RICH IN HISTORY
Stemming from modern hydrotherapy treatments that originated in Europe, the constitutional hydrotherapy treatment was developed and perfected by a naturopathic physician, Dr. O.G. Carroll (1879-1962). Dr. Carroll was the “the busiest health practitioner of any persuasion in the United States in the 1930’s and 1940’s” and his practice centered around this treatment that he had perfected by 1923 and which did not change for the next 40 years. Fortunately, the practice and principles of constitutional hydrotherapy have been preserved for this current generation of naturopathic physicians through the subsequent work of Drs. John Bastyr, Harold Dick, Leo Scott and Bill Carroll.
GOALS AND PRINCIPLES OF THE TREATMENT
One of the principles of naturopathic constitutional hydrotherapy is that health (and healing) is proportional to the normal flow of healthy blood, specifically referring to both the quantity and the quality of blood flowing through a given tissue. The treatment goal is to normalize the quantity of blood circulating through a given area or tissue during a given period of time, as well as to improve the overall quality of blood in the general circulation.
Medicine has long recognized the mechanical effects of water temperature on blood flow (e.g. that hot water will relax a tight muscle or that cold, as in the form of an ice pack, can limit swelling and inflammation in a tissue area). Naturopathic constitutional hydrotherapy further expounds upon these principles, and while utilizing these basic mechanical effects to influence the quantity of blood flowing through a given tissue, also seeks to improve the quality of the blood circulating. This is accomplished in the treatment by enhancing blood flow through the organs of elimination (skin, liver, lungs, kidneys, colon) and subsequently deriving improved blood quality through the increased elimination of metabolic waste products. Concomitant treatment, aimed at tonifying the organs of digestion and improving the process of digestion and absorption of nutrients into the blood, help to build up desirable blood elements such as oxygen, nutrients, optimize blood and immune cell populations, etc., further improving overall blood quality.
Viewing the blood as the vehicle conveying life to all cells (oxygen, nutrients, etc.), naturopathic constitutional hydrotherapy manipulates the circulation in order to maximize the benefits of this process for overall health and healing. It enhances the immune response, improves overall nutrition, promotes detoxification and helps restore nervous equilibrium. Naturopathic constitutional hydrotherapy works because it helps to optimize the quality of blood, while improving the efficiency of its circulation.
INTRODUCTION TO THE TREATMENT PROCEDURE
Constitutional hydrotherapy is a fairly complex treatment and the treatment mechanics can only be mastered through repeated, supervised practice. Six important treatment variables that the naturopathic physician manipulates, within the context of the application applied to the body, in order to accomplish the treatment goal include temperature, timing (duration, frequency, hour of the day), location, pressure or friction, material used to cover the compress, and wetness.
The ability to adjust these treatment variables appropriately to individual patient, in order to best accomplish the treatment goal, is the art of the treatment application.
The basic procedure is a series of hot and cold compresses applied to the chest, abdomen and back in conjunction with mild sine wave or other mild electrical stimulation to the back and abdomen. The procedure takes approximately one hour, depending upon the individual being treated. A treatment protocol generally consists of a series of individual treatments, specifically designed for that individual, that are adjusted as necessary, as their healing progresses.
INDICATIONS
Because of its ability to improve the overall nutrition of the individual and boost the immunity, constitutional hydrotherapy may be useful in almost any condition. However, it has been found to be particularly suited to digestive tract problems (dyspepsia, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis), respiratory problems (chronic asthma, bronchitis, pleurisy), infectious disease (colds, flu, lymphangitis), female reproductive problems (PMS, dysmenorrhea, infertility), immune deficiency problems (environmental hypersensitivity), circulatory problems (varicose veins, hemorrhoids, Raynaud’s disease, mild hypertension) and other ailments such as arthritis, diabetes, depression, obesity and psoriasis.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Serious illness or extremely low vitality (elderly, very young children), high fever, low oral temperature (< 97 F), acute bladder infection, acute asthma, cardiac disease, moderate or malignant hypertension, heat-insensitive skin (as in neuropathy, etc.), Raynaud’s syndrome as part of an autoimmune complex such as lupus, fear of treatment. Also, metal implants and pacemakers, IUDs, metal piercings, open wounds, active bleeding including menstruation, pregnancy, blood clot, malignancy or metastatic cancer, hematoma or fracture near sine wave application sites.
