Hydrotherapy: The Water Cure

History

After the use of Herbal Medicines, the use of water to stimulate healing may be the next-oldest form of medical treatment. We know that hydrotherapy is among the treatements used in ancient Egypt and India, and is mentioned in the oldest writings known to still exist, the Vedas.

The modern system of Naturopathic Hydrotherapy has its roots primarily in the European Alps. Vincent Priessnitz (1799-1852), an unschooled farm boy who learned how to treat animals with cold water, later healed himself from broken ribs and eventually treated patients for a wide range of conditions. Despite his lack of formal medical training he was formally acknowledged by the Austrian government.

Father Sebastian Kneipp, a German priest (1821-1897), cured himself of tuber-culosis and went on to be considered the Father of Modern Hydrotherapy. A great many of the early Naturopathic physicians trained under him.

Hydrotherapy was hugely popular during the 1800's, both in Europe and the United States, and Spas and Sanatoriums flourished. Eventually, with the onset of modern medicine and a greater reliance on drug therapy, the use of hydrotherapy to stimulate our own internal healing mechanisms has waned. Here in the 21st century, it is the practitioners of Naturopathic and Ayurvedic medicine that are keeping this valuable treatment method alive.

Therapeutic Effects of Water 

Specific Physiological Effects of Hydrotherapy Enhanced Circulation of Blood & Lymph Increased Oxygen to Tissues Better Digestion of Food Increased Nutrients to Cells General Boost to the Immune System Balances the Nervous System: - Calms the Sympathetic - Nourishes the Parasympathetic Assist the Body's Detoxification Efforts

Hydrotherapy usually consists of using hot or cold water, and sometimes alternating between the two. Water can be applied to the body in packs, in sprays, or through soaking in tubs or lakes. The water may simply be pure water, or in some instances natural mineral springs were used which were observed to have healing effects. Even in modern times, there are more research citations in Pub Med, a large government medical database, on the use of water than there are for the use of aspirin.

Hot water is known to expand tissues and increase circulation. Cold water contracts tissues and decreases circulation. When these two are alternated, a pumping effect on tissues is achieved, which accelerates the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients into, and accelerates the removal of wastes and toxins from the affected area. When these alterations are carefully choreographed, the body's parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for healing, can be stimulated.

When using mineral baths, minerals are absorbed through the skin into the blood, having direct physiological effects. Minerals and bath salts can be used in home tubs if you are not able to travel to natural mineral hot springs. Another type of home baths is peat moss baths. Peat is rich in a cocktail of plant derived minerals, and soaking in peat baths is much like soaking in a peat moss tea. Peat baths are also excellent for detoxification

Constitutional Hydrotherapy 

is a traditional Naturopathic treatment developed in the early 20th Century by Dr. O.G. Carroll, and later passed on to Dr. Harold Dick. It consists of alternating hot and cold applications to the chest, abdomen and back, in conjunction with sine wave electrotherapy to the liver and adrenal glands.

Constitutional Hydrotherapy

The primary treatment goal is to enhance the function of your body's parasympathetic nervous system, that portion of your autonomic functions which regulate digestion and absorption of nutrients, immune function, and is the body's natural antidote to stress.

By stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, the body's overall healing ability is enhanced. Stress is a vital part of our makeup that protects us from danger. Too often, however, the "effects of modern living" leave us in a stressful "fight or flight" mode for too long, which prevents the body from absorbing nutrients, healing, or recovering from injuries. Constitutional Hydrotherapy is a way of jump-starting the parasympathetic nervous system and defusing the effects of stress.

Conditions Treated by Hydrotherapy 

Based on its therapeutic effects, Hydrotherapy can be used for a wide variety of illnesses The following list of conditions are some for which the Constitutional Hydrotherapy treatments in particular, have been effective for many patients.

