Hydrotherapy Demonstrations – Water Treatments Made Simple

These hydrotherapy demonstrations make water treatments simple and easy to do in your own home. They can relieve many ailments. Hydrotherapy is one of the basic methods of treatment widely used in the system of natural medicine, which is also called water therapy, aquatic therapy, pool therapy, and balneotherapy. Hydrotherapy is a simple and easy natural remedy and is one of the first step you should take when trying to relieve ailments. Natural medicine is the plan that God handed down after sin. We call it ‘Living by the Blueprint’.

Hydrotherapy Video Demonstrations

Watch a wonderful series on 19 different hydrotherapy treatments (14 dealing with water).

#1 Hot Foot Bath 

Intended Use

• Congestive headaches  
• Loss of feeling in feet                                                                                                                      
•  Chest Congestion       
•  Stop a nosebleed/ear bleed/eye bleed
•  Pelvic congestion (to start menstruation) 
•  Hypertension Relief (for BP) >160/90
•  Common cold (prevention/relief) 
•  Decrease a rapid pulse rate
•  Relaxation/comfort

Items Needed

• 5-gallon bucket–half full of hot water (103 degrees)
• Water thermometer
• Sheet or blanket (blanket for a sweating procedure)
• Washcloth
• Medium-sized bowl with cold water (55-70 degrees)
• Pitcher to add very hot water
• Glass of water and a straw

Instructions

1. Carefully put feet into water (start @103 degrees, can be up to 110), warm water after a few minutes (check temp periodically & add hot water as the temp decreases)
2. Put sheet over patient.
3. Put a cold compress on the head
4. Continually ask the person how the temp is and how they feel
5. Keep the head cool
6. Keep the patient Hydrated
7. Do treatment for 30 minutes
8. Finish treatment by lifting feet up out of basin, pour cold water over the feet, then dry feet (have towel under basin, when basin is removed)
9. Have patient Rest for about a half an hour

#2 Local Alternate Bath (contrast bath)

                3 minutes hot/30 seconds cold…3 rotations

Intended Use                                                                                 

• Sprains                                                                            
• Strains                                                                              
• Trauma                                                                            
• Fractures  
• Arthritis                                                                                                                                                  
• Edema                                                                             
• Infections to hot bath for painful conditions or sluggish
• Ulcers circulation
• Impaired Venous Circulation used to relieve edema
• Frostbite
• Cold Feet

            ***Do #’s 1-4 after 24 hours***                                                                                        

 Items Needed

• 2 Dish Basins(1 100-110 degrees/ 2 70 degrees water–add ice)
• Boiling water
• Ice
• Thermometer
• Towels
•  May use ¼ c. mustard powder or 1 T. cayenne to add

#3 Local Cold Bath

                 (See MH 237.1):

May do several times a day–do x 10-30 minutes each time(depends on the strength of the individual)

Intended Use

• Sprained ankle
• Acute inflammation
• Acute arthritis
• Too slow of a pulse & respiration

Items Needed

• Container large enough to cover the area being treated (60 deg water)
• thermometer
• pitcher to add ice or cold water
• Ice
• two towels

Cautions

• persons with diabetes or vascular disease
• care should be taken to prevent chilling

#4 Ice Massage 

            *Anesthesia to a painful area to reduce pain in order to be able to massage, stretch, and so forth.*

Intended Use

• painful joints
• bursitis
• pain between, bone, and muscle & tendons
• painful muscles
• strains, trauma, inflammation
• acute neck, shoulder, and lower back pain

Items Needed

• One or Two Styrofoam cups with ice frozen in them
• Two hand towels

Instructions

1. Pour water into cups & freeze in freezer
2. Peel back top part of cup so ice is exposed
3. Rub ice in area x 7 minutes or until the area is numb.
4. It will be very uncomfortable at first.
5. Keep moving around.                                                                                        
6. Don’t stay in the same spot when applying the ice, then exercise the joint area
7. Dry area off (this brings fresh blood to the area

Cautions

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Stroke
• When a person is cold

#5 Steam Inhalation

               Do x 10 minutes every hour, break in between each treatment

Intended Use

• Relief of nasal & lung congestion
• Sore Throat
• Cough
• Breaking up mucus in the lungs
• Colds

Items Needed

• Tea kettle to boil water
• Towel (or newspaper cone) for concentrating vapor for inhalation
• Eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, and so forth for helping airway

Cautions

• Because this treatment involves steam, special care must be taken to avoid scalding/burns.
• Treatment may have to be shortened for small children & the elderly
• Those with chronic respiratory disease or chronic heart disease may find it difficult to breathe.

