Water Treatment

Water is available everywhere in the homes of the poorest or the richest. It remains on of the most powerful and harmless therapeutic agent. It can give relief instantly like an aspirin tablet and also it can cure many chronic diseases where other treatment have failed. It may be used in several states, ice, cold, warm or hot. Cold water is most useful. You will find that with some knowledge and application of mind, it can do wonders for yourself and your family.

This treatment is useful in the winter season. It look birth in West Germany a country that is cold throughout the year. Cold water treatment has become popular in many European countries and parts of U.S.A. Still today there is a small township in Bad Worishofen, West Germany, which has been made famous by the inventor of this type of treatment. Millions of patients are reported to be flocking to this place from all over the world every year. Depending upon the season, there you can find 15 to 30 thousand patients at any time of the year. Sebastian Kneipp’s fame spread as the effectiveness of his treatment was being talked about every-where. Meanwhile his book "My Water Cure", which was sold in mass circulation became a potent means to disseminate far an widen the knowledge about the beneficial effects of water.

In the beginning, water treatment became known only in German speaking countries. As time went by, it was persistently applied, developed, researched and adopted by other medical scientists of Kneipp movement. Through water applications were the base of his treatment, Kneipp advocated a more diverse philosophy of health and healing which included herbs, exercise, nutrition and self responsibility.

A word about Sebastian Kneipp who born in 1821 in Bavaria in a poor family of a weaver. During his studies for priesthood he contracted tuberculosis of the lungs, a fatal disease in those times. Ultimately, he himself tried his treatment for self cure and succeeded. His quality as healer came to be known in his little village. After being ordained as priest he was approached by many persons, physically and mentally sick. This made him decided to pursue his God-given as a healer.

Meanwhile, Kneipp was always willing to work side by side with the physicians of his time. The modern kneipp movement has the support of physicians and laymen. It has grown to mammoth proportions and an International Confederation of Kneipp Movement has been set up, comprising some 175,000 members form 25 countries. The Confederation’s main function is to educate people in the matters of health.

There are 27 Kneipp centres in West Germany alone and 900 physicians have taken graduate training exclusively in this method of medicine. Today Kneipp therapy is a rage and over three lakh patients are being treated in West Germany every year. There are 70 spas, 6000 hospitals and sanatoriums in Europe. It has been given due recognition by the medical authorities. These water applications are also known as minor or partial hydrotherapy applications. The treatment includes cold water, washings, baths, water treading, effusion, packs and compresses. They are more in the form of a short stimulus by cold water on a warm body to produce a stronger warm reaction. These application do not only increase the resistance of the body to disease but even cure them when accompanied by the right sort of diet and exercises.

This innocuous short application of water is apparently effective because of its temperature. The cold stimulus affects the skin and via nerve and blood channels it is transferred to the organs. The more than difference in the temperature of the body and the temperature of the water, the more will be the effect.

Physiology

The skin has two types of receptors. With the help of the cold sensing receptors we feel the cold and the warm sensing receptors gives us the feel of heat. Their number vary in different parts of the body. The cold sensing ones always outnumber the heat-sensing. They may be as much as 15 times more. The average ratio is 11.1:33 per square centimeter. On the trunk the ratio is 9.7:0.6 per square centimeter. these receptors or temperature corpuscles are nets of nerve tissues which develop action currents to the brain. As the number of cold sensing ones are more, so the action current developed by them is much stronger.

This action current reaches the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for regulating the temperature of the body. When these cold water applications are done to the skin which is warm and well supplied with blood, the cold action current along with the cold blood reaches the hypothalamus, the body tries to stop any further cooling, in more than one way which are listed the surface.

1. The skin gets tightened up to reduced the surface.

2. Arterio-venous anastamosis is closed, to reduce the blood supply to the area.

3. The blood vessels get constricted further, thus reducing the blood supply to the area.

This explains the generalised effect of cold water application, and it is called vascular training through partial hydrotherapy. When the cold stimuli has been removed there is a reaction which is slow, prolonged and much bigger than the action. the skin gradually gets warmed up, the circulation of the blood increases, not only to the skin which had the cold application but also to the internal organs of the corresponding side.

This happens due to increased metabolism of the skin due to cold application. A histamine-like substance is produced which ultimately dilate the blood vessels increasing the blood flow in the arterioles and capillaries. This is a reaction of the initial cold response. As reaction is always greater than action, it is more prolonged, the area along with its collateral area will have greater blood supply lasting for a longer time.

The internal organs of the body like the heart, kidney, brain, pharynx, lungs can also be affected by such treatment on the skin of the corresponding side. If we stimulate the left arm the coronary artery of heart will feel the effect. If we want to help the longs and the abdomen we have to make a cold water application to the feet. So it is possible to have a prolonged and increased blood circulation in any part of the body by hydrotherapy. Through water treatment it is possible to decongest the brain and the lungs by shifting the blood to the skin an thus relieving headaches and breathlessness.

It has been found that it is effective even among patients who are confined to bed, to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients and increases it in patients with low blood pressure. Even in cases of Burger’s diseases where the blood supply is markedly reduced to legs due to obliteration of blood vessels, it can be increased by progressive foot bath. The Kneipp treatment can increase body’s resistance to sore throat and tonsillitis. The use of airconditioners in summer or heaters in winter regularise the room temperature, and lower the reactivity of the skin. A person exposed to outdoor life, like a soldier or farm worker, gets physically tough and hardened and is less susceptible to diseases.

A simple experiment can be done to know if a person is hardened or not. The patient dips his legs in cold water at 15⁰ C for 2 minutes. we may find that the mouth temperature falls. 5 to 2 ⁰ C and remains so for several minutes. This person is not hardened. If similar test is done in the case of a sportsman or a person hardened by Kneipp’s treatment, there will either be no change in the mouth temperature and if it is there, it will be only for a few seconds.

Daily Cold water application

People are afraid of cold water, many of them tend to run away when Kneipp’s cold applications are mentioned. But there is nothing to be afraid of. This short cold stimulus on a warm body soon produces a stronger, thoroughly warm, reaction. Kneipp himself introduced the application of warm water along with cold water. This was found useful in the case of weak patients and for daily healthy care.

However one should not underestimate the effect of the innocent-looking cold water. Since it is the temperature of the water which is transferred to the skin, then to nerves and blood vessels, ultimately reaching the organs. the greater the difference between the temperature of the body and water, the stronger will be the effect. If we want to have water application in our day-to-day life the result will depend on a technically correct performance alone.