Conditions Successfully Treated by Hydrotherapy Crohn's Disease Colitis IBS GERD Hemorrhoids Chronic Asthma Bronchitis Allergies Colds Flu Pleurisy Systemic Infections AIDS Chronic Fatigue PMS Dysmenorrhea Infertility Reynaud's hypertension Arthritis Diabetes Hypothyroidism Obesity Cancer varicose veins Psoriasis Depression

NeuroMuscular Therapy

Integrative NeuroMuscular Therapy (NMT) is a comprehensive system of soft-tissue manipulation techniques that were developed in the 1930s in England by Dr Stanley Lief. Lief trained in the United States as a chiropractor and naturopathic physician. The integrative discipline that he developed, with additional insights from bodywork professionals Leon Chaitow, Raymond Nimmo, John Upledger, Janet Travell and others, balances the central nervous system with the structure and form of the musculoskeletal system. NMT is based on neurological laws that explain how the central nervous system maintains homoeostatic balance, and in many cases, eliminates the cause of a person's acute to chronic myofascial pain and dysfunction. Through the application of modern-day integrative NMT procedures, which include cranio-sacral therapy, myofascial release, positional release and trigger point therapy, homoeostasis is restored between the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Integrative NeuroMuscular Therapy enhances the function of joints, muscles, and the biomechanics of the body, and speeds healing by facilitating the release of the body's natural pain killers, endorphins. Applications of NMT Patients who suffer from acute to chronic pain resulting from occupational, sports and/or automobile injuries, benefit from receiving integrative NeuroMuscular Therapy. Specific types of dysfunctions and repetitive motion and accumulative traumas respond well to this treatment, including sciatica, rotator cuff dysfunction, carpal tunnel and thoracic outlet syndrome, temporomandibular joint dysfunction and migraines. Integrative NeuroMuscular Therapy is also utilised in certain types of physical and sexual abuse-related traumas. Integrative NeuroMuscular Therapy approaches healing from a holistic perspective (mind/body) creating long-term results. One of the premises governing NeuroMuscular Therapy is that the procedures utilised should stimulate the body to heal on its own. Once this healing has begun, NeuroMuscular Therapy can be used to stimulate soft-tissue repair in specific areas, while simultaneously addressing some of the perpetuating factors causing the patient's pain. In this manner, a whole body approach to healing is achieved. Assessment A NeuroMuscular Therapist utilises many tools to achieve this holistic goal, some of which involve assessing a patient's conditions and some of which involve treatment. The first step is to look at the perpetuating factors that are creating or prolonging a patient's pain. Age, stress, response to prior therapies, pre-existing conditions, family history, nutrition, diet and exercise all play a role in the patient's ability to work in partnership with the therapist. The therapist determines which specific tool or tools will be utilised by assessing postural distortion and biomechanical dysfunction, the presence of ischaemia and trigger points, and by determining the presence of nerve compression and or entrapment in the soft tissue(s). Postural distortion can be recognised by a raised, and in many cases, anteriorly rotated ilium, arm and hand, accentuated by an anterior rotation of the shoulder, that creates an abduction of the arm. (see photos 1-3 below). In this case, the cervical spine rotates, thereby compensating for the rotation in the pelvis. This can cause lower back and neck pain. The condition would be treated by pelvic facilitation, which is a three-dimensional approach to the release of soft-tissue constrictions. The NeuroMuscular Therapist must always work within the limitations of a patient's health. For example, if a patient is a 75-year-old female who has smoked for 35 years and has a calcium-poor diet accompanied by chronic lower back and hip pain, the NeuroMuscular Therapist must allow for the possibility of osteoporosis or a recent hip fracture or replacement. In this circumstance, the therapist must work with the patient's primary care physician to construct a therapy that complements the patient's condition. Pelvic facilitation, erector spinae, quadratus lumborum and passive stretching procedures would be altered to fit her situation. Treatment Specific tools that a NeuroMuscular Therapist uses are the thumbs, fingers, elbows and pressure bars. Pressure bars are effective instruments for the release of deeper constrictions along the erector spinae musculature and at tendonous attachment sites throughout the body. NeuroMuscular Therapy addresses the release of tissues in layers, superficial to deep, and is performed at a moderate speed with light lubrication. Treating origins and insertions, as well as the belly of a muscle is also of critical importance. It doesn't require a great deal of pressure to be effective, which is a benefit to the patient. In the proper application of NMT, a "dig it out" mentality is never appropriate. The ability to palpate and effectively treat trigger points is an additional tool that is effective in treating myofascial pain and dysfunction. A trigger point is an area of elevated neurological activity located in fascia and the bellies of muscles that may refer pain in a localised or peripheral manner. When a trigger point is active, it can cause a substantial increase in a patient's myofascial pain locally or, in what seems to be a totally unrelated area of the body. If left untreated, a trigger point can prevent muscles from fully healing and ultimately have adverse long-term effects on other systems. The proper and judicious use of pressure, which includes the ability to feel constrictions and trigger points and know at what angle your thumb, finger or pressure bar might be best used, is critical in the effectiveness of the therapy. When NeuroMuscular Therapy is applied in this manner, it is very effective in releasing trigger points and tracking down the cause of a patient's pain. In my NeuroMuscular Therapy training workshops, I tell my students that in order to become superb NeuroMuscular Therapists, they must also become excellent "muscle detectives" and to be able