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.

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.

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!

The Division of Biological Sciences, University of Chicago website:

scc.uchicago.edu/heattherapy.htm