Essentials in all short-water applications

1. Cold water should not be applied to a chilled body. if necessary, the body should be warmed up by a fast walk or simple exercises or by making use of the warmth of the bed. In case good body warmth is not reached in this way, it is better to give hot and cold application. If there is permanent lack of body warmth one should forego self-administration and consult a doctor familiar with water applications. They may use dry brushing or a sauna instead. The patient should not undress till just before the bath. The room temperature should be atleast 20 degrees Celsius.

2. The body should regain warmth in 15-20 minutes after the application. This is why one should not stand or sit motionless. He should have a fast walk during which he should swing his arms vigorously. If the patient is weak he should be put back in bed and covered immediately.

3. During effusion the patient should be relaxed and must not talk. He should breathe quietly. When a compress or packing has been put, he should not talk read or be other wide occupied listening to radio etc., the idea is that he should preferably remain silent.

4. Except for the applications which benefit digestion (like the hot belly compress) one should not take water application until 1/2 an hour after breakfast or two hours after the main meal. it is recommended that effusion should be on an empty stomach.

5. You must not smoke before or after the water application as it could nullify the benefits that would result from this treatment.

6. The water application should not be repeated until 2-4 hours have passed.

7. After effusion, water should not be rubbed from the part bathed. The surplus of water may be removed by hand. It is recommended to dry up, without rubbing, those parts which remains in direct immediately after the bath. The underwear must not be damp or sweaty. Also it should be porous: this is unfortunately not possible with modern synthetic fibres.

8. During the menstrual period, women should carry out the application on the upper body only.

Kneipp’s applications are mostly localised, i.e. they are prescribed for specific parts of the body. There are about 160 different basic kneipp applications. Most of them do not concern daily health care but are used during illness. All of them cannot be done in basic facilities available in each household. For our purpose, we will restrict ourselves to the applications which can be done usefully at home through simple means which are sufficiently good for daily care.

One must realise the fact hydrotherapy is not a specific but general treatment. It is given to anybody who wants to improve his health. It is quite safe. It is safe to begin by giving a light application only and then find out from the patient, after half an hour, how he feels. If he feels better, the treatment can be gradually made a little stronger depending on the strength and resistance of the body.

Kneipp’s Techniques

We distinguish the uses of water according to the degree of temperature as follows :

• Cold-water temperature - (8-10⁰C/46-50⁰F)

• Temperature - (10-20⁰C/50-68⁰F)

• Warm - (35-37⁰C/95-98⁰F)

• Hot - Water temperature above 37⁰C/98⁰ F)

There are, in addition, gradation temperatures. This means that warm water is used first and then gradually changed to hot. Similarly we can also use temperature changing gradually to cold. We must also distinguish between water applied as:

1. Ablutions (Washings)
2. Baths
3. Effusion (Douches)
4. Compresses and packings
5. Steam
6. Kneipp’s method for daily health care.

Washings

These are the simplest of all applications. The patient is soaked in cold water repeatedly and by a sweeping action, water is spread uniformly all over the body. It should be done in a warm room free from draughts. After washing, one should not dry himself and immediately get into bed to regain body warmth. It is done, at night, one should be sure not to get into a cold bed.Washings are an excellent means to increase blood circulation. It is most relaxing. It strengthens the body warmth, helps in the elimination of toxic substances in the blood and deposits in the limbs and prevents further accumulation.

The stimulating effect of washing, especially the blood supply to the skin, can be augmented by addition of vinegar to water - one part vinegar to two parts of water. Total washing should not take more than 30-40 seconds. Start with the little finger of the right hand to the outer border of the shoulder and back. Now wash the palm of hand, the inside of the arm till armpit and then go back to the palm.

Dip the cloth in water again and the same procedure is followed in the left arm. Quickly dip the cloth again and with 5-6 vertical strokes wash the sides of the trunk, then the chest , the abdomen and front of the legs. after one more dipping, wash the back by 5-6 vertical movements. Hold the two ends of the towel at your back and pull it up and down. Finish the total washing by quickly passing the cloth over the sole of the feet.

Total washing should be done quickly and without interruption. The cloth should remain flat, pressed against the skin. Partial washing of upper body is same as total washing but ends at the waist. This type of washing is suitable for beginners. It is suitable for invalids as it can be performed in bed. This is also suitable for women during their menstrual period. Partial washing of the abdomen is done in the evening and in a warm bed. Take a cold wet cloth and rub it clockwise, rotating 15-20 times cloth lightly pressed against the abdominal wall. The abdomen is allowed to become warm and dry in the warm bed.

Baths

Baths play useful role in daily health are specially partial baths. Full or three quarter baths are not taken daily. A bath can be cold, warm, hot, with increasing temperature and there are also baths to be had with changing temperature. The temperature of a cold bath should not be more than 10^oC/50 ^oF. The temperature bath should not be more than 20 ^oC/68 ^oF depending upon the reaction of the blood vessels of the skin.

A cold or temperate application can be discontinued if the bathed area of the skin becomes pale, followed pale, followed by some reddening combined with a slight feeling of warmth. Sometimes the feeling of warmth is preceeded by a cold pain. This indicates that sufficient reaction has been reached and application can be discontinued.

The duration of a partial bath is a person measure. It depends upon the individual’s reactive power, the temperature of the body, the environment temperature and temperature of the water. However, the cold applications should never last for more than 30 seconds. If the skin becomes blue red immediately after the cold water application, that means blood circulation is having some difficulty. In such cases, the cold application should immediately be suspended.

If the skin becomes red and then blue-red, means that the cold water application has been prolonged for too long and, in future, to prevent this over-reaction there should be a shortening of the duration. Theses colour changes are more marked in the fair skinned persons. Warm baths (between 32 ^oC and 37 ^oC/90 ^oF and 98^oF) and hot baths (above 37 ^o/98F) are taken as partial baths for a 5 to 10 minutes duration and half or three-quarter of full baths for 10 to 20 minutes.

Cold baths at body temperature are relaxing. Hot baths are stimulating. Hot (half and full) baths are a serious burden on the heart and blood circulation. To counteract over-reaction there should be a cold effusion or total washing followed by half-an-hour rest. When taking a partial bath with changing temperature , one may stay 5 minutes at warm (37-38 ^oC/98 ^oF-100 ^oF) temperature. Then change to cold for 5 to 10 seconds. Return to warm for another 5 minutes and change once again to cold for 5 to 10 seconds. After becoming accustomed to this, one may repeat it for the third time.

1. the cold arm bath, and arm bath at changing temperature.

