I love constitutional hydrotherapy as a healing modality. An hour of full on contrast hot and cold applications causing vasoconstriction and vasodilation to blood vessels with electrodes applied to enhance circulation to vital organs, healing to my ears. Yet, with needing a therapist to apply the session and budget in mind it is not the most ideal situation so I’ve adapted this therapy to meet this seasons high level of coughs and Upper respiratory infections.
You’ll need a bathtub and two ice packs. Make sure you are alert and stable enough to be in a bath. Children must have supervision and less healthy individuals should have doctors clearance. Do not preform this with heart or lung conditions or any risks of clotting. This is not a substitute for medical advice hopefully just a simple tool to help you get healthy quicker or stay healthy.
First step is to lay two ice packs outside your bathtub and fill your tub with hot water to a level where when you lay in the water it fills above your shoulders. You want it hot enough to maintain good heat after 15-20 minutes however not enough to burn yourself. If your bathtub is short like mine be prepared to bend your knees or elevate your legs up the front bathtub wall so you can be submerged.
Enjoy your bath for 15-20 minutes. You can add Epsom salt, regular salt, and/or essential oils to your liking. My favorite is 15 drops of Lavender essential oil.
After the time is up bring your upper torso above the water and put both ice packs over your front upper lung fields for 30 seconds. Deep breathing can be really helpful to get you through the 30 seconds. Then submerge for 2 minutes to warm up. Rise up again to apply the ice packs for 30 seconds and submerge for 2 minutes. Rise up again for 30 seconds and you are done. Put the ice packs down, empty the bath and slowly get out of the tub without submerging yourself again allowing your blood vessels to vasodilate on their own. Make sure not to get a chill and I wouldn’t recommend repeating more than two times a day.