An Introduction to Heat and Cold as Therapy

The therapeutic use of hot and cold has traditionally been referred to as hydrotherapy because so many of the applications employed have been

water-based – hydro means ‘water’. Water is indeed an effective choice for such treatments. It can be used in any of its three forms: gas (steam), liquid (water), and solid (ice), and has been employed in healing for centuries because it is accessible, affordable, and has few adverse effects when used properly.