Important
Important Points to be Observed With All Treatments
(From the "About" page of Traditional Hydrotherapy)
Check with your doctor before doing hydrotherapy. Send them the Letter to My Doctor (download from the home page)
Most doctors will not know about Hydrotherapy, but unless there are some contraindications (reasons for not doing the treatment - see them on the treatment's Technique page), these treatments will not cause harm.
If your doctor has a valid reason for not allowing Hydrotherapy please FOLLOW THE ADVICE.
The Room
Warm
Free of drafts
No bright light in patient's eyes
Protect furniture, rugs, bedding etc.
Leave in same condition (or better) than when you found it.
The Treatment
Treatments should only take 45-50 minutes.
Think and plan ahead just what you intend to do
Assemble all necessary articles before starting
Spread drape sheet over bed before patient undresses
Stay with patient or within easy calling distance
Don't be too talkative
Make your changes quickly
Be neat; pick up and clean up as you work
Be economical of time, linen, etc
Return all materials to proper place
The Patient
Don't force patients. Treatments that are disagreeable to the patient are rarely effective.
The patient must be warm to start (may use Hot Foot Bath, Covers etc)
The patient must undress for most treatments
When heating patient, use a cold compress to the head or neck
Gain their confidence. Explain procedures, what is coming next and the effect desired.
Don't sneak cold changes, unwarned.
No unnecessary exposure (only the part under immediate treatment)
Should be comfortable at all times (burns, falling, position etc.)
Keep patient relaxed
Dry thoroughly (feet, between toes, under arms etc.)
Allow and demand rest period after treatment
Avoid chilling
Must be in state of heat conservation (no sweating) before dressing
These treatments are very safe if properly performed but...
A little carelessness may undo all the benefits of a treatment.
Do not continue treatment indefinitely if there is no obvious improvement. In acute cases the response should be seen rapidly. Chronic problems may improve only slowly.
See the Doctor if:-
the disease is acute
there is any threat to vital function i.e.
difficulty breathing,
heart irregularities,
blocked circulation or continued bleeding,
blocked bowels or urination.
there is no or slow improvement especially in acute cases
the disease becomes worse
the patient wants to see a doctor
I have given you the best of my advice and that of all those I gleaned it from, but it is only advice. If any problems develop as a result of using this advice, I would like to know, but I cannot accept responsibility for the outcome.
The remedies here have all, without exception, been used and recommended by many qualified Doctors of Medicine. In most cases they are more effective if treatment is begun early in the disease process.
If you find any mistakes or know of any improvements in treatment methods please Contact me.
These treatments DO work but must be applied correctly to correctly diagnosed problems. The procedures themselves have few adverse side effects, the major problem you may encounter is that of poor response, slow or no recovery. In these cases re-check the diagnosis and the procedure.