Not so long ago, I spent an entire weekend sweating in a steam room, sweating in a sauna, or floating in a cool blue plunge pool. Between these sessions I could be found under the pulsing stream of a cold shower, or wrapped in a white bathrobe with my hair still dripping. Needless to say, I was happily soggy for two whole days, immersed in a routine of hydrotherapy. [1]

My water cure took place at a hotel spa, but the use of water to facilitate healing and relaxation is not limited to the confines of a formal spa facility. Hydrotherapy can come in the form of baths, showers, and hot and cold compresses, all of which can easily be found at home.

Using water to treat ailments and reduce stress is nothing new. Water has played a medicinal role in ancient Greek, Roman, Chinese, Japanese, and Middle Eastern cultures, and modern hydrotherapy, as we now know it, can be traced to the "water cure" spas that were the rage in 19th century Europe.

Water therapies are thought to detoxify the blood, stimulate blood circulation, enhance the immune system, and improve digestion. The exact reasons why are unclear, but some believe that water is nothing more than a conduit for temperature, which carries out the majority of the healing. When the body is exposed to warmth, vasodilation [2] (the expansion of blood vessels) occurs and the increased blood flow leads to relaxation. Cold, on the other hand, causes blood vessels to constrict, which is envigorating and energizing.

Another healing attribute is water's distinctive weightlessness. When submerged in water, we experience a temporary break from gravity, giving our muscles and bones a much needed rest. Water is also an excellent form of massage when bubbling in a Jacuzzi. When in motion, water boosts blood circulation and releases tight muscles.

Researchers continue to study the effects of hydrotherapy, and it has already been found to alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, lower back pain, and chronic venous insufficiency [3], a painful leg condition.

Hydrotherapy is a vast modality encompassing much more than a dip in a pool or 15 minutes in a sauna. Beyond the obvious water-based treatments, a series of healing techniques that use water in a variety of different ways. Hydrotherapy includes the use of water in a colonic or nasal irrigation, as a steam inhalation, or as the basis for physical therapy and exercise practiced in a pool. Water also becomes the backdrop for watsu [4], an innovative form of bodywork [4] practiced in warm water.

For an easy hydrotherapy session at home, fill a bath with warm or cool water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. The next time you shower, try taking three quiet minutes to feel the water on your shoulders and back. If you need to up your dose of hydrotherapy, I recommend that you stay wet for the weekend at the Standard Spa [5] in Miami.