The so-called hydrotherapy (water therapy) is understood to be applications with warm, but especially with cold water. It is one of the oldest forms of treatment. It was already used successfully in ancient Rome.
For a long time, however, the therapy was forgotten.
It was not until the naturopath Vinzenz Prießnitz and the priest Sebastian Kneipp rediscovered the beneficial effects of water treatments and added their own findings. Prießnitz's compresses and Kneipp's casts as well as his water treading became known worldwide. Hydrotherapy is still used today for the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic complaints.
With short cold water applications (one second to one minute), temperature stimuli are conveyed via the skin, which trigger positive reactions in the body: The temporary constriction of the blood vessels with subsequent vasodilatation promotes blood circulation throughout the body. This strengthens the body's defences, stimulates the circulation, nervous system and metabolism and revitalises the body.
Warm water is also common in hydrotherapy - especially for alternating applications (cold/warm). These are preferred especially by untrained people, as they are gentler. Depending on the constitution, an increase in stimulation can then be achieved through cold water applications.
To this day, water applications form the basis of Kneipp therapy. Because they are so easy to use, they are also suitable for use at home in most cases. A shower hose, for example, from which the shower head is unscrewed, is suitable for the water jets.
With regular use, hydrotherapy supports the immune system in the long term and helps the body to activate its self-healing powers.
