Wellness and recuperation cures do not always have to follow the newest, most exotic and most extravagant trends to do body and mind some good. This is a plea for returning to a tradition-rich German wellness method that has been proving itself for almost 180 years: this article is about the holistic Kneipp therapy and its cures, as they are offered in many spa hotels.
The cure is named after the priest Sebastian Kneipp; it rests on five pillars: water, nutrition, movement, medicinal plants and an ordered way of life. Classically it is used above all to strengthen the immune system, to toughen the body and to accompany cardiovascular and stress-related complaints. What effect is realistic in an individual case is best clarified with the spa physician on site.
The “five-pillar therapy” was developed around 1850 — Kneipp, then training for the priesthood, suffered from a lung disease himself and is said to have cured it with cold-water applications, that is hydrotherapy. Water serves here as a conveyor of temperature stimuli: cold affusions, compresses and contrast baths stimulate circulation and challenge the cardiovascular system — a stimulus-response training meant to toughen the body over time.
The second pillar of the Kneipp cure is nutritional therapy: balanced, nutrient-rich food. In recent years in particular it has become clear again and again that many widespread illnesses such as obesity or stomach problems have their origin in a one-sided diet. A Kneipp cure therefore relies on an individual, wholefood diet of natural foods — fruit, vegetables, high-quality natural produce, accompanied by herbal teas — to get circulation and metabolism moving again.
In movement therapy an interplay of exertion and rest is meant to lead the musculoskeletal system back to its natural, healthy state. Gentle training made up of walking, swimming or cycling gets the metabolism going and strengthens the cardiovascular system.
With phytotherapy medicinal plants are supplied to the organism by gentle means such as teas or herbal baths.
The last and most important pillar of Kneipp therapy is so-called order therapy; this is about internalising the first four pillars and applying them in everyday life. Mental balance is to be maintained by avoiding sensory overload (from mobile, computer or television use, for instance) and stimulants such as alcohol or nicotine. It is recommended to work relaxation techniques such as yoga or autogenic training into everyday life in order to build further on the state of physical well-being achieved after Kneipp therapy.
So the transition into the cold season is a good moment for a week's wellness holiday with a Kneipp cure — to prepare the spirit for the darker, shorter days and to strengthen the immune system. Such a time out is not tied to a season, though: it does you good at any time of year.
A note on our own account: we are a wellness portal, not physicians — this article does not replace medical advice. With concrete complaints the way leads to a doctor; reliable information can also be found in the sources below.