At Maher you can experience the wonderful calming and therapeutic qualities of water. Water therapy or Hydrotherapy is the use of water to cure and alleviate a variety of ailments. It is the most favorable system of restoring normal functions in the body. It is employed to help balance metabolism. 

No other therapeutic agent possesses so many excellent qualities as water. Being a universal solvent its use internally in the form of enema or drinking water aids greatly in the elimination of waste products, (auto-intoxication) which readily accumulate in the body under certain conditions causing more or less pronounced injury.

Hippocrates the father of medicine had an excellent understanding of the physiological properties of water, both hot and cold which he employed in the treatment of fevers, ulcers, hemorrhage and a variety of maladies both medical and surgical.

Hydrotherapy is used as a technique of physiotherapy for people recovering from serious injuries and with problems of muscle wear and tear. It is also used for people with joint problems and those with severe physical disabilities.

We offer the following Ways of treatment and highlight the Benefits

Fomentation
How does fomentation help in relieving pain? Fomentation is the act of bathing an over-strained body part or a tissue with warm water or warm medicated lotion. Sometimes when muscles are over-stretched during an injury as it happens in sprains, contractility can be restored by fomentation and it also relieves pain simultaneously as the stretch receptors acquire their original state.

It is the art of healing which entails the external application of a fluid in cases of, chest colds, coughs, bronchitis, as well as in easing pains of arthritis and swellings. The process is in the following manner:

Two pieces of flannel are dipped into the heated liquor, one of which is expeditiously wrung dry, and thus immediately applied to the part affected. As soon as it begins to grow cool, the first is removed, and the other instantly substituted, in order to keep those parts constantly supplied with the warm flannels. This operation is continued for 15 or 20 minutes, and is repeated two or three times in the course of the day, as circumstances may require.

The design of fomentations may be fully answered, by the application of warm water alone, unless antiseptics are required: in which cases, such ingredients must be employed as are calculated to affect that purpose.

The degree of heat should on no-account exceed that of producing an agreeable sensation; for too great heat is attended with effects, very different from those which are expected from the use of fomentations.

Invigorating Cold baths
Cold baths, improve blood flow to internal tissues and organs. It helps to reduce swelling. This method is not advisable for people with serious conditions or for the elderly or very young.

Ice or cold baths will help improve your body's response to cold weather, as well as helping you recover from strenuous physical activities. After working out, blood clears the waste products of exercising, such as lactic acid. A cold bath contracts your blood vessels, making them smaller. After sitting for five minutes in cold water, your body will feel numb, due to less blood flowing in your body. When you get out of a cold bath, new blood will start flowing in higher amounts as the vessels slowly expand. This new blood will clear the waste products from your muscles, aiding in your recovery time.

Cold baths also help you stand colder temperatures for longer periods of time. The way this works is quite simple, practice. Taking a cold bath to help you with the freezing weather, it's like fighting fire with fire. Taking cold baths will stimulate the blood flow to the skin and will psychologically and physically make you withstand freezing temperatures that otherwise you would not have been able to.

A brisk rub with a cold toweling mitten works wonders toning the skin and heightening nerves and muscles.

Sitz baths
Sitz baths are coming back into popularity as a low risk, medicine-free solution to many health issues. Sitz baths are very helpful for a woman after childbirth. A sitz bath can also be used to treat hemorrhoids, prostrate infections, anal and vaginal fissures, and ease the discomfort of genital herpes, and vaginal or bladder infections. They are also are given as treatment for painful conditions with broken skin, such as piles or anal fissure, and also for ailments affecting the urinary and genital organs.

For this, the person first sits in the warm water, which covers the lower abdomen and hips, with the feet in the cold water compartment. After three minutes, the patient sits in the cold water with the feet in the warm compartment.

A sitz bath is literally what it sounds like; a bath where you sit in warm water that covers the buttocks and hips. Sitting in warm water allows more blood to reach the impacted area, promoting healing and helping with any discomfort. A sitz bath uses the theory of hydrotherapy or water therapy.

Hot and cold baths
Hot and Cold Sprays of water may be given for a number of disorders but are not recommended for those with serious illness, elderly people or young children.

