite direction.

Explore the possibilities of Constitutional Hydrotherapy and learn to enjoy the therapeutic uses of water and feel revitalized!

If you have questions or comments please feel free to call 480.539.6646 or email at info@trueharmonywellness.com

This article was written by Dr. Ave Sims ND, as a patient education resource for The Center For True Harmony Wellness and Medicine. Edited and revised by Sherry VanGoethem, Dr.Christine Brass-Jones OBGYN, and Dr. Denise Quance Grobe N.D. If you have any questions or comments contact the office at (480) 539-6646 or through email at info@trueharmonywellness.com