The Water Cure: An Ancient Tradition

The water cure, whether you call it water therapy, hydrotherapy, or hydropathy, is an ancient tradition. Water has long been used to improve health and well-being.

Hydrotherapy, also known as water therapy or hydropathy, has been used for centuries to calm the body and mind and is one of the more varied techniques in natural health. Different cultures have varied techniques using water as a healing tool. By experimenting with high temperatures of heated water and steam these techniques have been effective in improving health, making people feel better and more rejuvenated. As far back as ancient Greece, public baths have been a part of rituals revolving around water. Immersion in water, often known as public bathing, has also been a staple in Japan and China. Known as sento in Japan, public baths are seen as a great social importance because people who frequent the baths are close physically, so the theory is that they should be close emotionally, forming a bond through intimacy. A different type of Japanese bath is called onsen and is a naturally formed hot spring, which are also popular across the world.
Body wraps are another type of water therapy and can be hot or cold. Hot wraps induce sweating of certain affected parts or the whole body and cold wraps reduce inflammation or fever. Read more