use fof water for treatment of illness is hydrotherapy. Lui Khune

2. HISTORY
• Greek Physician Hippocrates documented its practice
in 5th century BC.
• It was referred as ‘the water cure’
• Ancient Chinese, Egyptian, Greek and Roman
civilization continued to record the medicinal uses of
this water cure.
• As practices changed and evolved, medicinal records
continued to reflect the healing benefits.

3.  By the 10th century a Benedictine monk recognized
the therapeutic benefits

4. Vincent Priessnitz

5.  Sebastian kneipp (19th century) often referred as father
of hydrotherapy, brought the practice to the
therapeutic treatments.
 But according to the latest text books of Swasthvritta
mentioned “Lui kuhne” as father of Hydrotherapy.

6. HYDRO- THERAPY
 Hydrotherapy is a method of treating disease
by the application of water in various ways and
manners and at varying temperatures to the
different parts of the body.

7. QUALITIES OF WATER
• It is universal solvent
• Abundance and cheap
• Non toxic and non irritating
• Can be converted into vapors or solids
• It touches every parts of body surface

9. MECHANISM OF HYDROTHERAPY
WATER
Pressure
exerts on
skin
Stimulation
of Peripheral
nerves
carry
Impulses
deeper
level of
skin
Stimulates
immune
system
Encourages
circulation
Encourages
digestion
Encourages
blood flow

10. REFLEXOLOGY IN HYDROTHERAPY
Circulation of head, chest, urinary
and reproductive organs
Kidney
Blood vessels of head
Mucous membrane of nose

11. Heart, lungs, stomach, liver &
abdominal organs
Genito- urinary organs
Prostate and uterus

12. THERMAL
MECHANICAL
CHEMICAL
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS

13.  THERMAL EFFECTS
• Produced by the application water at temperatures above or below
that of the body temperatures, here the effect is greater.
 MECHANICAL EFFECTS
• Produced by the impact of water upon the surface of the body in the
form of sprays, douches, frictions, whirlpools.
 CHEMICAL EFFECTS
• Produced when it is taken by mouth or used to irrigate body cavity,
such as large colon.

14. CONDITION In Celsius In Fahrenheit
• Very cold 0- 1.6 32 to 35 degree F
• Cold 12.7- 18.3 55 to 65 degree F
• Cool 18.3- 26.6 65 to 80 degree F
• Tepid 26.6- 33.3 80 to 92 degree F
• Warm 35- 36.6 95 to 98 degree F
• Hot 36.6- 38.8 98 to 102 degree F
• Very hot 40 and above 104 degree and above
TEMPERATURE’s OF WATER

15. EFFECTS OF COLD WATER THERAPY
blood vessels of the skin.
 Redness of the skin.
Pulse rate.
Respiratory rate.
Blood pressure.

16. EFFECTS OF HOT WATER THERAPY
1) Increased superficial circulation.
2) Increased blood supply to muscles.
3) Temporarily increased BP followed by decreased BP.
4) Increased respiratory rate.
5) Promotion of sweating and increased elimination of
metabolic waste.
6) Sedation of sensory motor neurons and pain relief.
7) Stimulation of immune system and increased antibody
production.

17. METHODS OF HYDROTHERAPY
 Fomentation
 Heating compress
 Full sheet pack
 Steam baths
 Full baths
 Neutral baths
 Alternating baths
 Ice pack
 Exercising in water

18. IMPORTANTS POINTS
 Easiest and convenient method should be chosen.
 More than one method should not be done on same
day.
 For chronic cases- repeated every day according to the
condition.
 Diabetics should avoid heat treatments to their legs.
 Extremely fragile skin, where skin conditions are
irritated by moisture.
 Areas of numbness.
 Soon after the intake of food.

19. THALASSO THERAPY
• Thalasso means SEA
• Therapy which is done by using sea water, beach sand, sea
weeds and other substances derived from sea for
treatment purpose.
• Salts of magnesium, iodine, sulphur- given in small
quantity for drinking.
• Potassium- fluid retention
• Fluorine- balances calcium metabolism.
• Sea water is diluted with fresh water or juice for
palatability.
• DOSAGE- 1- 2 t.s.p- TID

20. FOOT BATH (Paada snana)
Before entering the bath, the patient should drink cold water and also wet the head,
neck and shoulders with cold water. A cold compress should be applied throughout
the treatment.

21. 1) Fill the basin with warm water at least deep enough to
cover a couple of inches above ankles.
2) The water temperature should be about 103 to 104’ F to
begin with, or not too hot for your feet to tolerate it.
3) Place your hand into the water first to make sure the water
is not too hot.
4) Place your feet in the bucket for 10-30 minutes, adding a
little more hot water whenever the water seems to cool
down.
5) For the best full-body effect, also wrap your body with a
sheet or blanket, allowing the edge to drape over the foot
bath basin to keep the hot water vapors close to your body.

