Hydrotherapy—the use of water to treat symptoms— is perhaps the simplest therapy of all. But it's a powerful tool for mental health, especially for treating post-traumatic stress (PTS), adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and associated problems.
Although bathing in hot mineral springs can feel fabulous, it's cold water that brings big benefits. Cold water, after the initial plunge or application, has a calming effect and opposes the heat and inflammation generated in the body by anxiety and mental anguish.
Even if you simply put a cloth dipped in cold water on your face or take a swim in a cold swimming pool, you can reap the rewards of this physiological magic.
Hydrotherapy then and now
Almost all cultures have used hydrotherapy (or hydropathy, as it was known in the 1800s) instead of pills to settle a rattled nervous system. In England, there were writings of illnesses cured by cold water as early as 1773
Now, in the 21 st century, medical research confirms specific benefits of cold water therapy for those who suffer from PTS and other mental health conditions.
Hydrotherapy can relieve anxiety and help regulate the neuroendocrine response, or the nervous system's reaction to stress. For example, it can reduce the “stress hormone” cortisol and manipulate neurotransmitters like norepinephrine.