Both arms are dipped into water upto the depth of the middle of the upper arm. The water receptacle or the basin should be at a comfortable height to avoid too much bending. Any basin of sufficient size is suitable. To refresh and invigorate and to help respiration and the heart this arm bath is recommended.

Arm baths of changing temperature have an effect similar to the cold arm bath. But it is given to a person whose skin does not have a good supply of blood, or to a person with cold hands/wet hands.

When taking an arm bath of changing temperature dip your hand in warm water (35-38^oC/95-100 ^oC). following this the temperature can be raised by adding hot water. Keep 5 minutes in warm and then 10 seconds in cold water. This application should not cause a feeling of pressure in the chest. If this is the case a lower temperature should be chosen.

2. the cold or temperature foot-bath.

For this bath a bigger bucket should be chosen where both feet can stand comfortably. The water should reach till the middle of the calf muscles. Cold foot baths have a diversionary effect. They eliminate blood congestion in the head and chest. They are restful after intense intellectual work. They eliminate tiredness of feet and regulate the intestines. They can also be used for kidney and bladder problem on doctor’s approval. © water-treading stand in cold water in a bath tub, water reaching upto the middle of the calf, now lift each leg one by one, as if walking, at the same spot. At an even step, the leg is lifted out of water.

Lacking appropriate facility one can sit with one’s feet in a bucket and tread water. In the same manner one can walk on stand on dew or wet grass. The duration of water treading, snow or dew running again depends upon the reaction of the body. These application should be discontinued when the pain of cold is experienced. Even if it does not come to this there is no benefit in continuing water treading for more than 1 minute, snow running 1 to 3 minutes and dew running more than 3 minutes. In the case of kidney and bladder problem these treatments are not advised without doctor’s approval.

(d) The changing foot bath.

It is done in the same way as the cold foot bathe except that we need two buckets. One has to put both feet alternatively in hot and cold water. Five minutes in warm (37-38⁰C/98-100⁰F) and then in cold (8-10⁰C/46-50⁰F) for 5 to 10 seconds, and then return to warm. Again for five minutes and then change once again to cold for 5 to 10 seconds. After becoming accustomed to this it may be repeated for a third time also. Always end up with cold water application. The changing foot bath is effective in chronic cold feet, blood congestion in the head, nervous headaches, restlessness, sleeplessness and for hardening.

(e) Foot bath with increasing temperature.

The progressive hot foot bath is used in Angina Pectoris with bradycardia and not in an attack. This is done at a temperature of 35⁰C/95⁰F and, gradually, the temperature of the water should be increased to 39⁰C/102⁰F in 20 minutes by pouring hot water through a hose or adding it from a kettle or pot. A note of warning. Too hasty an addition of hot water may cause blood congestion in head and heart. In this case one should interrupt the bathe and be more cautious the next time. A slight sweating is of no consequence.

This bath is useful for daily health care. One begins with 35⁰C/95⁰F and increase the temperature increased to 40-42⁰C/104-108⁰F. An increasing foot bath should follow a short cold knee effusion. This bath is indicated in common symptoms of cold, tired feet due to standing for long time, mild catarrh of nose throat and for a tendency of bronchial spasm and asthma. They can be used in a sensitive bladder. The approval from a doctor is needed, however in the case of varicose veins, phlebitis, legs with open sores and thrombosis.

(f) In the case of a patient with haemorrhoids a cold hip bath for 10 seconds or a contrast hip bath or progressively hop hip bath can be given.

Here the patient sits in a bath tub where the water height is such that water reaches upto umbilicus (navel) and upto the middle of the thigh. This bath is a great favourite among the practitioners of Indian Hydrotherapy. The patient is given small handkerchief and asked to rub the abdomen slowly sitting in this bath ranging for 3 to 10 minutes depending upon the temperature of water and the temperature of atmosphere. This is good for all digestive ailments. After this bath they are asked to take a brisk walk for half to one hour.

(g) The half bath

When taking a half-bath, the lower of the body is submerged upto the waist. The duration of a cold half-bath should be 5 to 10 seconds, according to one’s reaction. The upper part of the body should remain clothed. It is important that one gets into a warm bed immediately after, to get warm and dry. The bath is an excellent strengthening agent against catarrhal conditions, flatulence, constipation, sexual diminution, blood congestion in head and improving blood circulation. It is also a good treatment for correction the sleep problem.

Affusion (Douche’s)

When douching, the body should be in a warm condition. Kneipp defined affusion as washing the limb without pressure so that water covers like a coat. Without splashing , partial affusion is originally given. Watering can now be done through the use of a hose 2 to 2.5 meter long with a caliber of 1 to 2cm. The pressure of water is so adjusted that it spins to 10cm when turned on.

This treatment was developed in West Germany, a country with a cold to very cold climate. We in India can use this treatment only in winter. Cooler the atmosphere, more effective will be the treatment. In parts of India where the temperature does not cool down enough in winter, we can use iced water and may even prolong the duration of the treatment.

When douching one should adapt a regular rhythm of breathing and not be hasty. If there is a sensation of pressure, breathlessness or dizziness it is an indication that the procedure has been too hasty and that the breathing procedure has been incorrect. Also one should not stand in pool of water. A small wooden elevated band should be placed in the bath tub to stand on.

a) Arm Affusion

Arm affusion is done for 40 seconds. The patient leans forward over the tub or on the protective wall. One starts douching the right hand. The stream is guided from the back of the hand, upto the arm to the shoulder. Here you must pause to allow the water to flow over the arm. Then quickly return the stream down the same route, to the back of the hand. The procedure is repeated for the left arm. Now the inner arm is turned outwards and the same procedure is repeated for both the arms, from finger tips upto the inner side of arm to the shoulder and return after a short pause at the shoulder.

If this method is not convenient, one may carry out an affusion under a tap, provided sufficient space is available to manoeuvre the arm. In this case the stream will not guided along the arm, but the arm is guided under the water in the same sequence. After the patient is hardened, this can be repeated twice during a session. After wiping out the water by hand the patient wears immediately a full arm dry shirt and walks and moves his arm vigorously for 10 minutes.

The cold am affusion has refreshing and stimulating effect and at the same time it has mild but lasting effect on the activity of heart, helping to regulate blood pressure and stimulate breathing.

b) Chest Affusion

The body is bent more in the case of chest, affusion than for the arm affusion, to allow the water to drain off. The entire upper part of the body must remain bare and with no restrictive clothing around the abdomen.

