asiaSpa India May-June 2017 43W
hether you drink it warm in the
morning to help you detox, or bathe
in it after a long day at work for
relaxation, water heals in more ways than one.
Scientifically speaking, water has the power to
change constantly; when cold, it freezes and when
hot, it turns into steam and evaporates. Our body
is made up of more than 60 per cent of water, so
our bond with water is a rather special one. In fact,
since time immemorial, people around the world
have been using the therapeutic power of water to
rid themselves of disease – Hippocrates prescribed
bathing with spring water to cure illnesses and the
Romans and the Greeks gave birth to the first spas
when they popularised soaking in natural spring
water for therapeutic reasons.
Interestingly, spa is an acronym for the
Latin phrase salus per aquae, which means
‘health through water’. This healing through
water continues to be an important aspect of
wellness and several hydrotherapy treatments
are available at spas worldwide that are based
on this very principle. Alejandro Leo, Director
of Shamana Spa and Recreation, Grand Hyatt
Goa says, “Hydrotherapy is based on the
concept that water has the ability to alter blood
flow and revitalise health. Temperature plays
an important role in this process and different
ailments can be controlled by practices using
different temperatures. Cold water stimulates the
body by constricting blood vessels and restricting
blood flow to slow inflammation. It also sends
blood towards the internal organs to make them
function more efficiently. Hot water, on the other
hands, relaxes the body by dilating blood vessels,
increasing blood flow and sending it to the skin
and muscles to ease stiffness. Using hot and
cold water together, or alternately is common