to "dance with the muscles." Another means of increasing the effectiveness of NeuroMuscular Therapy is through the use of empowerment, in other words, getting the patient involved in his or her own wellness. In America, and particularly in the Southwestern United States, we say that "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." So it is with people who are in pain. A therapist can suggest ways to help a person heal, using a number of tools, but if the patient refuses to actually use the tools, the therapist can't force the patient to feel better. Consistent consumption of water, multivitamins, B-12, B-6, stretching and a balanced diet, combined with effective hands-on therapy, will greatly enhance healing and reduce the amount of time the patient needs to undergo actual therapy. When the patient feels that he or she is truly in control of wellness and understands the mechanisms of their condition, long-term healing can occur. Laws of NeuroMuscular Therapy The NeuroMuscular Therapist also operates under a system of laws known as Pfluger's Laws, which illustrate acute to chronic pain patterns and how pain is distributed throughout the body. The nervous system is designed to produce normal muscle tonus at 30 stimuli per second. If, due to trauma, the nervous system is suddenly innervating the damaged tissues at perhaps 75 stimuli per second, it must respond in a more creative homoeostatic way to distribute the pain. The first step, according to the Law of Unilaterality, states that "if a mild irritation is applied to one or more sensory nerves, the movement will take place usually on one side only and that side which is irritated." As an illustration, if I were involved in a motor vehicle accident, injure my left shoulder and decline treatment of any kind, then my left shoulder would probably be very tender within a matter of minutes. Assuming that I continue without treatment and to ease the pain, drink substantial amounts of alcohol and take a very hot shower, the next day not only would the initial injury site be in pain, but so would the equal and opposite side. This illustrates the second law, the Law of Symmetry that says, "if the stimulation is sufficiently increased the motor reaction is manifested not only to the irritated side but also in similar muscles on the opposite side of the body." From a practical perspective if I can treat the unaffected side, the injured, painful area can be addressed without initial direct application of NMT. Still by way of illustration, the following day, if I continue to resist proper treatment of my condition, the pain would now have travelled back and intensified at the original injury site with a lesser pain still present on the opposite shoulder. This describes the third law, the Law of Intensity that states "reflex movements are usually more intense on the side of irritation and at times the movements of the opposite side equal them in intensity but they are usually less pronounced." The fourth law, the Law of Radiation, states that "if the excitation continues to increase it is propagated upwards and reactions take place through centrifugal nerves coming from the cord segments higher up." In other words, the pain will radiate upward from the site of the original injury toward the brain and then, failing alleviation, will radiate outward, creating a general contraction of all the muscles in the body. This is a very profound and unsettling series of events. If left untreated, I would, in all likelihood, awaken one morning unable to move with intense headache pain, accompanied by a general contraction of all the muscles from head to toe. Not only would the nervous and musculoskeletal systems be adversely affected but so would all of the other systems in the body, such as the respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive and endocrine. This illustrates the fifth law, the Law of Generalisation that states "if the irritation becomes very intense it is propagated in the medulla oblongata, which becomes the focus from which the stimuli radiate to all parts of the cord causing a general contraction of all the muscles of the body." Unfortunately, if a patient arrives at this stage, they are often irritated by the seemingly do-nothing advice of the therapist. At this point, the best advice is to seek evaluation and treatment from a primary care physician and to RICE the body. Other integrative treatments that prove effective are to increase water consumption and to increase intake of vitamins, such as 1200 mcg of B-12 and 200 mg of B-6 per day in tablet form. NeuroMuscular Therapy, using as little as 2 grams of pressure, would be enough to significantly increase pain and further perpetuate muscle constrictions and trigger point referrals. Generally, within 48 to 72 hours, the patient's condition will have improved enough for healing body work to begin. Once NeuroMuscular Therapy has begun, treatment can literally "pull the plug" on pain by interrupting the source of abnormal stimulation. This decreases the electrical innervation to the muscles and viscera, therefore decreasing muscle spasms, ischemia and metabolic waste build-ups throughout the body. This has a cascading positive effect on the other systems in the body. It is critical to maintain consistent consumption of water (6-8 glasses/day), a good multivitamin and vitamins B-6 and B-12. Summary Proper intent, desire and training are prerequisites to becoming a qualified NeuroMuscular Therapist. Opening one's heart and mind to an endless realm of healing opportunities that ultimately benefit the patient is what integrative NeuroMuscular Therapy is about. It is my sincere desire that a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to pain erasure and management will be achieved in the future. Not only must we deal with a patient's existing value structure but those of other healthcare modalities as well. Suggested Readings: Travell JG and Simons DD. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. 2 Vols. Williams and Wilkins. Baltimore. 1983. Chaitow Leon. Modern Neuromuscular Techniques. Churchill Livingstone Publishers. New Jersey. 1996. Caillet Rene. Low Back Pain Syndrome. FA Davis Company. Philadelphia. 1988. Upledger JE. Craniosacral Therapy and Craniosacral Therapy II: Beyond the Dura. Eastland Press. Chicago. 1987. * Courtesy- Peter Lane. http://lifepositive.com