One starts in the same way as for arm affusion for the right hand and douches the inner side of the right hand to the shoulder and return immediately to the back of the hand. Then the left arm is douched in the same way. On reaching the shoulder one douche off the chest from side to side in a pattern until there is skin reaction of blood vessels. Then one quickly must go on guiding the stream down the outer side of left arm to the back of the hand.

c) Face Affusion

For the face affusion one rests the neck on a towel and bends slightly forward. With a decreased water flow one begins by slowly circling around the face from the right side below the temple, then back and forth, from one side of the face to the other side. Then guiding the stream, beginning at the left, several times over the face form top downwards, circle the whole face once more.

For this no help is necessary. However if applied to another person, one should be careful to allow him to get sufficient breathing opportunity. After the face affusion the face is dried slightly, not by rubbing but by dabbing. The face affusion with good reason is rightly called "the beauty douche".

By stimulating the blood supply, the flabby skin regains tightness and freshness. A premature ageing of the facial skin is prevented, a feeling of tiredness is eliminated and it is also good for failing nerve and migraine.

d) Knee Affusion

Affusion is done from the toe to just above the knee. Since rolling of the trousers is too constrictive, the trousers should better be removed. One begins the affusion from the right foot and guide the stream from the toes over the outer side of the foot to heel, and then slowly upto the calf to the hollow of the knee, lingering slightly above it and paying attention that water is spread equally over the calf. Then one guides the stream along the inner side to the lower thigh to the heel.

One repeats in the left leg, but on reaching the hollow of the knee one changes over to the right knee hollow for a few moments and return to the left knee hollow and calf and back to the left heel. The douching of the front side also begins at the toes and continues to above the knee cap. Here also one begins from the right leg and then shifts to the left leg after reaching the back of the heel of right foot. When reaching above the left knee cap one also shifts to the right knee for a few moments, return to the left knee and down to left to the heel. But avoid directly douching the shin bone.

The knee affusion eliminates the feeling of tiredness of the legs. So it stiffens the skin and the connective tissue and prevents varicose vein. It helps in thrombophlebitis and varicose ulcer also. By eliminating congestion in the head, it eliminates headaches and migraines, symptoms of cold in the throat and the nose, stimulates blood circulation and lightens the workload on the hear.

Cold Packs

According to Kneipp packs and compresses are extremely important for a day-to-day care of the sick. The pack can be full or partial. They must be given in bed for a duration of half an hour. They should envelop the limbs completely. They are given to bring down high fever, for a general increase, in blood circulation, relaxation and sedation. they induce sweating in fever patients. They help in the losing of weight in obese patients when applied for one to two hours. It consists of 3 layers.

1. Innermost - thin wet linen moderately squeezed

2. Intermediate dry linen to cover the wet linen completely. It acts to sponge up perspiration.

3. Outermost woollen blanket to keep the body warm.

The most important partial packs are for the neck, limbs, chest, loin and abdomen, leg, calf and foot packs. Last three are used for varicose veins. Cold packs to abdomen are applied for relaxation and sedation in the evening and may remain on during the sleep until the morning.

The wet compress around the lower legs

A cold wet cloth, well wrung, is wrapped around the lower leg between the knee and the ankles. Then it is wrapped with a dry cloth overlapping the wet cloth by 2 inches both at the top and the bottom of the compress. Then put a woollen or flannel cloth on top. The woolen cloth should extend over the compress leaving the margin of one inch above and below for hygienic reasons.

This compress is good for tired legs, removes the feeling of tiredness. It induces sleep and is recommended for varicose veins. A person who stands the whole day long should put it on while going to bed. Another type of wet compress around the lower leg is Kneipp’s wet socks which cover the feet as well. Dip a pair of cotton or linen socks in cold water, wring them out well, put them on. Then put on a pair of dry socks which are not thin, about a hand breadth longer. They are excellent against splay feet and for promoting sleep. They have a temperature reducing effect.

Cold Compress of Chest

For this a linen or cotton cloth about 10 cms. wide and 1 1/2 mtr. Long is dipped in cold water and wrung well. It is then wrapped as moderately tight bandage, around the chest, covering the shoulder and upto the lower part of the ribs. A woollen bandage of almost an equal length and width is wrapped on the top of the cotton bandage to cover it well. This is kept for 45 minutes. It helps in cases asthma, bronchitis and all chest ailments.

Whole Body Pack

Spread 2-3 blankets on a bad, depending upon the season. Spread one thin bedsheet dipped in cold water and wring it well before spreading. The patient is made to lie on this bed with no clothes on. Below his head, the entire body is well covered by the wet sheet taking care that it covers well around the arms and legs as well as the trunk. The entire body is then covered with 2 or 3 blankets pinning them well with safety pins.

Within 5-10 minutes the patient feels warm and starts perspiring in about 20-25 minutes. This treatment is continued for 45 minutes. Then the patient leaves the bed and is given a cold shower. If the patient is weak, friction rub the body with a cold towel and put him in a warm bed. We may also have a full pack covering upto the neck. There quarter pack upto axilla or short pack (mid thigh to axilla). Before applying a cold pack the area to which it is applied should be warm. If not warm, it should be applied.

They are quite safe, but it is always safer in the beginning to give alight application and ask, half an hour to two hours later, how he feels. If he feels better, the treatment is right and agrees with him.

Throat Pack

This should be done correctly, otherwise it may cause harm. One needs a cloth the width of the hand, long enough to wind twice around the neck. The cloth is dipped in cold water and wrung out first and wound around the neck. On top of this a dry flannel or woollen cloth is wrapped.

In order to avoid the movement of the head and thus spreading the pack and thus allowing air to reach the neck, one must remain quiet while having the pack, preferably in a reclining position till the cold pack becomes warm say for half an hour to 45 minutes. It is relaxing for the throat, for a person who has to speak for a long period. It also helps in sore throat, tonsilitis and throat cattarh, etc.

Sauna Sauna is an invention from Finland. Every Finnish, rich or poor, must take a sauna bath once or twice a week. For centuries the Finns have learnt to keep themselves healthy with the help of sauna which is a place for relaxation with one’s family. Of course, the sauna is taken in the nude. When an important guest comes they are honoured taking the sauna together. The sauna is almost a place of reverence for them, they feel that there are only two holy places for the Finns: the church and the sauna, and in both places people keep quiet.

There is no immediate record available of when the sauna was born in Finland. It spread all over the world as Finns came in contact with soldiers during the wars or during Olympics when all the athletes of the world collected at one site. The sauna is made with the help of logs, in room without windows. The gaps between logs are closed with the help of mud and moss. The smoke and the steam passes out through the gap between the doors and the legs. The desired effect of sauna can be achieved only if the facility allowed moisture content of the air inside sauna to remain constant or if the original condition is restored in the shortest possible time after the water is sprinkled on hot stones. Nowadays mostly bricks are used. Special attention has to be paid to moisture escape and air regulation.

