Importance of Hydrotherapy

By Manohari Wickramaratchi

Hydrotherapy is the use of water to maintain health, soothe pains and treat injuries and diseases. It is probably the oldest form of medical treatment used by many cultures, including those of ancient Egypt, Rome, China and Japan. Sri Lankans, known for their water based culture practised soaking in rivers and lakes and immersed plant roots, leaves and flowers in water to bring healing powers to the water.

Though it was the Romans who introduced spas throughout the Roman Empire, modern hydrotherapy is commonly attributed to Father of Hydrotherapy Sebastian Kneipp (1821-1897), who believed that water would dissolve matter-containing disease in the body and strengthen the body by restoring cleansed blood to the tissues and maximizing blood circulation.

Hydrotherapy uses the principles of buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure or effects of the movement of water and water temperature to speed up recovery after surgery, reduce pain and stress, spasm and discomfort and is especially beneficial for people with work related or sport injuries, arthritis, neck back or knee pain.

A seminar on the importance of hydrotherapy and aromatherapy will be held on March 6 at the Alliance Francaise in Colombo at 6 p.m. with guest speaker Sarah Yun from Singapore.

It will also be held in Kandy at the Hilltop Hotel on March 8 at 6 p.m. and in Galle, at the Thambapanni Retreat, Unawatuna on March 10 at 6 p.m. For more information, contact the Hydrotherapy Health Spa on 07777 05999 or 077777842.