GrandSpa Creates A New Lifestyle

Hailed as Dr Water, Sebastian Kneipp was born to a family of textileworkers in Germany in 1821. At age 7,he had to work as a shepherd to supplement the family income.He recalled: I was never happy. When I was 25, I contracted tuberculosis. I sought treatment from many doctors but given the lack of medical knowledge then, everyone told me there was no cure.

 

He was then very disappointed. But he chanced upon a thin book entitled: "The effect of clear water on human" at the Munich National Library. This book was written in 1734 by Polish doctor J.S. Hahn. He learnt to use water to treat himself. During winter, he would jump into the cold Danube River and come out of the water after a few seconds. He repeated this process a few times and his condition improved. A year later, he returned to school to complete his studies.

 

The compassionate Kneipp never charged his patients, as he was determined to help the poor and sick.Hence, more and more patients sought his treatment. His actions prompted the Archbishop to intervene, asking him to stop treating patients for free because it was hurtingthe business of doctors and therapists. He was subsequently sued as he was not a licensed doctor. However, the judgment was a surprise to all. The judge said: "No, I must let himcontinue his work because he treats the poor for free!"

 

Unable to bear the growing pressure, the Church banished him to Woerishofen, a small town in the Southern part of Germany. But this did not deter the sick from traveling all the way toseek treatment. Their presence contributed to the prosperity of the town. The supply of hotel rooms was unable to meet the growing demand. At times, the sick had to spend the night at the roadside in order to receive Kneipp's natural hydrotherapy the next day.

 

Kneipp spent his nights at the fountain to analyze and prove the effect of hydrotherapy through countless trial and error. His classmates then would not believe that water could serve as a curefor illnesses. But armed with 40 years of experience in hydrotherapy, Kneipp published the book "My Water Cure" in 1886, and became the forefather of wellness in contemporary times. The book was so popular in Germany that it was reported by the media all over the world and translated into other languages. Needless to say, it became a bestseller and Kneipp became a well-known figure overnight. Then in 1889, he published the book "How You Shall Live". He even added herbal essence into the water, giving a boost to health, wellness and slimming. Studies of modern bath therapy revealed that essential oils could penetrate the skin and help one to fully relax.

 

In 1890, Kneipp successfully treated Hungarian King Erzherzog Josep and Austrian King Kaiser FranzJoseph. In 1894, after he cured Pope Leo XIII, the Pope said: "You should heed your calling, although you are not a doctor, you can still help others". With the help of King Josep, Kneipp set up a rehabil-itative hospital, a hospital for the poor and a children's hospital. Kneipp passed away at the age of 76in June 1897. The average life span of male Germans then was 50 years. In 1997, the German government issued the Kneipp stamps to commemorate his centennial death anniversary.