Hydrotherapy
Glossary of Terms
Hydrotherapy- the use of water in
any of its forms (solid, liquid, vapor) for the treatment of disease or
the maintenance of health; mostly influencing nervous system, circulatory
system and the skin.
Ablution- Washing of the body by
hand, usually using a towel or mitt
Affusion- Pouring on of water
Analgesic- Decreases pain
Anesthetic- Reduces local pain,
diminished or loss of sensation
Antipyretic- Reduction in fever
Antispasmodic- Reducing muscle
spasms
Astringent- Agent which causes
local vasoconstiction and closing of pores
Balneology- The science of baths
and bathing
Colonics- A washing out of the
colon 10-20 times over 45-60 minutes
Conduction - Heat is transferred
by direct contact of one heated object to another.
Consensual reaction- A reflex reaction
occurring on the opposite side of the body from the point of stimulation
Contrast Bath- The immersion
of a body part alternately in hot and cold water in one treatment
Convection - transference of heat
by moving currents of heated liquids of gasses as in a sauna to increase
body temperature
Conversion - Heat is generated
by passing energy through the tissue or substances in heating of body
tissues by ultrasound
Cryotherapy- Therapeutic use of
cold; ice massage
Derivative effect- Transfer of
fluid from one part of the body to another; warming the feet to draw congestion
from the head: Pulling the blood or lymph out of one area of the
body by increasing the amount of blood in another.
Diaphoretic- Increases sweating
Diuretic- Increases urine production
Douche- a stream of water directed
at the body or into a body cavity
Ecchymosis- Discoloration of the
skin due to hemmorrhage
Edema- Collection or pooling of
fluids in the interstitial tissues
Effusion- Collection or pooling
of fluids in the joint capsule
Eliminative- Dissolves foreign
elements in the blood, colon, and interstitial spaces of the body
Emetic- Ejecting poisons from the
body by drinking warm water or salt water
Erythema- Description of color
of the skin indicating a red appearance
Fomentation- Local applications
of moist heat to the body surface, usually made of wool and cotton to retain
heat and moisture
Heating Compress- An application
of a cold compress that when applied and covered causes an initial cooling
followed by a warming and increase in circulation.
Heliotherapy- Using direct sunlight
or other light source for therapeutic purposes; electric, ultraviolet,
infrared.
Hunting reaction- sudden reddening
and warming of cooled skin areas; body's mechanism to avoid tissue damage
Hydrocollator- Steam heat packs
filled with silicate gel that keeps them hot and moist; Extremely hot -
water is heated to 150-160 F
Hydrostatic effect - The shifting
of fluid from one part of the body to another
Hyperemia- Increase in quantity
of blood flowing through the body or part of the body characterized by
heat, redness: Vasodilatation
Hypothermia- Extreme reduction
in body temperature
Hypoxia- Diminished oxygen supply
usually due to poor circulation
Ischemia- Diminished or lack of
circulation in an area
Krause Corpuscles- Cold receptors
(sensory organ) in dermal layer of integumentary system
Paraffin Bath- Using melted paraffin
(wax) to dip body part in to build a paraffin glove to retain heat. Operating
temperature 126 degrees to 130 degrees. Used to treat arthritis,
bruises, bursitis, gout, spasms
Pelotherapy- Therapeutic use of
mud, peat moss, or clay applied to the body or part of the body
Poultice- External application
of warm moist substance to relieve pain, reduce and soothe inflammation,
draw impurities from the body, encourages muscle relaxation
Purgative- Causing vommitting
or bowel evacuation
Revulsive effect- Increasing the
rate of blood flow by alternate use of heat and cold
R.I.C.E - Standard care for acute
stage of healing: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
Retrostasis- The drawing of blood
to internal organs
Russian Bath- A body steam given
with the patient reclining and head outside the steam room or cabinet.
Saline Bath- Salt baths
Salt Glow Massage- Vigorous rubbing
of sea salt over entire body
Sauna- Dry Heat which increases
body temperature and increases perspiration. May put strain on nasal
passages, throat and lungs.
Sedative- Causes central
nervous system to decrease the responses of nerve stimuli for relaxation
Shampoo- Using soap and water together
on one or all parts of the body
Showers- The use of water streams
directed at the body to stimulate. Examples are dousing, jet, fan,
alternate hot and cold.
Sitz Bath- A partial bath covering
the pelvic region
Spanish Mantle Pack- The client
is showered, tubbed or sponged and then wrapped in a dry sheet and blankets
while still wet.
Sponging- Using a sponge to apply
water, alcohol, or witch hazel to the body, usually for a cooling affect.
Steam -Water particles dispersed
through the air; good for the skin and lungs. Hot seam increases
body temperature and perspiration and releases toxins. Cold steam
as from a humidifier, moistens dry rooms in winter and can help prevent
colds and sinus headaches.
Stimulant- increases nerve stimulation
Swedish Shampoo- Shampoo given
on a marble slab using soap and skin brushing, usually washing and rinsing
one part at a time and drying briskly.
Thalassotherapy- Bathing in or
drinking of salt water
Thermophore- moist heat pack; heating
unit wrapped in flannel which absorbs moisture from the atmosphere.
Tonic- Increases vigor; return
of cellular activity to normal state
Turkish Bath- Hot air bath (dry
sauna)
Whirlpool bath- A partial immersion
bath in which water is agitated and mixed with air to be directed at the
affected area; Used to soften muscles for massage, stimulate circulation,
relieves pain.
