"Give me the power to create a fever, and I shall cure any
disease," boasted Hippocrates, the Greek founder of modern medicine, more
than 2,000 years ago. Since then, many cultures have used heat and steam
to implement this principle and induce "artificial fever" and sweating.
The most recent method--the hot tub--was invented in the 1960s, where
Californians cut wine casks in half and attached pumps to circulate hot
water. Originally popular with hippies, hot tubs are now a pervasive part
of popular culture.
Here are a few highlights along hydrotherapy's path from antiquity
to present.
o Greeks originated the practice of hydrotherapy by indulging in
hot baths more than 2,500 years ago.
o In Rome, "sudatoria" or steam rooms made up one section of the
bathhouses, which also incorporated eating, talking, gambling and sports.
The letters S-P-A frequently appeared on the walls, an abbreviation for
"solus par aqua" meaning health or healing through water. Modern-day spas
derive their name from this acronym.
o In 200 B.C. India, the steam bath, or "swedana" was developed as
part of a purification treatment. Wealthy families of the period
incorporated bathhouses into their mansions.
o Muslim bathhouses, or "hammam" consisted of a domed, central
steam chamber. Adopted by Europeans, the hammam serves as the model for
modern Turkish baths.
o Russian hot vapor baths, known as "banya," originated more than
1,000 years ago. Today they retain their function as a health, beauty and
relaxation treatment.
o Sweat bathing gained popularity in Finland at approximately the
same time as the Russian banya. It remains wildly popular to this
day--the country boasts more saunas than cars.
o In Native American cultures, the sweat bath first served as an
ancient hydrotherapeutic technique and is still practiced in a similar
form today. Sweat lodges are traditionally low, windowless, insulated
domes constructed of willow branches. Inside, red-hot stones are
sprinkled with botanicals and water, creating an aromatherapeutic
steam.
--Hollis Kline
PHOTO (COLOR): While meditating upon the sound of a river, Hermann
Hesse's Siddhartha found enlightenment.
Laura Schiff's work has also appeared in such publications as
Cosmopolitan, Mademoiselle and Seventeen.
Tags:
allan lieberman,
aquatic experience,
bathhouses,
charleston south carolina,
elixir of life,
greek philosopher,
healing powers,
health spas,
heavy metals,
holy spring,
industrial chemicals,
international spa association,
neurotoxicity,
occupational and environmental medicine,
physical stress,
psychological health,
steam unit,
stress reduction,
target organ,
zamzam