Use of contrast baths
All that you require is two bowls of water, one iced and the other as hot as you can bear, and a few towels. Alternatively, you can purchase specially made hot and cold packs but you must remember to protect the skin when you use these packs. The use of contrast baths is as follows:

      •    Dip the injured limb into one bowl for a few seconds
      •    Remove the limb from the bowl and dab it dry
      •    Dip the limb into the other bowl for a few seconds
      •    Remove the limb from the bowl and dab it dry

Repeat this process for about ten minutes until you see the skin change color. The whole process can be repeated three or four times a day.

This alternating hot-and-cold bath is effective in building a stronger body. It seems to increase immune resistance, improve circulation, enhance tolerance against very hot or very cold weather, and loosens muscle tensions.

This is fascinating because this 'hot and cold" process is used to create strong, durable, swords. A sword maker first heats a block of iron in very high temperature oven. Then, he will strike while the iron is hot. Next, he will put the semi-shaped iron block into cold water to chill it. He repeats this hot and cold process until the iron block is perfectly shaped and strengthened as a steel sword.

The "stress" of these alternating “hot and cold” processes seems to enhance our physical as well as mental durability and strength.

However, this is not for everyone. You should consult with your physician first and use this "stress" technique cautiously.

Hot foot bath
Hot foot bath gives relaxation to the whole body if you are tired and also helpful in purging toxins from the body. It is an effective means of reducing congestion of blood or water in the upper parts of the body.

When you have to take a foot bath, drink a glass of warm water, sit on a chair and lower you feet in a bucket full of hot water. The level of the water should, ideally, come up to the knees. The temperature of the water should not be too much above the body temperature. As the water gets cold, go on adding more hot water. Take care to see that the hot water added later does not scald the feet.

Results:

      •    Reduces head, chest and pelvic congestions by the drawing of blood from those areas to the legs and               feet.
      •    Mitigates pain and spasm of the feet and legs.
      •    Induces sweating in the case of fever-lowers body temperature.
      •    Soothes menstrual cramps by relaxing the uterine spasm.
      •    Alleviates headache.
      •    Relaxes the whole body

Cold compresses
Ice-bags are only used in acute inflammation and in traumatic and other acute forms of sinusitis. They undoubtedly help to soothe pain, and under some conditions have the antiphlogistic effect generally attributed to cold.

Cold compresses should consist of a linen compress dipped in either cold or ice water and applied on the head, neck, chest, back and abdomen. This water treatment is useful in controlling the inflammation of abdominal organs as liver, spleen, kidney, stomach, intestines and brain and pelvic organs as bladder, uterus. It is also applied externally to the eyes to reduce the inflammation.

A cold compress can be used to treat muscle aches and pains, and can even soothe a fever. If you are experiencing muscle pain, inflamed joints, boils or other forms of inflammation that are causing discomfort, a cold compress can reduce the pain and help you relax naturally

Tub Bath
Today we are always in a hurry and never have time for a tub bath. That's a shame, because even though showers are quicker and more hygienic, nothing is more relaxing than a long soak in a tub.

Water is nature's healer. It has positive effects on the skin and muscles. It calms the internal organs and the endocrine system by stimulating nerve reflexes on the spinal cord. Generally, heat quiets and soothes the body. Cold, in contrast, stimulates and invigorates.

A restful and comforting bath can help neutralize stress and its many effects on the body. It is the perfect solution to a demanding and stressful lifestyle. Soaking in a hot bath increases the heart rate while it lowers blood pressure rather than raising it as does other forms of exercise.

Immersion in hot water first speeds up the heart to send blood to the surface and disperse extra body heat into the air. But after a few minutes, the warm blood causes the blood vessels to dilate, which lessens resistance to blood flow and lowers the blood pressure.

The combination of warmth and buoyancy is extremely favorable to arthritis sufferers. The buoyancy of the water relaxes the muscles, and supports and reduces stress on the joints which encourages freer movement. Relaxing the muscles helps to increase their range of motion.

Many researchers now think rheumatoid arthritis patients can exercise safely if they follow tailor-made water exercises. Water therapeutically massages the joints with every movement. Water training can help increase aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and overall activity levels.