Hydrotherapy is, simply put, the application of water to the body to create beneficial physiological change and promote health. As you might imagine, there are many kinds of hydrotherapy. You might consider a simple whirlpool or jacuzzi to be a type of hydrotherapy, and you'd be right - it helps relax muscles. So is a steam room that helps break up lung congestion. So is an ice pack that reduces inflammation of an ankle sprain. The use of water to help the body heal is as old as humanity itself.
At Ancient Art Health Center, Dr. Isaacs uses a form of hydrotherapy called constitutional hydrotherapy. This involves the application of alternating hot and cold damp towels to the chest and abdomen while the patient relaxes under warm blankets. Then the same procedure is performed to the back. Gentle and rhythmic electric stimulation to the spine and abdomen may also be used during this treatment.
Constitutional hydrotherapy is generally very relaxing, and occasionally, patients even fall asleep during the treatment. It has been clinically proven to detoxify the digestive system, reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, and improve the composition of the blood.
Along with a short history and quick blood pressure and temperature being taken, you should plan on a visit of about an hour.
Constitutional hydrotherapy requires that the patient disrobes from the waist up for the treatment, but for those concerned, Dr. Isaacs takes all necessary measures to preserve modesty.
Acute conditions like colds or flus tend to respond effectively to multiple treatments over the course of a week. Chronic conditions will take longer to respond, but hydrotherapy treatments will tend to be less frequent. In both cases, hydrotherapy along with appropriate health-promoting therapies and behaviors tends to produce the best and most rapid results.
Since constitutional hydrotherapy is a new treatment at Ancient Art Health Center, it is being offered at an introductory price of $30 per session. An initial visit with Dr. Isaacs is required before beginning a course of hydrotherapy unless you are already a client at Ancient Art.