22. 6) Add hot water from time to time to increase the
temperature gradually warmer throughout the treatment
(suggested to about 110' F).
7) Make sure you remove your feet each time before adding
more hot water.
8) When you start sweating and start to feel hot, dip a wash
cloth into the ice water basin and squeeze it out, apply it to the
forehead for every 3-5 minutes as needed.

23. 9) When finished, empty the basin and rinse your feet with
cold water for 15-30 seconds.
DURATION: 10- 30 minutes

24. BENEFITS:
 Promotes circulation throughout the body
 Boosts the immune system, significantly increases lymph
flow.
 Has neurological soothing effects such as promoting
relaxation, relieves fatigue and insomnia.
 Other effects include; pain relief, relief of headaches, colds,
asthma and nasal congestion

25. CONTRA INDICATIONS
 Diabetes
 Numbness, loss of sensation or circulation problems in
the feet
 Peripheral vascular disease
 Swelling in the feet or legs
 Foot sores or infections
 Frostbite
 Pregnancy

26. HAND BATH
HAND BATH
FOOT BATH

27. SPINAL BATH (Kati- snana)

28.  Patient should lie in spinal bath tub.
 If whether is cold, blanket can cover the body.
 For the beginners thick wet pad of folded towel about
an inch thickness should placed at the bottom.
 Inch of an moderately cold water is poured.
 Gradually water level can be increased upto 4”
 A folded wet towel can be placed over the chest or belly or
on the head.
 DURATION: 45 minutes

29. INDICATIONS:
 Soothing effect to the spinal column and thereby
influences the central nervous system.
 Nervous disorders such as hysteria, epilepsy, mental
disorders, loss of memory and tension.
 Relieves vertebral pain in spondylitis and muscular
backache.
 It relieves sciatic pain and gastrointestinal
disturbances of gastric origin.

30. ENEMA (Basti)

31.  Also known as rectal irrigation, an enema involves the
injection of fluid into the rectum.
 Only lukewarm water is used for cleaning the bowels.
 The patient is made to lie on his left side extending his
left leg and bending the right leg slightly.
 The enema nozzle, lubricated with oil or Vaseline, is
inserted in the rectum.
 The enema can containing the lukewarm water is then
slowly raised and water is allowed to enter into the
rectum

32. .
 Generally, one to two liters of water is injected.
 The patient may either lie down on his back or walk a
little while retaining the water.
 After 5 to 10 minutes, the water can be ejected along with
the accumulated morbid matter.
 A warm water enema helps to clean the rectum of
accumulated faecal matter.
 This is not only the safest system for cleaning the bowels,
but also improves the peristaltic movement of the bowels
and thereby relieves constipation.

33. .
• A cold water enema is helpful in inflammatory
conditions of the colon, especially in cases of
Dysentery
Diarrhea
Ulcerative colitis
Hemorrhoids and
Fever.
 A hot water enema is beneficial in relieving irritation
due to inflammation of the rectum and painful
hemorrhoids.
 It also benefits women in leucorrhoea.
Chronic cases

34. WHIRLPOOL BATH

35.  It is comparatively modern
 A large tank is necessary for the immersion of the whole
body.
 The water is agitated by means of an electricity driven
turbine.
 It may be used as relaxing sedative measure by using
water at a neutral temperature.
 Temperature and force of the whirlpool is regulated
according to patient’s comfort.
 Use of hot water relieve pains.
 If the patient is paralyzed, an air pillow can be placed
under knees and fore arm as a support.

36. STEAM BATH
 It’s a means to improve the power of reaction and enable
the quick elimination of toxic matter from skin.
TYPES
GENERAL LOCAL
 Sitting posture
 Lying down posture
 Sauna bath
 Foot bath
 Spinal bath
 Sitz bath
 Steam inhalation
 Immersion bath

37. GENERAL STEAM BATH
SITTING
POSTURE
LYING DOWN
POSTURE
(Steam chamber)
SL 

38. LOCAL STEAM BATH
Sauna Foot &
Hand bath
Spinal bath Sitz bath
Steam
inhalation
Immersion
bath
IF SSSS 
Cold
Graduated
Neutral
Alternate
Hot

39. SITZ BATH (Mehana snana)

40.  Patient should sit in basin containing hot water (106- 110’F)
upto the knees bent and feet immersed in separate
container of warm water.
 Apply cold towel to the fore head
 For anal fissure- 30 minutes
 Other conditions- 8 minutes
 At the end of the bath, rub immersed area with towel
squeezed out in cold water.

