1. BASICPRINCIPLES / THEORIES OF
HYDROTHERAPY
Dr. Shweta Mishra
drshwetabnys@gmail.com

2. BASICPRINCIPLES / THEORIES OF
HYDROTHERAPY
• Hydrotherapy forms one
of the most important
widely used therapies in
Nature Cure.
• Water (when used at
different temperature,
pressure, volume, form
for a definite time period)
works through bringing
the alteration in the
circulatory and Thermic
mechanism in the body.
• The ancient Indian
philosophy believes water
to be one of the basic
elements which has
formed the world as well
as the body.
Explained in the concept
of macrocosm and
microcosm made out of
the five great elements.

3. BASIC THEORIES
I. PANCHAMAHABHUT
THEORY
II. RATIONALE OF ACTION
AND REACTION:

4. The basic theory on which
hydrotherapy is based are as follows:
I. PANCHAMAHABHUTA:
• The creation of five element
and the physical body -
Before causation takes place
there was nothing except God
or Supreme Soul the beginning
of creation of ether was
formed by the power of
consciousness of the Supreme
Soul of God.
• Later out of ether air was
born then fire then water &
then earth finally the
supreme soul which has all
the qualities.
• Ether has one quality which
is sound, Air has two quality
which is sound and touch;
Fire has three qualities i.e
sound, touch, form; Water
has four qualities i.e sound,
touch, form, ras; Earth has
five qualities i.e sound,
touch, form, ras , smell.

5. • The five great elements
originate from the
panchatanmatras.
• Panchamahabhut theory
states that everything in
the physical causation is
composed of these five
elements.
• The Vedant philosophy
also tell about form of
panchatatwa or five
element; one subtle and
other gross.
• The subtle body is made
up of ether, air & fire the
gross body is made up of
water, earth.
• To keep ourselves healthy
and happy we should be
in contact with all the five
elements.

6. The water has different powers:
Warmth, wetness, it is wavelike,
has speed, movement, giving
sap to the trees, taste to the
fruits, greeness to the
vegetation, lubrication to all
things,holds birds, feeds the
fish, enlivens the animals
through warmth, holds
creepy-crawlies coated in
mucous and encompasses all.
Water has enormous treasure-
SALT.
• This charming list ,
communicates the feeling hat
nothing exists , that is not
touched by water.
• In the context of healing
water is called- lifesustaining,
life giving.

7. II. RATIONALE OF ACTION
AND REACTION:
• This phenomenon
resulting from any part of
application to skin may be
divided into three causes:
i. The immediate effect that
accompany the
application which may be
called the primary effect
or action.
ii. The secondary effect
which constitute the
phenomena of reaction.
iii. The remote effect; that is
the final effect of
application or series of
application in modifying
nutritive or pathological
processes.

8. a c e .
x Action Reaction x1
b
d
Fig1 : Diagram indicating the vital movement following a general cold application.

9. Explanation of the Fig (1)-----
* XX1-represents the normal temperature (98.6°F)
* Line ab- represents the brief elevation in internal
temperatures (which follows receding of blood from the
surface on the first application of cold.
* Line bcd- represents the fall in internal temperature.
* Line de- represents the reaction by which the normal
temperature is restored.
* Line abcd- represents the action.

10. x x1
a
b
c
Fig 2: Diagram representing the vital movement following a warm or tepid bath.

11. Explanation of the Fig (2)-----
* xx1 – represents normal temperature, (98.6°F)
* Line ab- represents the action whereby the body is
cooled.
* Line bc – represents the reaction.
* The perpendicular dotted line is the point of division
between action and reaction.

12. • Action and Reaction- using
the term as it is employed in
hydrotherapy is one of the
most complex and
interesting of physiological
phenomenon.
• The most important of
these are two which may be
distinguished as the
circulatory action and
reaction and Thermic action
and reaction.
• Generally however they
both occur together, the
reflex activities come into
play in most of the process
of hydrotherapy.

13. REFERENCES
1. Rational hydrotherapy,
J.H Kellogg.
2. Principles and practice
of hydrotherapy,
George Knapp Abott.
3. Baths, Dr. S.J. Singh.
4. The water therapy
manual, Vance Ferrell.
• Yoga therapy for
selected diseases, Dr.
M.M. Gore, Dr. Vase, Dr.
Kulkarni, Dr. Oak.
• The five great elements
rediscovered, Swami
Nityamuktananda.