The modern sauna which does not have proper ventilation will increase the humidity above the prescribed limit. This can have a deleterious effect on heart and circulation. The humidity in sauna should be 3-6% and on no account it should rise to more than 15%. In a sauna room, benches are arranged at different heights. On the highest bench the temperature remains the highest. One starts with the lowest bench at the different levels and at higher. The time taken to adapt oneself at the different levels and at higher temperature differs from person to person. By progressing slowly from one bench to the next higher bench, the stimulating effect can progressively be regulated.

It is better to put your leg up if you are sitting on a bench and after sitting for a while when the perspiration starts it is better to recline on the bench. It is better to raise the level of your feet to help the circulation to the heart, since in a sauna room there is provision for leg support. When one goes to the sauna for the first time, it is better not to go to the high benches and one should not perspire for more than 5 minutes. Later, gradually it may be increase to 10 and 15 minutes. Just before coming out of the sauna put a little water on the heated stone so that the temperature rises and one perspires heavily before coming out. During the last one or two minutes one should sit up and allow the legs to hang down, in order to adapt to circulation, to an upright posture. Then one steps down quietly leaving the room along with the towel one was sitting on.

The sauna is a combination of hot air bath steam bath interrupted by cooling. It has a great stimulating effect on the body. Circulation and metabolism are enhanced. The skin is stimulated and the secretion of the skin is strong. The immunity of the body and supportive action of the body are enhanced. A sauna bath may be taken for two hours. The stomach should neither be too full or empty. The bowels and bladder should be emptied before entering the sauna. If the feet are cold before entering the sauna it is better to take a hot foot bath before entering sauna room. One should enter the sauna with the body completely dry.

There is a lot of perspiring, in the sauna, which is followed by cooling off. there is fear of catching a cold during the cooling off process. One need not to be afraid as long as the body is completely warmed up. This will be the case if the sauna bath is taken properly.

The cooling off phase begins with the cold air bath. One walks slowly back and forth in the open air. This may be followed by a short swim or a dive or a cold shower. Even better is Kneipp’s affusion. It is very pleasant as it has a prickling effect. One starts with a douche away from the heart at the hips. Start again from the left heel upto the seat then go round the abdomen. Repeat the same with right leg. Then to the right finger upto the shoulder and from the left finger upto the shoulder, move around in circles round the chest. At the end let the water run down over the back.

The cooling off should be practised with moderation. After 10-15 minutes the body is cooled off. Take a warm foot bath. Rub the body completely dry and enter the sauna for the second time The second bath is the same as first bath and the body is cooled off again after 8-15 minutes in sauna for the second time following the same procedure as the first. Those who use the sauna regularly may enter again and cool off for the third time.

At the end of each bath the head and the body are well cooled and the feet are very cold. Therefore it is always recommended to take a hot foot bath at the concluding stage. Normally one fresh after a sauna. If you want to rest for a while, you should wrap the feet tightly and cover the body lightly.

Brief hints on how to use the sauna:

1. Enter hints sauna with dry, but clean body, otherwise sweating will take longer.

2. Warm up sufficiently so as to enjoy the cooling off especially if you are a beginner.

3. To balance the effect of hot air in sauna, inhale deeply while cooling off. Otherwise the sauna may have bad effect and you may feel dizzy or even have a fainting spell.

4. Cool off sufficiently, else you will keep on sweating and catch cold.

5. Take a hot foot bath after complete cooling off or after cold bath if you should avoid a feeling of shivering or a headache.

6. Avoid any physical exercise throughout the sauna bath. This is to avoid too much stress on circulation.

When the sauna bath is taken properly one will have a feeling of well being. One will feel hungry and thirsty. Persons who are slim can indulge in food or drinks, but should take a natural diet with beverages rich in vitamins (like fruit juice or vegetable juice). The persons who are trying to become slender should not eat or drink immediately after a sauna and should have a low calorie diet. Remember the sauna is not exactly a substitute for slimming but only an effective supplement to any effort made in this direction.

The sauna has good, bearable and stimulating effect on the body. It improves health, adds vigour and increases resistance to disease. It gives immunity to cold and infection and help to relieve tiredness and exhaustion. If one is not well or suffers from some illness it would be better to consult a hydrotherapist before taking a sauna bath.

The sauna bath effective in joint and muscle diseases, also in chronic rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative joint diseases, neuralgia and in cases of slip disc or protrusion of intervertebral discs or protrusion of intervertebral discs. An acute cold and sinusitis will be helped by a sauna bath. But with fever or influenza you should not. The sauna will help if you have cold feet and hands or the circulation of blood to the skin is insufficient. Even in instances of heart ailments and blood pressure, a sauna bath can be had but the heart should be well compensated. Blood pressure must not exceed 170. Caution is required and a heart check-up is recommended before sauna.

It is a not an universal treatment for all diseases. It is definitely important in a few of them and may help in many diseases. It is always wise to consult a hydrotherapist when you are in doubt. There are a few people who think tat they can indulge in all sorts of addictions and bad habits an that by taking sauna they can sweat out all the poisons from the body. A smoker may feel that he can sweat out all the nicotine in a sauna bath. This unfortunately is not true. One sweats 500-1000 gms. Of sweat in a single sauna bath.

A person suffering from uncompensated hear or very high blood pressure (above 180) should not indulge in sauna. Those who have high fever or one suffering from arteriosclerotic diseases or infectious diseases, like tuberculosis or acute arthritis should not enter a sauna. Also it is not meant for persons suffering from kidney ailment. A person mentally unstable should not take sauna as it May make him nervous and restless.

The Finns know a lot about sauna it is said that they live and die in sauna. They generally take sauna once or twice a week. It is safest to take sauna every week. It is for a person who ahs ample time and is not in a hurry. If you are constantly watching the clock and just thinking if you can still make it, you will not benefit. Keep it as the last appointment of the day so that you are relaxed. The sauna is most effective if you have nothing special to do later on after the bath.

Some firms have devised home saunas. They are not much effective. They have an electrical heating device and one is enclosed in plastic or similar material. When one sweats, moisture increases. The most important feature of a sauna is dry, hot air. moreover the home sauna will never reach the high temperature of genuine sauna. The home sauna may cause stress on the heart. You will not be able to have periods of cooling off in a home sauna, so actually it does not deserve this name.