Live and Dry Layered Blood analysis

Pure Blood – Why is this Important? Your blood could be viewed as the river of life; it is the substance that carries oxygen, water and nutrients to all your organs and tissues. It therefore makes perfect sense, that imbalances seen in the blood will affect the organs and tissues, leading to malfunction and atrophy. If the red blood cells are anything other than perfect in shape, structure, flexibility and fluidity, then their ability to travel around the body and deliver the vital level of oxygen and nutrients is severely compromised. This translates into low energy production, fatigue and a general sense of feeling unwell. There are obviously many degrees of this. Live and Dry Layered Blood Analysis Although these two evaluation methods have been in existence for many years, their practice and acceptance in the mainstream of medicine is still very much underestimated or neglected altogether. Their not being taught at medical school is the main reason for this; GPs don't have the time or inclination to study further, when they are often bogged down with administration and an ever increasing patient load. Apart from anecdotal evidence and an arbitrary sentiment that the patient feels a bit better so much of complementary or alternative medicine has very little evidence that a positive change has taken place, that is, one that is acceptable to the orthodox doctor. One could argue of course that orthodox medicine has very little proof that a positive long-term change has occurred, as often only the symptoms of 'dis-ease' have been suppressed, often to recur later as something more serious! When a patient sees their blood on a TV monitor and then compares it with a picture of the ideal, the response is often interesting. It varies from one of shock and horror to one of determination that their blood one day will look like that. Some, of course, resign themselves to the fact that they will never have perfect blood; these are often the ones not yet ready to make positive change in their lives, or have other priorities! The history of Live and Dry Blood analysis is a fascinating one and worthy of further research. It has been adopted by many eminent researchers over the last 80 years for the purpose of identifying the physiological and biochemical cause of disease processes. Images of Live and Dry Layered Blood have been captured and recorded and it has been the experiences of many researchers that certain medical conditions produce the same images in blood time and again. In many cases a patient can sound surprised when informed of a condition which they hadn't revealed to their practitioners. In a nutshell, we know what the healthy optimum blood sample should look like, and we know what is not healthy; most people are somewhere in between! Achieving perfect blood is not always the answer to everyone's ailments, but it can, in the long-term, go some way towards correcting the problem and maintaining their health for many years to come. In addition to this, knowing one has optimum blood provides for a certain degree of confidence and peace of mind, safe in the knowledge, that they are less likely to succumb to some chronic illness, although this is never guaranteed. Periodic monitoring of blood provides insights into the nutritional or lifestyle changes necessary to maintain healthy blood and thus a healthy body. It is important to point out that Live and Dried Blood analysis is not a diagnostic tool and will not say whether one has this or that disease! It will, however, identify and illuminate the imbalances which are leading to, or have already led to, a worsening of the current condition. Procedures Live Blood Analysis The clinical application of Live Blood analysis involves the accurate taking of a small drop of blood from the fingertip and placing it on a slide for observation under a special microscope. The images are then projected onto a TV monitor or a computer for the practitioner and the patient to observe together. This observation process tends to involve the patient more closely in their own unique physiological make-up and therapy, and increases personal interest in their own health program. The observations are recorded and a description of the implications of the picture is then transmitted to the patient. The results and images are then recorded for comparison at the next appointment. This provides the undeniable proof that a positive change towards the ideal blood sample has taken place. This invariably coincides with a noticeable reduction in signs and