Hot Water Is Good For Your Heart

By Phoebe | Published: March 30, 2011

In an article entitled Biophysiologic Effects of Warm Water Immersion, the authors discuss the ways in which aquatic activity positively impacts various systems of the body, especially the cardiovascular system.

When one immerses oneself in warm water, the heart begins automatically pumping at a faster rate, as if one had just begun aerobic exercise. Thus, the heart gets a workout even while the body is at rest. This finding implies that immersion in hot water “may be a useful way of beginning cardiac rehabilitation or recovery from severe debility.”

But the benefits of warm water immersion apply equally to those of us whose hearts are already fairly healthy. As the article points out, “the effort required to circulate blood decreases while cardiac efficiency increases.” Thus, a soak in warm water seems to be an ideal choice for anyone who’s looking for a gentle way to give their cardiovascular system a little love.

Posted in Exercise & Weight Loss, Healthy Heart & Blood Pressure, Natural Healing, Self Care | 1 Response

Heat + Water = Healing (Naturally)

By Phoebe | Published: March 18, 2011

When we immerse ourselves in hot water, we call on the strength of two very powerful elements of nature: fire and water. The healing power of water has been proclaimed for centuries, and it is essential to the survival of all living things. Fire, the element that produces heat and light, is also essential to life. Furthermore, it has the power to transform the state of any substance; it may transform the state of your muscles, for example, from tight and sore to flexible and relaxed.

When you have these two elements working for you in combination, you are sure to feel a few positive changes in your body. Indeed, hot water immersion is recognized as a beneficial treatment for a number of conditions, such as arthritis and insomnia, but you don’t need to go to a doctor or get a prescription to reap its benefits. Most of us have access to warm water, and it doesn’t cost much! Better yet, hot water is completely natural – unlike many pharmaceutical drugs it doesn’t have a long list of side effects.

Posted in Arthritis Relief, Better Sleep, Natural Healing, Self Care | Leave a comment

Chronic Back Pain? Move to France! Or Give Yourself Spa Therapy

By Phoebe | Published: March 18, 2011

While A New England Journal of Medicine article calls low back pain “one of the most common causes of morbidity and absenteeism in the US,” an article in Spine points out that “the proportion of physician visits for back pain has changed little in the past decade.” Perhaps this is because commonly prescribed treatments such as bed rest are often not effective.

A study published in the British Journal of Rheumatology, however, proved the efficacy of at least one type of treatment for chronic low back pain: spa therapy, which in this case consisted of “physiotherapy with hydrotherapy administered in various forms using mineral spring waters at the spa resort.” Researchers concluded that this sort of therapy has a positive effect on chronic low back pain. It is so widely accepted as an effective treatment, in fact, that it is on the reimbursement list of the Social Security National Health Insurance in France.

Posted in Lower Back Relief, Natural Healing, New Research | Leave a comment

Hot Water is Ideal for Arthritis

By Phoebe | Published: March 15, 2011

Advice to the 37 million Americans who suffer from some form of arthritis: immerse yourself in hot water in order to find some relief. According to the Arthritis Foundation, warm water is the “ideal environment for relieving pain and stiffness.” The buoyancy of water allows for a gentler workout while the resistance it provides can help build muscle strength. Thus, the Foundation suggests that people who suffer from arthritis may want to install a pool or spa in their home. A spa, they point out, adds the benefit of massaging jets that can help to further relax tight muscles. If you don’t have the resources for a private pool or hot tub, don’t worry! You can still find an Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program near you. Or, at the very least, draw yourself a hot bath!

Posted in Arthritis Relief, Natural Healing | Leave a comment

Relaxation for Relationships

By Phoebe | Published: March 15, 2011

Skinship is a term I recently learned. Apparently the word originated in Japan, where it is believed that social interactions are more relaxed and intimate when they take place at the public baths. The idea seems to be that this type of nakedness removes certain social barriers and facilitates emotional intimacy.

A few days after I learned this word I met a woman who described the essence of skinship perfectly without actually using the word itself. She told me that when she and her daughter are in a hot tub together it often allows for a discussion they might not otherwise have. “Being in the water, alone, just the two of us,” she told me, “is a setting for an even more intimate conversation. It causes us to let down our guard a little bit and,” she concluded, “I’m more able to just listen.”

Posted in Connecting People, Natural Healing, Self Care | 2 Responses