How the body reacts to heat

As the body gets heated, the blood vessels in the skin open up. The oxygen content of superficial capillaries increases. Sweating starts. It is most profuse on the forehead. The blood volume and the cardiac output increases. For the first thirty minutes after the abrupt exposure to heat the blood volume increases due to influx of extra vascular fluid (fluid from tissue and muscles, surrounding the blood vessels). The blood gets diluted with more plasma. After half an hour the dilution is 5%. If the body continues to get heated for 1-4 hours this dilution may increase up to 13%. Not only this , the red cells circulating in the blood also increase. Later, there is formation of fresh plasma which further increased the blood volume.

As the blood volume increases the respiration slow down. When the body is heated the sleep contracts pushing more red cells into circulation. Thirst increases with a rise in temperature. Increases thirst is indication of dehydration of the body. It is always wiser to drink a glass or two before entering a heating chamber. The sweat glands keep on secreting regardless of the body hydration. The thirst mechanism proves inadequate. There is a decrease in the blood volume resulting in haemo-concentration. In men exposed to heat there is an average reduction of body weight by 3%. The plasma reduces 6.5%. The total circulating cells and protein in total blood remain the same.

When the atmosphere heats up suddenly, one feels lazy. This is due to inadequate blood volume, an increased body temperature and raised blood pressure. In a few days the body adapts itself to hot climate, and then you feel more comfortable and efficient in the same climate. This state of feeling better comes due to an increased blood volume, lowering of increased blood pressure and increased capacity of the body to sweat thus lowering the body temperature.

Sweating is an efficient mechanism to lower body temperature. This can be proved by the fact that a person can survive for 15 minutes even at a temperature of 130⁰C/(266⁰F). The rate of sweating is related to skin temperature, the sweating starts 5-40 minutes after being exposed to high temperature. Sweating first starts on the dorsum of the foot, then the calf, thigh, trunk, upper extremity and face. Sweating depends on the temperature, the degree of thermal acclimatization, metabolic rate, salt intake and sweat gland fatigue.

On exposure to extreme condition the sweat rate may be even 3 litres per hour for a short period. A person can sweat upto 14 litres a day. An increased water intake does not alter much the rate of sweating. If we take extra salt than what we excrete out in our sweat may reduce the rate of sweating. The ability to sweat more increases with acclimatization. The sweating rate is not uniform it is cyclic having a high and low peak. The highest sweating occurs in the neck, back, forehead and forearm.

If a person is immersed in hot water upto the neck, the sweating is at the peak in the first hour then it starts declining. It always occurs in fresh water. If salt is added there is less decline and it may reach to no decline in a 15% sodium chloride solution. Sweat also helps in the excretion and secretion from the body. This is also one of the most important channel for removing waste from body. 99% of sweat consists of water. The most important content of sweat is sodium chloride (common salt.) High sweat rate may result in as much as 20 gms. Salt loss in one day. This can lead in deficiency of salt in the body leading to heat cramps.

The Finnish sauna is believed to stimulate the adrenal cortex. This helps to decrease eosinophy II in the blood and increase excretion of 17-ketosteroids. This is why the sauna helps in cases of eosinophyllia. The peak value of 0.65 mgm/hrs of blood reached within 4 hours after a steam bath and 24 hours later it was 0.55 mgm/hrs. On third day it was 0.45 mgm/hrs almost reaching 0.42 mgm/hrs level which was prior to steam bath. This is why it is advocated to take steam or sauna not more than twice a week. The ideal is once a week. Due to the increased level of 17 - ketosteroids in the blood, the leucocytes count is slightly increased and the eosinophyll count reduced which came to almost the same level next day.

Sweat also contains urea and ammonia but their level in the sweat is higher than in the serum. Amino acid level in the sweat is lower than in the serum. By the end of the day you may feel a slimy substance deposited on the skin, you feel sticky. This substance is called sebum and it contains lactic acid, amino acid, urea, uric acid, ammonia and triglyceride fatty acids. These serve a double purpose as excretion of waste from the body and as a fungistatic, resisting the fungal infection on our skin. It is not true to say that the skin can only excrete and that it cannot absorb. By warming the skin its permeability increases. It is found that the water penetrates the skin at a rate of 1.5mg/cm2/hour. If we add some extracts in bathing water they enter the skin and reach the blood. This is why spring water also helps in certain diseases. In an experiment, tritium oxide was added to water in the bathing tub. In ten minutes it appeared in the urine. When water was warm this process wad enhanced and in an hour it reached the maximum concentration in the urine.

When a person is exposed to a temperature of 55⁰ - 60⁰C (131-140⁰F) for 15-30 minutes in a sauna, sweating is profuse and the weight loss is about 1/2 kg. On repeated exposure to heat, pigmentation can be developed due to melanin-producing cells. These are stimulated by pituitary glands which are responsible for secreting the melanocyte stimulating hormone. This is one of the main reasons why the sauna and steam bath help in cases of leucoderma in darkening the skin.

Effect on muscle and joints

Hot fomentation is the first thing done in the case of pain in the joint or muscles. For relief of pain an stiffness a hot compress for a short time has a stimulating effect. When we apply moderate heat for a longer time, the sedative effect relieves the muscle spasm. It is used for relieving the muscle spasm in polyomyelitis. In chronic arthritic patients the maximum relaxation was produced in the hot water bath at 101-104⁰F (38.3⁰ to 40⁰C).

In the cases of abdominal pain, flatulence and spasm of the colon, hot abdominal compresses and ingestion of hot water are efficacious remedies. The effect of heat relieving spasm is generally for a short duration. In a few cases however it may be permanent as it can break the vicious cycle of pain triggering spasm an vice versa.

When heat is applied to the abdomen initially it diminishes the intestinal blood flow but if heating is prolonged the blood flow increases. Heat diminishes the intestinal mobility. Gastric acid secretion are also diminished. A hot bath in a pregnant woman near term does not effect the contractile activity of the uterus. A hot bath can affect the liver function. Histological changes may occur after a series of hot baths. A cessation of hot baths will brings it back to normal.

Effect on Kidneys

With exposure to heat the urine output will decrease as a lot of water is lost through sweat. When a person from a hot climate goes to a cold climate the urine output may increase five fold. With the increase in volume, the specific gravity of the urine is reduced and it is not so highly coloured as in a warm climate.

The sodium chloride and the urea content of the urine will be reduced in summer in good measure because these substances are lost in sweat. But the quantity of other substances remains the same in the urine during summer or winter. A hot full bath causes a temporary increase in the urinary flow.

