Water treatments are one of the best forms of vascular training, as they not only invigorate and activate the leg veins, but also the circulation in general. Pastor Sebastian Kneipp perfected the techniques, which are briefly described below.

At the beginning it sometimes takes a little getting used to these methods, but soon you will no longer want to do without them. Please note that the upper body must remain clothed during all water treatments to avoid unnecessary heat loss.

Getting used to it: the cold wash

Dip a small towel (linen washcloth, 30x60cm) in cold water (10-15° Celsius) and wash your legs with it, starting at the feet and working up to the thighs. Never dry your legs afterwards! Simply cover them and rest for a while. You will be amazed at how pleasant and comfortable it feels to warm your legs.

The alternating warm knee bath

As soon as you have got used to the ablutions, you should move on to the knee bath, which has a much stronger effect. To do this, you will need a shower with a non-pressurized jet, which is first set to a temperature of approx. 37° Celsius. Hold the shower head close to the skin and, starting at the toes, move over the outside of the forefoot to the heel and from there up the outer calf to just above the knee. Then hold the shower head in such a way that the entire back of the lower leg is surrounded by an even coat of water for approx. 10-20 seconds before directing the jet back to the heel on the inside of the leg. Now proceed in the same way with the other leg. Then repeat the pouring with a cold shower jet between 10-15° Celsius, but more quickly.

Then lie down and cover your legs without drying them. Alternatively, you can put on warm socks and walk around. Soon you will no longer want to do without this invigorating effect!

For professionals: the alternating warm or cold thigh cast

This is basically the same technique as the knee bath, but you direct the jet of water along the outside of the leg up to hip height. Pause here for 5-10 seconds before returning the shower to the heel on the inside of the leg. The other leg is treated in the same way. The thigh splash can be performed alternately warm (first warm for a long time, then cold for a short time) or cold only.

Treading water

Treading water is one of the best exercises you can do if you have vein problems. On the one hand, it strengthens the veins and, on the other hand, the leg is optimally decongested, as the calf muscles are also strongly activated. However, this technique is only recommended once the blood circulation in the legs has become accustomed to water applications.

Fill your bathtub (place an anti-slip mat in it beforehand) calf-high with cold water and wade through it in a "stork walk". With each step, pull your leg completely out of the water before immersing it again. Stop the exercise as soon as you feel a cold pain. Afterwards, we recommend a period of rest during which your legs are covered or you put on warm socks.