#6 Neutral Bath (tepid bath)

               Truly relaxes the nerves

                   30 minutes to 5 hours

Intended Use

• Insomnia
• Depression
• Itchy Skin
• Mental Illness
• Acute Hypertension
• Dry Skin (do bath for a long time)
• Relax Nerves
• Agitation

Items Needed

• Bath tub filled with water(over torso)(94-97 degrees)
• Bath thermometer
• Bath towels
• Air pillow or towels for head

Special Noted

• In case of acute anxiety, cleansing, or insomnia, the bath should be prolonged
• When used for insomnia, treatment should be done right before bedtime.                                 ***continue***
• The temperature may be increased to 98-99 degrees depending on the temp of the room & person.              

Cautions

• Some cases of eczema
• Persons with great cardiac weakness

#7 Russian Steam Bath

                Assists the body in elimination of toxins and doubles the white blood cell count

Intended Use

• Building the Immune System
• Colds/Flus
• Rheumatoid arthritis/Arthritis
• Lupus
• Detoxifying the body
• Fighting Infection
• Increasing blood pressure
• Depression
• Menopausal Symptoms
• Cancer
• Muscle & Joint Pain
• Tension
• Anxiety
• Shingles
• Hypertension(short duration)
• Diabetes(short duration, no foot bath)
• Insomnia
• To stimulate body functions
• Relaxation
• Hypothyroidism

Items Needed

• Tea Kettle & Hot Plate
• Plastic or Wooden Chair cover with towels very well
• Plastic sheeting or Shower curtain
• Hot Foot Bath(5-gallon bucket or container
• 1/2 fill with 103 degree water to start then warm up To 106-110 depending on tolerance to heat
• Cold compress
• small container with cold water & medium-sized towels
• 2 Towels(not including the towels that are to be placed on the chairs)
• Drinking water & Straws

Instructions

1. Place a chair on a plastic sheet
2. Cover the chair thoroughly with towels
3. Place foot buckets (103 degrees) on floor On plastic in front of chair
4. Put person in chair…place feet in water then place tea kettle underneath chair with spout pointing outward
5. Place towel over shoulders to prevent plastic from irritating shoulders
6. Wrap plastic around person…Make sure steam is not too hot, draping over
7. Hot foot bath and around steam kettle
8. Wrap wet cold compress(1 around head, 1 around neck) to protect the brain and thyroid gland – it cools the blood
9. Check temperature to prevent inducing fever (keep around 102 degrees)
10. Check temp of hot foot bath water (keep around104-112 degrees)
11. As person starts sweating, give them water to keep hydrated
12. Check with person continually to make sure steam is not burning them
13. Change cold compresses to the head as going through the treatment
14. End with wrapping person in sheet & blanket. Let them sweat it out

*** FOR STIMULATING TREATMENT: Do x 7 minutes ***

*** FOR DISEASE PROCESS: Do x 15 minutes ***

#8 Alternate Hot & Cold Shower 

                *** Greatly enhances immune system activity ***

Intended Use

• Fatigue
• Diabetes
• Refresher after local
• Hypertension
• General heat application
• Depression
• Immune Booster
• Obesity
• To stimulate metabolism of the body

Items Needed

• Shower
• Towels

Instructions

1. Start with warm water working up to 102 to 105 degrees as hot as they can handle without burning/scalding skin
2. Do Hot x 1 minute; Cold x 30 seconds
3. Repeat this process 3 times
4. Rest after shower 30 minutes – 1 hr. if possible

Caution

• Make sure person’s feet are warm before entering the shower
• Have a stool on hand just in case a person becomes faint.

#9 Bath Additives

                *** Strengthens the bath ***

1. Mustard Powder Bath

• Produces sweating & rids the body of toxins.
• Put ½ c. into Warm to hot water
• no more than 102 degrees
• Keep cool rag over forehead and give water to
• Drink during whole process. Rest x 1 hour after process if possible.