PATIENT PREPARATION
Patient preparation for the treatment requires removal of metal jewelry and piercings, especially near the site of sine wave application. Ideally, in the 24 hours prior to the treatment, the patient has had three square meals (balanced in protein, carbohydrate and fat), a vitamin shake, and adequate water. The patient should not consume a large meal or high-sugar or refined carbohydrate bolus immediately prior to the treatment.
One of the modalities and therapies most frequently used in my residency and my favorite by far to do in my own practice is Constitutional Hydrotherapy.
According to the article entitled “Constitutional Hydrotherapy: From Nature Cure to Advanced Naturopathic Medicine” published in the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine. Constitutional Hydrotherapy “Increases cellular metabolism, oxygenation, digestion and assimilation of nutrition, and elimination of toxins from the body. “……”increases the white blood cell count,”……and “decreases inflammatory reactions.” In other words it is a super detoxify therapy.
Equipment needed:
- Sine Wave machine (I have done it without as well)
- 3 large hand towels
- 1 wool blanket
- 1 bath size towel
- hot water
- cold water
Procedure:
Patient lies naked from waist up, supine (face up) with sine wave pads placed at the level of T5 paraspinally on their back.. Temperature is always taken before starting the therapy. If their temperature is below 98 degrees then they will receive 2 rounds of hot and if it is 98 or above then they will receive 1 round of hot towels.
Reasoning:
98 degrees or above the bodies core temp is warm enough to warm the cold towels that are to come.
A well rolled hand towel is immersed and soaked in HOT water and then wrung out so that it is not dripping but is definitely moist and then applied to the patients trunk area (clavicle to upper pubic symphysis). This is covered with a dry towel and then a WOOL blanket is placed on top of that. Patient relaxes for 5 minutes.
Reasoning:
Wool allows heat to stay next to the skin while still allowing air to circulate around the therapy towels.
A hot towel is placed on top of the towel already on the patient and they are flipped so that the more hot towel is now on the skin and the spent towel is on top and can now be removed. A cold towel is placed on top of the hot towel and they are flipped in the same process. The spent hot towel is now removed. A dry towel and the wool blanket are placed on top of the cold towel and the sine wave machine is turned on and up slowly until contraction in the upper epigastric and diaphragmatic muscles is reached- firm sensation, but not painful. This surge is continued for 10 minutes.
Reasoning:
This process allows for increased or a change in circulation. The heat draws blood to the epidermis, while the cold towel does the opposite. The blood and the lymphatic fluid run away from the surface and hide in the body’s core. As the cold towel is warmed the blood and lymphatic fluid return to the epidermis. This process is known as repulsive and derivative respectively. According to Dr. Harold Dick, ND this process benefits blood circulation both in general and specifically through the liver and spleen, as well as enhancing lymphatic flow. The application of the surged sine wave in the words of Dr. Letitia Watrous, ND (Dr. Dick’s daughter) causes “ smooth muscle contraction of the ducts of the pancreas, stomach, gallbladder, and the liver thus supporting digestive enzymatic production and circulation.”
After 10 minutes the towel is felt to see if the patient has warmed it. If not, it is checked every 5 minutes until it is warmed. If it is warmed within the 10 minutes, the spent towel is removed and the sine waves are placed (1) at T10 and the other at the solar plexus and the sine wave machine is turned on the same as it was before for another 10 minutes.
Reasoning:
According to Dr. Watrous this “ stimulates the lymphatic tissues surrounding the intestines” which clinically it is believed that “an influx of white blood cells will enter the vast capillary network in the region”
After the 10 minutes are up, the sine wave pads are removed and the patient is asked to lie in the prone position (face down). The hot towel process is repeated (5 minutes) on their back, then another hot towel flipped and the spent towel is removed and the cold towel is placed atop and flipped and the hot spent towel is removed and the patient lies for 10 minutes.
After the patient has warmed the cold towel, their temperature is recorded and the spent cold towel is removed and a friction rub is done on the back.
The reaction in the clinic to this treatment is varied. Some say that this is their spa treatment, because it is very relaxing. Many patient s fall asleep during the treatment. Some say that they are energized and invigorated after the treatment. Whatever the reaction- it is always positive!
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