Summary of Hydrotherapy Uses and Methods

By Milton G. Crane, M.D. and Barbara G. Crane, R.D. of Weimar Institute

A. Physical Properties of Water

1. Abundant
2. Inexpensive
3. Easy to apply
4. Has ability to give off or absorb large amounts of heat:
   Specific heat
   Latent heat
5. Conducts heat rapidly

B. General Principles:

1. Hydropathy

a. Defined = the scientific use of water in treatment of disease
b. Indications for using water treatment

2. Anatomy & Physiology

a. Benefits circulatory system
b. Benefits nervous system
c. Benefits lymphatic (immune) system

3. Factors Affecting the Response of the Body

a. Location of application
b. Duration of application
c. Degree of hot or cold

4. Effects of Temperature on the Body

a. Heat
1. Prolonged, general heat

Increases metabolism
Increases sweating
Causes lethargy
Decreases muscle tone
Draws blood to skin surface

2. Local heat

Pools blood to area applied
Decreases pooling of blood to internal organs and head
Decreases pain

b. Cold
1. Prolonged, general cold

Decreases metabolism
Decreases heart rate and respiration
Decreases body temperature
Increases pooling of blood in internal organs
Increases muscle tone to rigidity

3. Short-term general heat

a. tonic
b. increases respiration rate then decreased
c. increases depth of respiration
d. increases heart rate then decreased
e. strengthens heart muscle
f. increases muscle tone
g. food more completely oxidized
h. increases oxygen absorption (47%)
i. increases CO2 excretion (65%)
j. increases vitality
k. increases hemoglobin
l. increases while blood cell effectiveness
m. increases blood pressure
n. increases peripheral heart action

4. Local heat

a. causes some vasoconstriction
b. decreases swelling
c. decreases pain (anesthetic)
d. decreases heart rate

5. Alternate hot and cold

a. reflex actions of both hot and cold without pooling effect
b. increases circulation
c. exercises blood vessels

C. Types of Hydrotherapy Treatments

1. HOT: Foot bath, total body bath, half bath, compress

a. Foot bath (104`-110` F) 10-30 minutes

1. Draws blood to feet
2. Purpose: to decrease congestion of head, chest, or pelvic area, or to warm body

b. Total body bath (110` F) 10-30 minutes

1. Purpose: to decrease pain, stimulant, preparation for cold
2. Precautions: heart and kidney disease, varicose veins

c. Half bath

1. Purpose: to draw blood from upper body to lower
2. Avoid wicking, cotton inside/wool outside

2. NEUTRAL: Shower or bath, wet sheet pack
Purpose: relaxation, insomnia, and stress

3. COLD: Shower, pack ice massage

a. Showers: tonic, stimulant, increase resistance
b. Packs and Ice: decrease blood to area

1. for sprains, local congestion, inflammation and arthritis, bursitis and back pain

c. Bath: to decrease fever

4. CONTRAST: Hot, 100`-110` F for 3-4 minutes, then cold tap water or ice for 0.5-1 minute. Repeat hot and cold three times.

To increase body defenses, improve circulation, remove waste products, and increase WBC in circulation.

D. Uses of Charcoal

1. Properties

a. Antidote for poisoning
b. Cleansing agent for infections
c. Harmless on surface or when ingested
d. Adsorbs (not to be confused with absorption)

2. How it works

a. Large surface area. "Activated" = area increased 2-3 times
b. Adsorbs

1. gases
2. foreign proteins
3. body wastes
4. chemicals
5. drugs
6. but poor adsorber of nutrients except some minerals

Renders the molecules ineffective by their attachment to charcoal.
c. Example: One liter of charcoal can adsorb 75 liters of ammonia gas.

3. Applications

a. Internal uses; capsules, tablets, slurry, suspension

1. Ingested poisons
2. Gasoline; large dose
3. Aspirin; 1 Tablespoon with water
4. Bad breath; 1 tablet in mouth
5. GI Gas; 4 capsules 3-4 times a day
6. Indigestion; peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis
7. Kidney failure – large quantities

b. External: poultice, band aid, dip

Use for insect bites, stings or snakebites. For skin or mouth use charcoal in cotton sack.

4. General Notes

a. Tablets only half as effective as powder
b. On full stomach, only half as effective
c. Activated, twice as effective as regular charcoal
d. Reusable 1-2 times, wash/settle out/dry (350`)
e. NOT SAFE FOR CHRONIC USE. May deplete some critical nutrient. Correct the cause.

Copyright © 1995-2002 Milton G. Crane, M.D. and Barbara G. Crane, R.D., Weimar Institute, Weimar, CA 95736. All rights Reserved.