NOTE: Put VASELINE IN PRIVATE AREAS AND UNDERARMS TO KEEP FROM BURNING

2. Oatmeal Bath

• Blend 4 cups into powder.
• Add to warm bath & soak x 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Great for skin irritations/rashes

3. Charcoal Bath

• Put 1 cup in 100-101 degrees water.
• Mix well.
• Soak for 20-30 min.
• Keep will hydrated.
• Keep cold rag over forehead during whole process.
• To adsorb toxic waste, help with rashes, pain, cold or flu,

NOTE: Awesome from the 99 Cents Only Store or Wal Mart is wonderful for cleaning the black of charcoal from any surface.

#10 Fomentations 

                  The most effective means for relieving pain

                       *** This is MOIST HEAT to a body part ***

Intended Use

• Arthritis pain
• Suppression of Urine
• Stress
• Constipation
• Cerebral Congestion
• Sluggish Liver
• Indigestion
• Menstrual Pain
• Colon Pain (colic)
• Inflammation & Toxicity of Kidneys
• Use charcoal as well
• Acne
• Spasms
• Hernia
• Numbness & Tingling
• Edema
• Tic
• Spasmodic muscular condition
• Muscular contractions -Alcoholism
• Tetany
• Drug Addiction
• Nervous Disorders
• Delirium
• Heat Stroke
• Diabetes
• Bell’s Palsy
• Meniere’s
• Torticollis
• Collapse or shock to the spine

Items Needed

• Towels (Large, small, medium)
• Wash cloths
• Woolen or Cotton pads may use instead of towels
• Water
• Microwave or Pot of Boiling water
• Tongues
• Oven Mitts

#11 Heating Compress 

Intended Use

•               -Nasal Congestion
•               -Rheumatoid Arthritis
•               -Inflammation
•               -Laryngitis
•               -Pain
•               -Tonsillitis
•               -Bronchitis
•               -Viral Infections
•               -Asthma

Items Needed

• Cotton material to cover the area (an old sheet is good)
• 1 of 2 thickness of cloth dipped in cold water and wrung out (may use a T-shirt)
• Wool of many layers or flannel to cover the cotton
• Plastic to cover everything
• Safety Pins

More Videos To Watch For Hot Fomentations

Our Other Hydrotherapy Blog Posts

Introduction to the Health Benefits Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy – the external application of water

Bible Quotes

2 Kings 5:1-14

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

² And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.

³ And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

⁴ And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

⁵ And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

⁶ And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

⁷ And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

⁸ And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

⁹ So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

¹⁰ And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

¹¹ But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

¹² Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

¹³ And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

¹⁴ Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Spirit of Prophecy Quotes (Ellen White)

On my birthday I went to the Sanitarium where I have two rooms to myself, Sarah a room by herself, and W. C. White two rooms for himself. We have every attention and convenience. I HAVE TAKEN BATHS HOT and THEN TONED UP WITH COLD WATER. 16LtMs, Lt 227, 1901, par. 10 } (Ellen White, Letter 227, 1901, paragraph 10)

 TOOK TWO VERY HOT BATHS in Geneva at the bathhouse which was just across the road from Brother Bourdeau’s. I am improving now. Geneva is considered the most wealthy and beautiful place in Switzerland. We saw Mount Blanc from here, rising grand and cold among the mountains. From the one mountain alone water comes from the eternal snows enough to keep or feed the whole Mediterranean. I shall visit these places all again if the Lord will.  4LtMs, Lt 96, 1886, par. 5 } (Ellen White, Letter 96, 1886, paragraph 5)

Hydrotherapy should be used first because it is natural and is accessible and doesn’t have any side effects if administered correctly. “…Water treatments are not appreciated as they should be, and to apply them skillfully requires work that many are unwilling to perform. But none should feel excused for ignorance or indifference on this subject…all should become intelligent in its use… {MH 237.2} (Ellen White, Ministry of Healing, page 237, paragraph 2)

Disclaimer

Only a physician can diagnose, treat, and prescribe for illness and disease. Living by the Blueprint neither diagnoses nor treats disease. We have provided this material as public information to explore the outcomes of natural remedies. Because of certain laws and restrictions, we must tell you that the information provided is not to diagnose, claim to prevent, mitigate, or cure such conditions. If you are ill, have any disease, are pregnant, or are trying to improve your health, we must tell you to consult a medical doctor for medical advice, treatment, and services.

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