THERAPY
History
LESSON
The Kneipp natural therapeutic system is poised for a renaissance in today’s modern spa world. Spa historian Jonathan Paul De Vierville explains why by looking at its past and future potential How would you describe Kneipp therapy?
It’s a holistic natural therapy system based on the Kneipp kur/course of treatments which integrates the five principles of water (hydrotherapy), exercise (kinesiology), herbalism (phytotherapy), nutrition (dietetics) and balanced lifestyle management (regulative therapy).
What are its origins?
It was founded by a German priest, father Sebastian Kneipp, in the mid 1800s. Suffering from tuberculosis, he discovered
a book outlining the effectiveness of fresh water treatments which led him to experiment with regular bathing in the icy Danube River. In doing so, he succeeded in energising, invigorating and strengthening his body. He was inspired to use the gifts of nature within the context of service to the Divine for the purpose of physical and spiritual healing. He perfected the approach, adding exercise, diet etc to the mix, by treating ailing members of his parish in the village of Bad Wörishofen, Bavaria which is considered the birthplace of Kneipp therapy.
Jonathan Paul De Vierville lectures on the Kneipp kur
How did it grow in popularity?
By the 1880s, Kneipp’s reputation for healing had spread throughout most German speaking countries. With the 1889 publication of My Water Cure – in over 100,000 copies, including foreign translations – his work at Bad Wörishofen gained worldwide recognition. An important point to note is that, reaching North America, the philosophy formed the foundation of modern naturopathy.
Sebastian Kneipp, a German priest, developed the therapy in the 1800s to treat his tuberculosis
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An authentic programme will integrate all five principles and simple applications for at least a week with a take-home regime. Some can even go up to three months depending on the client’s disorder and therapeutic needs. While many associate the Kneipp programme with hydrotherapy – Sebastian Kneipp is known as the ‘water doctor’ – it’s inclusive and integrative of the four other pillars. That said, water is the most powerful
therapy formed the foundation for modern naturopathy and there are more than 120 applications for it including ablutions, wraps, packs and compresses, jet/shower sessions, baths, steam and sauna experiences, water treading and dew walking and – especially – cold water treatments.
How does it work and what does it treat?
Everything in the Kneipp system works to facilitate the body’s own thermal reaction, reflexes and immune responses. The various water applications, for example, range in temperature from icy and cold to tepid, warm, hot and steamy and work to
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What does a Kneipp course include?
In North America, Kneipp