Water Therapies

Curative Waters
Famous Waters
Mineral Contents
Home Hydrotherapy

From ancient, natural mineral springs to modern flotation, water is the source for easing stress, clearing the mind, and comforting the soul. This page is designed to familiarize you with just some of the many wonders of water.

Only recently recognized in the United States as a necessity for health maintenance, water therapies are quickly growing in popularity. European health spas and thermal springs have provided refuge and relief for millions of people for centuries. Discover the benefits of a regular hydrotherapy program. It will really make you feel and look great.

Curative Waters

Seventy-five percent of the earth is covered in water. In fact the human body
contains well over 50% water. Water sustains life. Life therefore requires water. We could perhaps say that water is life. We cannot ignore the importance of this highly valued resource. Water allows for us to become virtually weightless. It eliminates stress on the joints and provides a relaxing environment in which we can enjoy a peaceful retreat from our worries. As for therapeutic bathing, thermal waters are best. But we can't always get to a mineral spring. The next best thing is to add a botanical cure or minerals to our baths at home. Regular use of curative botanical bathing products will provide benefits such as increased circulation, improved concentration, stress relief, and temporary relief of muscle soreness and fatigue.

According to A van Tubergen and S van der Linden of the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands:

Recently, a randomized controlled trial has shown that spa therapy is clearly effective in ankylosing spondylitis. Two intervention groups followed a three week course of spa therapy at two different spa resorts, and were compared with a control group who stayed at home and continued standard treatment consisting of anti-inflammatory drugs and weekly group physical therapy. Significant improvements in function, pain, global well-being, and morning stiffness were found for both intervention groups until nine months after spa therapy.

In the past decades, a large change in the use of mineral water for the treatment of several diseases has taken place in continental Europe. The medical significance of bathing is now acknowledged, especially by many rheumatologists and dermatologists, and this aspect is considered more important for a number of spa resorts than prestige and leisure. Bathing is usually combined with many other treatments, such as physical exercises, hydrotherapy, and mud packs. The spa resorts are differentiated according to their location (for example, seaside, mountain area) and the chemical composition of their mineral water (for example, sulphurous, bicarbonated, or sulphated). Each spring has its own characteristics and related therapeutic properties. However, a substantial number of spa resorts also direct more attention towards leisure. Steam baths, saunas, whirlpools, and solariums are standard equipment of many such spa resorts, with the main objective being to relax and strengthen the body and mind, and to prevent development of disease. In Britain, a revival of the spa culture may be expected, with the re-opening of the hot springs in Bath in 2002. This spa will offer facilities for medical treatment, but, in addition cater for a growing number of so-called health tourists, who combine their holidays with an investment in well-being.

Famous Thermal Waters

Bath, England (Aquae Sulis)

Ischia, Naples, Italy

Kaifas, Greece

Lesvos, Greece

Spa, Belgium

Varna, Bulgaria

Mineral Contents

The typical soluble minerals found in groundwater include sodium and magnesium salts, sulfur compounds, calcium carbonate, iron compounds,and metals. The composition of the water is therefore dependent on the geological materials through which the water passes.

Mineral Waters can be hot or cold and range from 40 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Both hot and cold mineral waters provide therapeutic benefits. The hottest waters contain the highest mineral content due to the dissolution of more materials.

Mineral Water content can be broken into several generalized categories: alkaline, saline, ferrous, sulfurous, acidulous, or soda. Exact mineral compositions of thermal waters are provided by spa proprietors and vary greatly. The compositions of thermal waters are then matched to particular health conditions.

Home Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy soaks for home care include alkaline, saline, soda contents, and fresh botanicals. The combination of these elements provides an elegant and therapeutic bathing experience.

Ginger Root: This botanical provides detoxification, increased circulation, and blood cleansing.

Licorice Root: This botanical provides stress relief, conditions the skin, and also helps to alleviate muscle cramping and soreness as well as menstrual cramping.

Lavender: This botanical provides relaxation, and relief from depression.

Rose Petals: This botanical provides skin conditioning and balancing.

Thalasso: This is the ocean therapy detoxification soak, and is discussed in the ocean therapy section.

All the above elements are mixed with alkaline, saline, and soda elements to provide noticeable and positive results for bathers. Botanical Mineral Baths also provide an excellent source of home hydrotherapy.

None of the information contained on this site is intended to be a substitute for medical care. If your condition is serious, you should seek the advice of your physician. The information contained on this site is intended to promote well-being through hydro-therapeutic practices that help to prevent and reduce stress and provide relief from common minor ailments. Those with heart conditions and other serious ailments or pregnant women should always seek advice from their physicians before undergoing a hydrotherapy program.