How you start your day defines your day!
You have the power to support yourself through what you do. Good, healthy daily routines are essential.
Here’s one of my favorite daily habits. It’s simple, easy, and will cost you no extra time – try it out!
Good circulation to the internal organs and tissues is necessary for:
- General well being and healing
- Inflammation and pain relief
- Repair of damaged tissue, i.e. degenerated, painful joints
- Metabolism and energy
- Detoxification
- Nutrient absorption
- Proper immune function
How do you improve circulation?
Hydrotherapy!
Hydrotherapy, the use of alternating hot and cold water, is one of the oldest ways.
Ancient India, Egypt, and China all used hydrotherapy. More recently, it’s been used successfully by thousands of naturopathic physicians for over a century where it was a standard medical treatment for many illnesses in hospitals and clinics until it grew out of favor. Like everything, it’s coming back into fashion!
Examples of chronic conditions that may benefit from hydrotherapy include:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Heart disease
- Constipation
- Cancer
- Migraines
- Autoimmune conditions (arthritis, chronic fatigue immunodeficiency syndrome (CFIDS), HIV disease/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia)
Examples of acute conditions that may benefit from hydrotherapy include:
- Bronchitis
- Asthma attacks
- Colds
- Flus
- Coughs
- Headaches
- Sinus infections
Physiological Benefits:
- Enhances the oxygenation and circulation of blood and lymph (which means oxygen and nutrients get where they need to be)
- Promotes better digestion of food and nutrition to the cells
- Increases the oxidation and elimination of toxins
- Assists in the restoration of nervous equilibrium (keeps you calmer!)
- Strengthens the general immune defense of the body
DAILY BRIEF COLD STRESS CAN INCREASE BOTH NUMBERS AND ACTIVITY OF PERIPHERAL CYTOTOXIC T-LYMPHOCYTES AND NK CELLS, PROTECTIVE AND CRITICAL IMMUNE CELLS.
Patients of all ages benefit from hydrotherapy.
During the treatment, you alternate between hot and cold applications to the body. The temperature changes of the hot and cold water greatly increases the blood flow to the skin and the internal organs of the chest and abdomen. When done regularly, you have a long-lasting cumulative effect of healing.
HYDROTHERAPY HOW-TO
There are many ways to apply hydrotherapy. The easiest, quickest technique is by ending your shower with a cool/ cold water spray:
End your regular warm shower with a cool water spray, as cold as you can tolerate, for 1 to 3 minutes.
- Start with the extremities and move the water spray to your body finishing with the low back.
- End with the cool water on your low back for 15 – 30 seconds
Alternatively, You can pump up this treatment and make it even stronger by alternating hot and cold water in the shower each day.
- Perform three cycles of three minutes hot and 30 seconds cold.
- End the third cycle on cold just before you get out of the shower.
- You do not have to use extremes of temperature for this to be helpful. Use temperatures that you can tolerate.
- You may also want to start by just applying cold to certain parts of the body (arms and legs). You may be surprised to find the cold very invigorating and energizing.
Enjoy this easy and effective home strategy!
References
Scientific research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4049052/
General health benefits: https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-shower-benefits
Heart health: https://blog.nuhs.edu/the-future-of-integrative-health/long-term-health-benefits-of-using-hydrotherapy
Athletic recovery: https://ndnr.com/naturopathic-news/hydrotherapy-re…
