Instructor Resources

Chapter 8: The History of Hydrotherapy

Purpose of Chapter 8

For the Student to understand:

• To gain a deeper understanding of the use of hydrotherapy as an essential element of many of the great holistic health & wellness traditions - from ancient to modern times.
  
  
• To gain a deeper understanding of common elements in many of the historical uses of hydrotherapy, for example steam therapy treatments and heating hydrotub treatments.

Lesson: The History of Hydrotherapy

Have the students read the chapter and then discuss the chapter during a classroom session. Refer to the textbook for detailed information for the discussion and teaching exercises discussed below.

• Discuss: The use of hydrotherapy in Ayurveda from India, has been used continuously for thousands of years and continues today. Many Ayurveda hydrotherapy treatments can be found today at spa and wellness centers around the world. Discuss some of the Ayurveda hydrotherapy treatments presented in this chapter and see if any of the students have had any of these treatments. 
  
  
• Discuss: Next to Ayurveda, the Japanese hydrotherapy traditions in probably the oldest tradition that continues today and is important part of the Japanese culture. There are several Japanese universities that have departments that study the benefits of hydrotherapy. Much of the traditional use of hydrotherapy in Japan is centered around the countries many natural hot springs. An interesting exercise for the students would be to do research on the Internet on the use of hydrotherapy in Japan, its tradition, scientific research as well as the beautiful architecture and landscaping that Japanese hot springs are famous for. Japanese hot springs bath. (Image copyright John Leung, 2008. Used under license from Shutterstock.com.)

  
  
  

• Discuss: Some of the similarities  between the Greek holistic health & wellness tradition and the modern health & wellness programs. Greek healing center of Hippocrates. (Image copyright Yan Vugenfirer, 2008. Used under license from Shutterstock.com.)

  
  
  

• Discuss: How elements of the Roman hydrotherapy traditions are found in the modern European hydrotherapy tradition and that many of the best known modern European hydrotherapy centers are located at the same sites (usually a natural hot springs) as a prior Roman hydrotherapy center.  Friedrichsbad classic thermal facility (courtesy of CAMSAN, Baderbedriebe GmbH).

  
  
  

• Discuss: The popular use of hydrotherapy programs in North America between 1850 to about 1940. Key examples of this, as stated in this chapter, were Saratoga Springs, NY and Hot Spring, AK. Discuss the decline of interest in hydrotherapy programs at these and similar sites until most were closed in the 1950s. Photo: Buckstaff Bath House (courtesy of Buckstaff Hotel, Hot Springs, Arkansas)
  
  
• Discuss: The growing interest of alternative health, including hydrotherapy, from the 1970s until the present day. Discuss how these programs are assisting people achieve a greater range of  health & wellness goals.  

  
  
  

• Discuss modern challenges to health & wellness that require special health & wellness programs to deal with these issues.
  
  
• Exercise: This could be a discussion or  the students could be asked to write a brief paper on what the history of hydrotherapy demonstrates about why is works and why it has been a key element of the well known holistic health & wellness tradition, from ancient to modern times.
  
  
• Discuss: How an interesting way to study the history (as well as the modern use) of hydrotherapy, is visit the famous sites of the historical and modern day use of hydrotherapy in such countries such as Greece (see photo), Germany, France and Turkey. In the U.S.A., it is possible to visit many historical sites, especially Hot Springs, Ak, which has a National Park that includes not only the natural hot springs, but many of the famous original wellness centers (bathhouses). (see photo of the Buckstaff Bathhouse)

History of Hydrotherapy
Internet Educational Resource: 

Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas  Link

Buckstaff Bathhouse, Hot Springs, Arkansas Link

The Friedrichsbad, Baden-Baden, Germany  Link

Suggested Reading

Healing Springs. Rochester: Altman, N. (2000). Healing Springs. Rochester, Vermont: Healing Arts Press.
This book covers much of the history of hydrotherapy in the United States as well as references to hot springs around the world.

Getting Wet: Adventures in the Japanese Bath: Talmage, E. (2006). Getting Wet: Adventures in the Japanese Bath. Kodansha International
This is a very interesting and creative book done on the hydrotherapy traditions in Japan today.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What is a full-body steam treatment used by Ayurveda for detoxification that is still used today? Answer: Swedhana  

2. What is an inhalation treatment used by Ayurveda that is still used today? Answer: Nasya  

3. What is meant by the term holistic health and wellness? Answer: It considers the health & wellness of the "whole" person, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual and also uses a wider range of treatment modalities to promote holistic health and wellness.

4. What was holistic about the Greek wellness tradition? Answer: The Greeks used massage, herbs, hydrotherapy, psychology, social therapy and sleep therapy.

5. What do some of the modern spas and wellness centers have in common with the Roman traditions? Answer: They use heating and cooling hydrotherapy treatment, relaxation and resting.

6. What is a famous hydrotherapy treatment from France that is named after the city where the treatment originated? Answer: Vichy Shower

7. What is the name of the well-known city that was part of the early history of hydrotherapy in the USA  that is now a national park? Answer: Hot Springs, Arkansas

8. Discuss why there was such a decline in the popularity and use of hydrotherapy in the United States between 1930 and 1950, when at the same time, hydrotherapy continued to be popular in Europe. Answer: One main reason was that modern drugs were thought that they were going to be able to treat and cure diseases and deal with other health problems. Health approaches, such as hydrotherapy, became less popular. Also, people became less interested in "health vacations" as more vacations options became available. 

9. Discuss the current increased interest in alternative health approaches and how hydrotherapy, which has long tradition of use for health and wellness, can play a role in the ongoing development of these programs. Answer: The original promise of modern drugs to treatment and deal with a wide range of health & wellness goals has not unfolded as expected, with additional complications of the major side-effects of drugs and other issues. Once again, people are looking at the long traditional use of time tested forms of alternative health approaches, such as hydrotherapy, to allow them to achieve and attain their fundamental health & wellness goals.