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Kneipp wellness is a holistic system for overall health
developed by Sebastian Kneipp, a nineteenth-century Bavarian
priest. His approach includes aspects of hydrotherapy, herbalism,
and aerobic exercise. Sebastian Kneipp was born to a poor
family in Stephansreid, Bavaria, on May 17, 1821. He initially
took up his father's trade of weaving, but longed to become
a priest. With help from a sympathetic clergyman, he was
admitted to high school as a mature student, but after five
years of intensive studies, Kneipp became seriously ill
with pulmonary tuberculosis.
At that time,
the disease was usually fatal, but Kneipp came across an
eighteenth-century book about hydrotherapy that inspired
him during the winter of 1849 to immerse himself several
times a week in the icy Danube River. These brief exposures
to cold water seemed to bolster his immune system, because
Kneipp's tuberculosis went into remission and he was able
to continue his theological studies in Munich. There, he
convinced some of his fellow students to join his experiments
with hydrotherapy.
Kneipp was ordained as a priest in 1852. In that capacity,
he began using hydrotherapy to help some of his poorer parishioners.
He broadened his approach to include herbalism, exercise,
and other elements, and toned down his initial enthusiasm
for shocking the body with cold water. "I warn all
against too-frequent application of cold water," he
later wrote. "Three times I concluded to remodel my
system and relax the treatment from severity to mildness
and thence to greater mildness still." Kneipp's reputation
grew after a number of dying patients recovered when he
was called to administer last rites and managed instead
to restore them to health.
In 1855 he was
assigned to Worishofen, a village in the foothills of the
Bavarian Alps that soon developed an international reputation
as a place of healing. Kneipp summarized his teachings in
two popular books, My Water Cure in 1886 and So Sollt Ihr
Leben (Thus Thou Shalt Live) in 1889. Supporters of his
techniques formed Kneipp Societies in Germany and the United
States.
Father Kneipp was later named a monsignor by Pope Leo XIII.
After his death in Worishofen on June 17, 1897, his wellness
techniques became less popular, but interest in hydrotherapy
increased again during the latter part of the twentieth
century.
Benefits/Contraindications
Proponents of
Kneipp therapy believe that it bolsters the immune system
and results in improved overall wellness. Kneipp Spout Therapy
or Kneipp Hosing Therapy is used successfully in treating
animals.
Basics of Kneipp Therapy
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy
involves the use of hot and cold water to stimulate the
nerves, blood vessels and internal organs. It uses baths,
compresses, packs, and water jets.
Phytotherapy
Plant therapy
takes the form of medicinal herbs added to bath water and
also administered as juices, lozenges, teas, or ointments,
etc.
Exercise Therapy.
This aspect of
treatment involves long hikes, gymnastics, tennis, cycling,
and other vigorous activities to amplify the effects of
the water and herb therapies.
Nutrition Therapy
Employs a low-protein,
high fiber diet . Special Kneipp diets are also available
for weight loss or such ailments as gout, diabetes, or metabolic
problems.
Health maintenance therapy. Patients in the Kneipp program
are trained to adhere to their natural biorhythms.
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