A water cure is a course of medical treatment which involves water. Humans have believed that water has healing properties for thousands of years and many early human cultures developed treatments which integrated water. Today, there is less belief in the curative properties of water, but some traditions associated with the water cure persist; many humans, for example, continue to be very fond of hot tubs.
Some forms of the water cure actually do have demonstrated health benefits. For example, bathing in warm water can stimulate circulation, ease muscle aches and pains, and reduce stress. Waters rich in certain minerals may provide additional benefits, which may be why humans have utilized mineral hot springs for water cures for thousands of years. The Romans, for example, “took the waters” in mineral springs across Europe in the belief that bathing in warm mineral water was beneficial.
Other forms of the water cure include activities like hydrotherapy, which can include bathing in warm or hot water, taking so-called “needle showers,” receiving massage underwater, and taking cold baths. Jets, found in many hot tubs, also have origins in hydrotherapy, with the goal being stimulation which will promote better circulation in the area targeted by the jet. Hydrotherapy can include total immersion in a large tub or select immersion of specific areas of the body such as the feet to target specific medical issues.
Water cures don't just revolve around submerging the body, or parts of it, in water. Some have also involved drinking water. Mineral waters continue to be consumed by people all over the world in the belief that the mineral-rich water will confer health benefits, and some spa towns continue to make a lively income selling mineral water by the glass at the source. Many such waters are also carbonated to make them more pleasant to drink, as flat mineral waters can taste sharp or acrid, depending on which chemical compounds are present.
While a water cure may not necessarily cure most common complaints, there are certainly benefits to drinking water on a regular basis and staying hydrated. In addition, hydrotherapeutic bathing can be beneficial for some people, especially when combined with physical therapy and other treatment modalities. Some people, for example, experience pain relief by regularly taking hot baths, or experience relief from skin conditions such as psoriasis with the use of medicated baths which target dry, flaky skin. Likewise, soothing baths often help people with rashes, outbreaks of poison oak, and other skin problems.