symptoms of ill health. The patient leaves the clinic happy and confident that their changes to diet and lifestyle have paid off and will contribute to their long-term wellbeing. Dry Layered Blood Analysis This test involves taking eight to ten spots of blood on a slide, allowing them to dry, and then observing the patterns that form under the microscope. The patterns that form provide us with insights into the imbalances present in the organs and systems of the body. The dry blood spot is considered to be a hologram of the human body, a little like the eye in iridology, i.e. the different rings in the sample represent a different part of the body. Therefore, wherever the abnormality appears in the bloodspot tells us approximately where the problem is occurring in the body. Another important aspect of this test is that each spot represents a time frame; the first and largest spot of blood taken reflects the current day, the latter spots provide a reflection of the patient's health, many months or even years ago, and will highlight the deeper seated or chronic issues underlying the current symptomlogy. How this historical view works is little understood; however, it has been the observations of many researchers that as a person heals, it is the first and largest blood spot on the slide that corrects itself towards the healthy sample first, followed by the second and then the third, etc., etc., over a period of months, as the patient's health problems reverse. These observations are cross-referenced with existing medical conditions or signs and symptoms. For example, if one sees evidence of irritation in the bowel, the patient will report symptoms of irritable bowel such as bloating, gas and alternating diarrhoea and constipation. The apparent symptoms support and confirm the observations made in the blood, and lead to more credible identification of the problem and thus more successful treatment protocols. Returning the Blood and Body to its Healthy State Blood cells can be likened to fish in a fish tank, i.e. if the fish get sick, then changing the water they swim in is a sensible first option. Therefore, healthy cells live in a healthy environment, i.e. one free of pollutants, harmful bacteria, parasites, etc. Healthy cells can also only survive in an environment that maintains an optimum pH. With Live Blood analysis, one can assess the terrain in which the cells are floating. For example, if the terrain is too acidic then the red cells will behave in a way which will compromise their ability to circulate freely around the body to deliver oxygen. This phenomenon is called Rouleau and shows the red cells sticking together in chains. As some capillaries are only one cell in diameter, the red cells cannot deliver their vital cargo of oxygen to the tissues. This naturally leads to fatigued muscles, lack of energy, brain fog, etc., etc. The body is equipped with many mechanisms to enable it to maintain the blood in a pure and healthy state. These are the elimination channels and filtering organs. These consist of the Lymph, Liver, Kidneys, Lungs, Bowels and Skin. The efficiency of these channels can alter over time and is perfectly illustrated by the changes observed as a human grows from a baby, with a very pure and untarnished blood stream, (dependent on the nutrition of the mother of course, during pregnancy and weaning) to that of a teenager with acne and then on to middle-age where the body is developing signs of toxicity and ageing. Many things can be observed in blood; some are very easy to identify and the causative factors are obvious to the trained eye. Other observations, particularly in the Dry Layered sample require more lateral thinking and are open to various interpretations. This is where back up testing is vital. For example, if three tests all point to the same imbalance, then one can approach the issues with more surety. The pictures throughout the article illustrate a number of common findings in Live and Dry Layered Blood. The pictures were taken from a variety of patients with various conditions, symptoms and signs of ill health. It is interesting to note, that whatever name the condition is given, the same imbalances appear in the blood, seemingly manifesting in different ways in different people. Further Reading Aloisio T. Blood Never Lies. Llumina Press. 2004. Young R. The pH Miracle. Warner Books. 2003. Coyle M. The Four Main Causes of Illness. Nu Life Sciences. 2000. Abdrushin. In the Light of Truth. Grail Acre Publishing. 1971. *Coutesy- David Parker, http://positivehealth.com

