Benefits of Bathing in Hot Springs Water
Medical Hydrology or hot springs bathing is the oldest continually applied medical treatment in Europe. According to some estimates physicians have been at hot spring spas for over 2000 years. Its application for healing is applied today under the supervision of doctors in Central and South America, South Africa, and Japan. The spa- hot springs experience can last from one, two and three weeks up to 6 weeks depending on the condition and the severity.
Many athletics use and enjoy the ritual of heat therapy in hot, wet, or dry or infrared saunas, because it makes them stronger and decreases pain from excessive muscle use. The sweat lodge is an ancient ritual for purification and detoxification. Because the face and head are out of the heat, hot springs bathing is a much more comfortable and pleasurable therapy and is more easily tolerated by those who are weak and ill.
The physiological effects of hot springs bathing has been studied extensively by European doctors, and the following effect have been observed.
EFFECT ON HORMONES
a. Hormone production increases. Especially important is the secretion of growth hormone (nicknamed the rejuvenator), which increases cellular strength of muscles and cellular repair. Thyroid hormone (called a master gland), levels increase and turn on the energy packs of the cell, mitochondria, and cellular metabolism increases and become more efficient. Melatonin level increases and insomnia disappears. The adrenals produce anti-inflammatory hormones with prednisone like qualities. Beta-endorphins are elevated and with their morphine like qualities, they are the body’s natural pain medication. Sex hormones increase and libido is restored. Testosterone increases, building muscle mass, strength and endurance. On it goes.
BLOOD PH SHIFTS
Bathing in hot water causes a change in blood Ph to a more alkaline Ph, which increases enzymatic and metabolic pathways, helping the body to run well.
DETOXIFICATION
Hot springs bathing, if the water is hot, enough will cause sweating. Toxins such as arsenic, mercury and nicotine have been found in sweat droplets.
NERVOUS SYSTEM EFFECT
Heat therapy affects the neurologic system, parasympathic tone increases, (relaxation response) and sympathic tone decreases. Serotonin levels increase and anxiety and depression decrease. The mind goes into the meditative state, the body relaxes. Hot springs bathing has been used historically for “Nervous Exhaustion.”
IMMUNE RESPONSE
Hot mineral water bathing modulates immunity, actives the fever response, and there is an increase in protective antibodies. The increase of Beta-endorphins also boosts the production of antibodies.
CIRCULATION EFFECT
There is a documented increase in strength and contraction of heart muscle. The arterial system dilates and more blood moves to the skin. Small capillaries open with greater exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nutrients.
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
Pressure is exerted, and the upper and lower extremities can benefit with a decrease in swelling, a greater return of venous blood to the heart. The lymphatic system is affected with greater movement of lymphatic fluids, which rids the body of waste products.
The other components of the hot springs spa treatment include:
• Sunlight exposure Heliotherapy- Vitamin D activates over 200 known processes, 4000 gene expressions, and pushes the Ph to alkaline.
• Spa foods are alkaline and drive the PH out of the acid range. Enzyme pathways turn on; minerals, vitamins, etc. are better absorbed.
• Sleep improves, the process by which the body rejuvenates and repairs itself.
• Exercise, walking, yoga in fresh air creates a higher level of oxygenation and relaxation.
This complicated therapy activates the body’s ability to heal itself. We see this healing ability with trauma, lacerations, bruises and fractures, but it exists throughout other systems. When one disease is healed, with dietary and life style changes, for example diabetes type 2, the hypertension and elevated cholesterol levels that usually accompany diabetes are usually gone as well. The body will heal itself if given the right environment.
The three-week stay is key for many diseases because the body can create optimal healing in that time. Many rib and finger fractures heal in three weeks, and there is the three-week rule for injuries, if not better in three weeks further investigation with MRI or referral to specialist is indicated.
A look at how this therapy might work, consider the treatment of arthritis, elevating the natural prednisone hormones from the adrenal glands, with the effect of increased beta-endorphins, and less inflammation and pain in joints, which allows greater freedom of movement, increasing circulation and delivering more oxygen and nutrients from a healthy diet and eliminating the toxic foods which increase inflammation. Vitamin D levels increase, which decreases inflammation, pain, and decreases insomnia, increases restorative sleep during which time the actually healing takes place. Thyroid hormone increases as well, giving the entire system more cellular energy to do the work of healing the body. So relief from nagging painful disease that plagues many people are possible for which modern medicine offers Celebrex and Tylenol. This is not to say the changes are permanent, if people return to their old ways, the degenerative disease returns
The following diseases have been studied extensively and hot springs bathing has been shown to help rheumatoid arthritis; osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, low back pain, sciatica and dermatological issues such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, rosea.
Hot springs medicine is used to treat a large variety of illness including gynecological, autoimmune, musculature and joint arthritis. It is a combination of therapies, heat, sun, diet, sleep, exercise, massage, reflexology, chiropractic, all combine to aid and facilitates the body’s own healing ability. Investigations are under way to see if cardiovascular and neurological disease and COPD can also be treated by hot springs bathing.
In the United States we ignore our health springs while the Europeans, South Americans, Australians, and Asians utilize their hundreds of health spas with yearly or twice yearly and for some quarterly visits.
Some Europeans and Japanese go daily to the waters because the experience is pleasurable and relaxing. This helps explain the Jacuzzi phenomenon in this country, an imitation of hot springs bathing facility in your back yard.
While many Americans feel it is not possible to spend three weeks on their health, there are many retired people who could benefit greatly from the experience. Here in Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico, we feel that we are the affordable health spa vacation, and visitors will find an array of healers, acupuncturists, reflexologist, physical therapist, cranial sacral therapists, chiropractor, massage therapist and a medical hydrology doctor at the Hot Springs Wellness Clinic & Baths, (myself).
Our water is considered some of the best in the USA by the American association of Balneotherapists, due to its temperature, from 104 to 113, and its concentration of minerals. We are a true health rejuvenation destination because in addition to our fantastic hot springs we have magnificent sunlight almost daily.
Is it any wonder that Truth Or Consequences had 40 baths houses in the past? And the town lost its momentum in the 1940’s when the American doctors rejected this therapy?