I rarely discuss or openly share the nuances of being a massage therapist, who was trained in the old world ways of manual therapies.
There is a huge difference between the way I was trained as a therapist back in the late 80s, and the way individuals are trained and educated today, some 30 years later.
Yesterday morning (6:30 am) the conditions were perfect for a “hydrotherapy application” called Dew Walking.
The technique matches the title. You simply walk in very early morning, thick dew, in your bare feet (for at least 5 minutes) but you can walk as long as you’d like.
I usually just make several trips back and forth across the whole length of my backyard.
Traditional this is done to create a vascular pumping action within the body.
In general terms, this cardiovascular pump is created when you go from a warmer ambient temperature (like that generally found inside a house) to a cooler temperature (like that found in the early morning, before the sun has had a chance to evaporate the dew from the grass) outside.
What we are talking about is usually a 5-6 degree separation in temperature difference. It’s subtle but surprisingly invigorating.
Here’s Why:
When the body’s blood vessels are warm, they are dialated. When you expose these tissues to cooler outside temperatures, they quickly constrict.
This creates a pumping action that has the ability to move inflammation...especially if the person makes an effort to walk briskly.
It’s also a gentler way of strengthening a body’s immune system.
(The more aggressive way is to go from a hot pool, sauna or steam room and then immediately dip the body into a cold ice water bath. Alternatively, one could roll in the snow, if they resided in a northern climate.)
With the more aggressive versions, some care should be exercised if a person is not in sound cardiac health. Going from hot to cold really quickly can over-tax a compromised cardiovascular system and it can dislodge blood clots, for those who might be prone. Dew Walking is gentle and doesn’t put any aggressive strain on the body’s systems. It just gives the micro-circulation and the lymphatic system a little bit of an added boost.
As a therapist, I often recommend alternating hot and cold packs in various positions on the body. Especially for anyone who is afflicted by trapped inflammation due to a chronic injury and I think that their condition warrants the use of this pumping effect.
The position of the packs are determined by where the inflammation is trapped and where you intend to reposition it. The goal being to move the inflammation to the closest larger cluster of lymph nodes for processing.
These seemly antiquated techniques have worked for hundreds of years.
Now days, people just medicate with over the counter, non-prescription pain and inflammation medications like Tylenol and Advil.
Unfortunately, these substances are not a viable long term solution because they damage the lining of the small intestine, over time.
Another benefit of an early morning Dew Walk is that it “grounds” a person and gives them an immediate connection to Mother Earth.
Dew Walking is a wonderful way to balance all the blue light pollution we are inundated with, due to screen time and artificial light exposure.
After you are finished walking, your feet will feel refreshed and light.
You’ll need to wash and dry them off, so be prepared with a bucket of water or a garden hose and a small towel.
I welcome your comments and I invite you to follow me on my journey...occasionally we will be walking in our bare feet, in the early morning dew.
Rebecca