Local application of heat

It is normal to apply local heat to relieve pain and spasm of muscles and joints In sub-acute and chronic joints pains, the relief in pain is due to increased blood circulation and the muscle relaxing influence of heat. When the heat is applied to calf muscles with a water temperature at 133⁰f(50.1⁰C), the intra muscular temperature rises only to 105⁰F(30.8⁰C)and that too in 50 minutes.

The application of hot packs, to the knee joint is reported to cause a fall in the human body. If the left arm is heated, the blood circulation of heart can be increased. If the right arm is heated say at 113⁰F(45⁰C) the temperature of the forehead an toes and skin rises in 10-15 minutes time.

Hot Spring Baths

Japan has many hot springs and they are used to advantage in health and disease. In the traditional bot bath, called a time -limit bath (Jikan Yu), the patient is immersed in hot water four times a day, each time for 3 minutes, for 10 consecutive days, some may take it for 20 days and a few even for 40 days.

First splash 20-30 mugfuls of hot mineral water on a patient’s head (Kaburi-Yu) and then immerse the full body in the hot water. For patients with dermatitis, that is traditionally considered one way to cure obstinate diseases in folk medicine of ancient Japan. There are many spas with sulphur concentrations. These penetrate the dermatitis skin more readily than a healthy skin. This is supposed to prevent arteriosclerosis and strengthen joints and tendons. These baths are noted to increase serum mucoproteins. A patient having more than moderate blood pressure (but less than 200) with no unfavourable complications of heart or kidney can tolerate these baths as long as the temperature is not too high. In fact many a time the blood pressure may fall.

Thermal Crisis

This is also called Yu0stari in Japanese. This is seen in patients who go for hot spring treatment. It occurs generally in cases of rheumatoid arthritis and eczema. In Japanese folk medicine this is known as healing crisis but it needs expert handling.

A patient may feel weak in the limbs, appetite may be lost, he may have fever, insomnia and heaviness in the head. There may also be biliary colic, enlargement of joints, asthmatic attacks, diarrhea, constipation and sometimes skin eruption. These symptoms which depend more on the conditioning factor may be accompanied by a disturbance in the liver function and the autonomic nervous system.

At the slight appearance of these symptoms, curtail the bathing time and, if needed, discontinue the treatment. These patients should be given proper rest and treated with vitamin C. These treatments are indicated in cases of chronic rheumatism, neuralgia, poliomyelitis, diabetes, obesity, peptic ulcer, hemorrhoids, chronic eczema and also for relaxation.

Pelo Therapy

Recently, when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited New Zealand he was taken to a volcanic region where the earth and mud are hot. Several natural spas have mushroomed around this area. This hot mud is used for curing several diseases. The health giving quality lies in it’s heat and to some extent in the different minerals which are contained in it.

Clean earth is dug out. The upper layers of the soil are rejected. This inside soil is stored in a clean dry place. Before it is ground, sieved and soaked overnight in water, it is heated before using. A certain temperature and consistency are maintained, depending upon different applications. The therapeutic property depends upon the heat preserving property and the organic content.

Besides the thermal property, there is the pressure factor of pelotherapy to the applied part of the body. Viscosity, physical stimulus of particles on skin play a definite role. In ancient Egypt, mud was rubbed on the skin and dried. To them this was the best form of beauty treatment. Even today beauty therapists follow this Egyptian practice. The mud to be applied may be heated in the sun at a temperature of 47.5⁰C to 52.5⁰C before application. The famous mud or Battaglia in Italy is heated in the hot springs.

Mud has high capacity to hold heat. It takes long to heat up and it holds the heat for a long time. The mud is tolerated by the skin at a higher temperature than water baths. It is known that the mud bath has a milder action than water bath and is thus a superior form of heat therapy.

Extraction, storage and transportation

When digging out mud under water, it should at first be drained gradually away. Later, the pit should be cut to a desired thickness with a shovel. The best mud is found above the river mouth and has smaller particles. The smaller particles have a great viscosity and adherence to the skin.

Good property of mud is one with a high organic content. It can get lost if the mud is dried on low or high temperature for transportation. It is desirable to store and transport peloid mud in the natural moist state. Mineral peloid with low organic content can be transported in its dry pulverised form. Thermal muds are compressed dehydrated cubes or powders for shipment to different spas.

Conditioning

Sometimes the mud needs ripening or maturation before it is applied. It can be revitalized in various ways. In Italy thermal muds are stored in pools of thermal water at 30-40⁰C for a few years to increase the micro-organic humus, the process usually called maturation in Europe. The mud can be mixed with organic matter if so desired.

The mud treatment should be given preferably in separate airy rooms. The rooms should have a washable floor and walls. The mud is kept in tubs made of wood, ceramic, cement and cast iron, either movable or stationary. These room are provided with cold and hot water spray for washing, after the mud bath, and superheated steam to heat the mud before use. There should be an adjacent room with a bed for resting immediately after the bath. This room can also be used as a changing room. A wooden or mental plinth is used for mud packing.

Mode of Application of Mud

It can be a local or full bath. The application can be on any part of the body except the face and head. Over the limbs it can be applied upto mid-thigh or upto the upper arm. The application will depend on individual response or disease. It can also be light, moderate or intensive, depending upon the individual requirements.

Effect will depend on consistency, duration and temperature. In abdominal diseases it can be given as a half bath or sitting bath. In cases of post fracture stiffness as a local application. In the case of a cardio-vascular diseases, or high blood pressure an in weak and aged patients it should be done with care.

Generally, pelotherapy has to be done with caution. a complete history and physical examination is a must before application. Subjective well being of the patient is not a proper guide. The tolerance of a patient must be gauged properly before the application. If a patient feels pain while lying on his back better to give him a local application. Even in the young and strong, a mild or moderate treatment is given first. In gynecological patients bath is given for 12 minutes to start with and gradually a daily increase in timing up to 20 minutes. Sometimes salt may be added to the mud.

Reaction to mud

A reaction does occur after peloid therapy. In most there is no reaction for 3-5 days and in some cases for as many as 15 days. It occurs earlier in the case of inflammatory than degenerative diseases. There is no way to reduce bath reaction. The doses should be reduced when there is bath reaction. It may given rise to giddiness, palpitation, headaches or itching. In such cases an ice compress should be used on the head or chest.

