Amy McDonald
To begin, it is important to differentiate whether you are experiencing mild dehydration, which is quite common, or ‘clinical’ dehydration, a serious medical condition that requires medical attention. If you think it is the latter, consult your physician. If your dehydration is mild, many spas offer treatments for dry skin; however, they do not offer treatments specifically for dehydration. In fact, there are potential contraindications with such therapies as hot stone and deep tissue massage, detoxification, baths, and wraps that can potentially increase dehydration. Thus, it is important to address your dehydration before you visit a spa to attend to your dry skin. Drink room temperature water for several days continuously until your urine is clear, you’re urinating frequently, and your headaches are gone. Then, visit a spa for a deep tissue massage, a remineralizing bath, and an exfoliation body treatment with a hydrating wrap.
Amy McDonald is the Spa and Programs Director at EL Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa in Taos, New Mexico. Amy has been in the spa industry for twenty years and is an industry expert in integrating both spa and educational programs into transformational experiences for guests.Nancy Welliver
I’m assuming you’ve done the obvious, i.e. increasing your water intake. I would also recommend seeing your health care practitioner so that you can be screened for any metabolic disorders such as hypothyroidism, which can produce symptoms like dry skin and headaches. Generally, working on your thyroid, adrenals, and liver is recommended. I encourage people to include sea veggies, also known as seaweed, in their diet to help promote healthy thyroid function. It’s a great source of iodine and other minerals, which will help your body ‘hold on’ to the fluids you drink. Seaweeds are available at most health food stores and can be added directly to soups and salads. Certain herbs can help to nourish the adrenal glands, which aide with stress as well as the fluid and mineral balance of the body. Headaches and skin issues can both be related to slow clearing of materials through the liver. A wonderful herb to address all three organs is Iris versicolor or Blue Flag. As it can be irritating to the digestive system, I use it in combination with other herbal extracts such as Siberian ginseng, licorice, burdock, dandelion (root and leaf) and nettles. All of these extracts can be found at a health food store that carries herbal tinctures. Take 15-25 drops of the combination 2-3 times per day.
Dr. Nancy Welliver has been a practicing naturopathic physician for the last eleven years and is currently a faculty member at Bastyr University.Elizabeth Somer, M.A.,R.D.
Drink more water. Water is the most important nutrient after oxygen. It is the body’s universal solvent, coolant, lubricant, and transport agent. It lubricates joints, maintains body temperature, hydrates the skin, transports toxins and waste out of the body, carries nutrients to tissues, and helps digest food. Even mild dehydration, such as losing 1 to 2 percent of body weight, results in a variety of problems, from headaches, fatigue, and weakness to lightheadedness, poor stamina, reduced short-term memory, and poor concentration and reasoning ability. Thirst is not a good indicator of your fluid needs. If you are thirsty, you already are dehydrated. The average adult loses about ten cups of water on a typical day. The International Sportsmedicine Institute in West Los Angeles suggests that people drink 2/3 of an ounce of water per pound of body weight each day if they are active (12+ glasses for an active 150 pound person) or 1/2 of an ounce per pound if they are not active (9+ glasses of water for a 150 pound sedentary person). You need even more than this during hot summer months. For example, you can easily sweat away a quart of water during an hour of strenuous activity, especially in hot climates. You also lose more body water at high altitudes than at low altitudes. To meet daily needs:
Fill a pitcher with your daily allotment of water and keep it on your desk at work or the kitchen table at home.
Fill eight or more glasses of water and place them in a convenient spot, such as the kitchen counter or dining room table.
Take eight slurps of water every time you pass a water fountain (1 slurp = approximately 1 ounce).
Need a little incentive to drink water? Try dressing it up with a twist of lemon, lime, or orange. Or, mix a little fruit juice with sparkling water and ice. You’ll know if you are getting enough fluid when your urine is pale yellow to clear and you urinate every two to four hours. Dark yellow urine is a sign your body is lacking in water and is trying to conserve. (One exception to this rule is if you take large doses of vitamin B2, since this vitamin colors the urine yellow even if you are well hydrated.)
Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., is author of several books, including Food & Mood (Owl Books, 1999) and Nutrition for Women (Owl Books, 2003).
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