Jayson King knows a thing or two about relaxation. Far from his job as a nurse clinician at Abbott Northwestern Hospital's Institute for Health and Healing, he owns a cabin in northern Wisconsin that provides a peaceful retreat from the hectic pace of everyday life.  But even King admits that escaping to the cabin often means exiling himself to more work.  Let's face it, owning a cabin can be a stressbuilder instead of a stress-buster. "One of the challenges is to take the time to enjoy the water that is there," says King. When you do, times of quiet reflection near the lake or river can benefit body, mind and spirit.  What is it about water that soothes what ails us? Consider that more than two-thirds of the human body is made up of water weight. Water flushes toxins from our organs, regulates our body temperature through perspiration, serves as a lubricant and carries nutrients to our cells.  Every human system depends on it.

Water does more than sustain life. The theory behind hydrotherapy, the use of water to maintain health and treat disease, is that water’s unique properties give it the ability to heal:

• Water can store and transmit heat.

• Water dissolves other substances, allowing cells to use valuable nutrients and minerals.

• Water is non-toxic and can be used internally and externally.

• Water can be used in different forms: ice to cool; liquid for baths, sprays and compresses; and water vapor for steam baths and inhalation.

• Water stimulates blood flow. Recordings of ancient civilizations show that the belief in water’s healing properties is nothing new. Early Romans and Greeks took hot baths for healing as well as recreation. Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine, used water internally and externally to reduce fever and treat illnesses and diseases.

Over the years hydrotherapy has been used to treat many conditions, including arthritis, headaches, stress, joint and muscle pain, nerve problems and colds. Franklin D. Roosevelt treated his polio with therapeutic exercises and swimming. Today many people with spinal cord injuries, and also stroke patients, find hydrotherapy beneficial. Perhaps because of the essential nature of water, researchers have devoted their lives to exploring its healing properties, often sparking controversy and debate. The late Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj was internationally acclaimed and debated for his assertions that dehydration is the underlying cause of many diseases. In his work “The Hidden Messages in Water,” Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto controversially contended that water has memory and carries with it our thoughts and prayers.  You may never care to contemplate how your thoughts can influence the formation of water crystals, as Emoto has. But there’s no doubt water can have a soothing, calming effect on the body. The very sound of waves lapping up on shore promotes well-being. So next time you’re at the lake, King offers this advice: “Sit on the dock.  Don’t take the jet ski out,” he says. This is time for reflection. “Go out in the morning, my favorite time, when there is dew coming off the water. It can carry you through the day.”

By Nancy Pias