41.  INDICATIONS:
Painful anal fissures,
Hemorrhoids
Dysmenorrhea
Distension of urinary bladder
Pelvic inflammatory diseases
Constipation

42. IMMERSION BATH (full bath)
It is administered in a bath tub which should be properly
fitted with hot and cold water connections. The bath can be
taken at cold, neutral, hot, graduated & alternate
temperatures.

43.  This may be taken for a seconds to 20 minutes at a temperature
ranging from 10C to 23 C.
 After the bath the body should be quickly dried and wrapped
up in a blanket.
 If the climate is favorable, moderate exercise should be
undertaken.
 Helps in circulation and stimulating the nervous system.
 This bath should not be given to young children or very elderly
persons, cases of acute inflammation of some internal organs
such as acute peritonitis, gastritis, enteritis and inflammatory
conditions of uterus and ovaries.
COLD BATH

44. GRADUATED BATH
 The patient should enter the bath at a temperature of
31C. The water temperature should be lowered
gradually at the rate of 10 C per minute until it reaches
25 C.
 The bath should continue until the patient starts
shivering.
 This bath is often administered every three hours in
cases of fever.
 It effectively brings down the temperature except in
malarial fever. It also produces a general tonic effect,
increases vital resistances and energizes the heart.

45. NEUTRAL BATH
 This bath can be given from 15 to 60 minutes at a
temperature ranging from 26C to 28C. It can be given for
long duration.
 The neutral bath diminishes the pulse rate without
modifying respiration.
 This treatment is the best sedative.
 Neutral bath excites activity of both the skin (eczema,
pruritus) and the kidneys ( renal disorders).

46.  Diseases of the brain and spinal cord, including chronic
inflammatory conditions such as meningitis, rheumatism
and arthritis.
 It also helps those suffering from alcoholism, narcotic
habits, chronic diarrhea, peritonitis, chronic affections of
the abdomen.

47. ALTERNATE BATH
 Alternative use of both hot and cold water.
1- 3minutes----------hot water (106- 110’F)
15- 30 seconds--------- cold water (60’F)
1- 3 minutes-------Hot water
15 – 30 seconds----- cold water
Prescribed to improve circulation, health, increase energy
Improves complexion

48. Contraindications:
 Hemorrhagic conditions
 Colicky pain
 Chronic heart diseases
 Kidney infections

49. HOT IMMERSION
 This bath can be taken from 2 to 15 minutes at a
temperature from 36’C to 40’C.
 Generally this bath is started at 37’C and the temperature
is then gradually raised to the required level by adding hot
water.

50. INDICATIONs:
• Bronchitis and relieves congestion of the lungs and
• Activates the blood vessels of the skin muscles.
• Pneumonia and suppressed menstruation, the bath should be
administered at 37.7’C to 40’C for about 30 to 45 minutes.
• Dysmenorrhea, this bath should be given at 38’C to 44.4’C
for 15 minutes.
• Chronic rheumatism and obesity.

51. CONTRAINDICATION
 CNS and spinal cord disorders
 Cardiac weakness and atrophy.

52. SAUNA BATH

53. SAUNABATH
 The use of sauna bath was started from Finland. Its first use came into
picture in 1936 in Berlin during the period of Olympic games. Many players
saw Scandinavians using this bath. Its use at a very large scale comes into
picture in 1972 during Munich Olympic Games where a large number of
sauna bath chambers were made available to the athletes by which it
becomes popular worldwide.
 Sauna bath is administered in a wooden chamber. One hot oven is used
inside the sauna chamber. Stones are placed on the oven and allowed to
heat. Water is poured to produce some steam in short bursts. Wooden
chamber is used for sauna bath because it absorbs humidity from the
inside air and thus restores dryness in the chamber. Regular monitoring of
temperature and humidity is done with thermometer and hygrometer.
Sauna is a dry hot air bath. The temperature is kept between 60-90ºC and
relative humidity of the air is maintained between 5-10%. One treatment
session is about 30-40 minutes and consists of two phases: The sweating
phase and the cooling phase.

55. The physiological effects of sauna bath
 The physiological effects of sauna bath include increase
of general circulation. It provides lots of fresh blood to
the tissues. It helps removing waste products of
metabolism from the body. It relaxes the body and gives
a sense of general well-being. Pain is also relieved
substantially from the body.
 Sauna baths are now days used in weight reduction
programs. Making weight (reducing or increasing weight)
by athletes taking part in competition is not advisable

56.  Indications:
 General health promotion
 Severe myalgia
 Chronic rheumatoid arthritis
 Bronchial asthma.

57. STEAM INHALERS
 Mainly it is used for Sinusitis conditions
 Head ache caused due to Deviated Nasal septum