First, the peat is milled into pieces and added to the stirring tub. Water is added and the peat is soaked, preferably for 12 hours. Then the rub is stirred and heated. Heating can be done by injecting superheated steam or by hot water passing through pipes, incorporated in the wall of the bath tub. The mixing is achieved with an electric beater or compressed air. Now the peat can be transferred from the stirring tub to treatment tubs through pipes by compressed air or directly pouring in movable bath tub, where it is mixed to a prescribed consistency by hand. The temperature is adjusted by adding hot water. The temperature is maintained at 390-420C in Europe. In Japan, the prescribed temperature is a high as 480C. The temperature depends on the consistency. Thinner the consistency lower the temperature and lower the mechanical pressure on the body. The best consistency of peloid is when the water is retained to its full capacity. The water retention capacity is defined as the maximum amount of water one gram of peloid will hold indefinitely at room temperature.

Duration

It is given for 5 to 15 minutes at an interval of 2 to 3 days. A full course consist of 12 to 15 baths. Those who are robust in health, can be given daily. Local baths are generally given in between.

Ideal Mud Bath

The mud must be stirred while heating otherwise it may develop hot spots. The ideal consistency can be measured by taking a small rod and dipping it in the mud. When this rod is raised a drop of mud falls on the mud surface. The depression formed should disappear in 2 to 3 seconds.

Taking a mud bath in the supine position is most uncomfortable as the lowest part of the body floats. For this reason, mud baths are generally given in a sitting position. When the mud particles are coarse the mud does not have proper water retention capacity. Here the upper part of body is kept in the suspended layer of mud and the lower part is covered by dough-like bottom layer of mud.

Rest

After the local or full bath the mud is removed with a towel and then the patient is sprayed with warm water for further cleaning. After the bath, the patient should rest in bed covered by a sheet or a blanket depending upon the temperature. The patient is advised to rest for one hour at least and drink water freely.

Special Application

Cold peloid packs are commonly used in skin diseases and in the initial stages of inflammation and injuries to prevent swelling and pain. It is also used to increased the blood circulation of local areas like the abdomen in the cases of abdominal and gynecological problems. Here the consistency is quite thick. It is made into a slab about 3 to 5 cm. thick and measuring 25cm. * 10 cm. so that it completely covered by a woollen cloth. It is kept for 20 to 30 minutes. This mud is cold to start with. Gradually it gets heated up by the body heat. The action of cold is responded by heat reaction thus increasing the blood circulation of the abdominal wall and to some extent of the abdominal organs.

It can also be given as cold mud application to the whole body. It can be done only in temperature or hot climate. After application of mud to the entire body, the patient is allowed to sit the hot sun for 30 to 45 minutes. By the time the mud gets dried up by body heat and the heat of the sun, the patient is made to take a cold bath. This bath is quite invigorating and rest is not essential soon after the bath.

Treatment

Mud treatment can be given in chronic joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, polyarthritis, orteorthritis. It is not given in cases which have reached acute and subacute stages. Fever should have subsided at least 3 to 4 months before the treatment can be given. It is useful in cases of myelgia, lumbago, neuralgia and sciatica. It can be given in early cases of strain and sprain to relieve pain and prevent swelling. It is useful in stiff joints following fracture. It can be associated with therapeutic exercises and manipulation.

It is recommended in peripheral vascular diseases, phlebitis endarteritis and Raynaud’s disease. It promotes fibrinolysis in venous thrombosis. In these cases local treatment will be more useful. Patients with high blood pressure and heart disease are recommended local application. It is useful in paralysis. Where there is loss of sense of touch, baths have a more beneficial effect rather than local packs.

It is also useful in eczema, dermatitis, pruritis, pimples and in gynecological conditions or inflammatory conditions of all pelvic organs, sterility, dysmennorrhea and leucorrhea. This bath should not be given during fever, or when suffering from infectious diseases, diabetes, turberculosis, pregnancy, anaemia, haemophylia or decompensated heart.

Spa Therapy

God created Earth. Then he created air, water and sun and Adam and Eve to procreate and to live happily ever after. Then he got worried about the health and longevity of his best creation. He found a solution for it by giving water all the health preserving and health including ingredients. He devised everything to make it possible for man to live in good health on earth with water and sun. Water has been always plentiful. Man has used it to his advantage, to quench his thirst, to irrigate his fields and to keep himself clean. Above all he has used water for health and to get rid of diseases through different water states like hot, cold and ice.

Difference people use water in Mumbai who take a hot water bath all the year around. Though Mumbai’s moderate temperature never falls much as to invite a hot water bath. These people pretend that hot water protects them against rheumatism, bronchitis and asthma and suggest that they feel more fresh after each hot water bath. There are people in Delhi who keep on changing the temperature of their bath water according to the season, a hot bath in winter and a cold shower in summer.

To know about the effect of theses baths, on the body will add up to our attitude and approach to them. They can help to cure diseases, harden the bodies so that we are less susceptible to cold and coughs. A cold breeze will then not be able to put us out of gear. A sudden rain soaking us deep to our skin will not be an invitation to a cold or fever.

Now with a 5 - star culture blooming in the capital cities, health clubs have mushroomed. These clubs have sauna bath, steam bath, whirl pools, gymnasium swimming pool and an open place to take sunbath and enjoy the breeze, and instructions about yoga, relaxation and diet. The spa has come to signify in Europe a sign of hope. There are more spas now the world over more people visit them. Usually located in scenic places, they are spread over a vast area of land away form the city noise and polluted air.

There is a cheerful atmosphere where you may relax in privacy. You can walk in shaded groves and jog in jogger’s tracks. You can sun bathe take hydrotherapy, meditate, diet, do yoga, exercise your body, and do breathing exercises, wash the body from its dirt. Here all the flood gates for elimination of toxic wastes in the body are opened up. The skin perspires to eliminate more in a sauna and a steam bath. You breathe in more oxygen during a pranayama and eliminate more carbon dioxide. Your bowel moves better after exercise and a right diet. The kidney will flush out more waste from the body after intake of more salad and fruits. You will sleep better. The nervous system will have more rest. You must start learning to use your body like a sitar or any other string instrument. Tighten the strings when you want to play. Tension is needed when you want to gear up the mind and body to action, but do not let this tension prevail all the time. Learn to loosen the body stings when not in use. Education in the art of relaxation is the most important part of spa therapy by way of hydro treatment, meditation, pranayama, yoga or more recent feed back techniques when you actually watch in a machine and know how relaxed you are. This will help to be acquainted better with the personal relaxation needs and techniques.

It will be improper to condemn these methods outright without testing and heeling the experience of thousands of patients who have already benefited from them. These have survived over thousands of years whereas may others have come and gone. We must remember that many of the patients who come for spa therapy are chronic. They come as a last resort for relief from pain. A lot of positive development has been going on in balano therapy (spa therapy) in India. The day is not far off when it will be conclusively demonstrated the reason why balano therapy is effective.