HealthiaCynthia

Hot & Cold=Warm & Fuzzy

Filed under: Health & Wellness, Bouncing, Hydrotherapy by healthiacynthia on July 15, 2007 7:57 am

When I was growing up (in the 50s and 60s)my mother had a massive tome she referred to as "the Doctor Book".  In it you could find all the necessary photos and illustrations to totally freak you out about that rash on the side of your leg, or about having sex… ever.  The word "graphic" was coined to describe this Doctor Book.

Besides the pictures of people with advanced syphilitic lesions and giant facial tumors, there were photos of women with in sauna boxes, or something like that– only their heads showed, the rest of the box encasing them like a body coffin.  I recall that these were examples of "hydrotherapy".

So, years later when I attended an Adventist Church-sponsored lecture on "hydrotherapy" I flashed in my mind back to the rather weird illustrations in my mother's Doctor Book.  I was amazed to find out that "hydrotherapy" simply meant using water– as fluid or ice– as a treatment for a variety of conditions or maladies. 

For example:

For Pain: Freeze water in a styrofoam cup and peel the cup down so that you have a handheld block of ice that you apply in small, circular motions for 7 minutes (keep the ice going to prevent 'freezer burn') over the affected area.  After the 7 minutes, warm up the area by massaging gently with a couple of drops of pure essential oil (don't use anything that might create problems and don't put essential oils on sensitive tissues such as the eyes or genitals)in a carrier of virgin coconut oil (the kind you would cook with).  If the pain persists, then do another 7 minutes of icing and warm-up.  This is simple and amazingly effective… even for chronic pain, such as comes with fibromyalgia.

For Swelling/Sore Feet/Ankles: Have two basins of water, one very cold and one hot .  Neither should be so hot or cold that you can't stand it when you put your feet in (be kind to yourself!). Alternate putting both feet in each basin for about three minutes at a time.  Start with the hot bath and do 3-5- or 7 immersions, starting with the hot water and ending with the hot water.  Combined with good nutrition, using a slantboard, dry brushing , and rebounding (see below), swollen or sore ankles will soon return to normal.  Again, amazingly simple to do.  And accessible to most people. 

 To learn more about the Cellerciser that I bounce on, click above.