Enema in Naturopathic Medicine

Constipation is the root of a host of major and minor ailments. No other natural therapy is as efficient as enema in curing constipation. Enema is a safe way to get rid of the wastes that have accretions in the large intestine.

An enema with warm water (from one to one and a half liters) should be taken daily when you are on diet of fruits or are fasting. If you do not take an enema, there is no benefit to be derived from fasting or living on fruits alone.

Equipment for Enema – 

The equipment for enema consists of an enameled container for water, a plastic tube about 5 feet in length, a tap for regulating the flow of water, and a catheter, or nozzle. A small bakelite catheter is available, but it would be more advisable to purchase a No. 24 plastic catheter, which is much more convenient.

Method of Enema –

1. Lie down on a hard bed; the foot of the bed must be four inches higher than the head. Of course, you can take enema while lying on the floor, but in that case your buttocks should be higher than the rest of your body in order to facilitate the introduction of the liquid through the rectum.

2. The vessel consisting the hot water for the enema should be suspended from a nail at a height of three feet from the body. The nozzle should be introduced in the rectum to allow the water to go in.

3. If you raise your knee, it would facilitate the introduction of the enema into the rectum.

4. Check that the nozzle is not blocked; in that process some of the liquid should be allowed to run off. That will also ensure that there is no air trapped in the tube which may penetrate the intestine with the enema.

5. Let the water go into the rectum; retain it for two to three minutes before you visit the toilet.

6. Do not strain at the stools after an enema. Straining will not help clean the bowels as they should be cleaned.

In the case of ordinary costiveness, a strengthening enema is advised. For that about 250 milliliters of cold water should be introduced into the intestines and retained for five to ten minutes. Cold water enervates the intestine. Such an enema can be taken daily and even twice in the day if one feels like it. But it should be taken the last thing at night before retiring. It will not harm you even if you take it for months on end.

Whether the enema water is small in quantity or not, you must let the water come out of its own. Do not strain, nor be in a hurry. In the beginning you might have to spend up to half an hour in the toilet after you have taken the enema.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.