Balneotherapy is a special form of hydrotherapy. It works not only with the water, but also with the minerals and elements contained in the water. Whether it is mud baths, mineral water therapy or inhalations, our spa hotels offer you a comprehensive range of therapies.
Balneotherapy
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Discover the world of balneotherapy
Balneotherapy - The power of ingredients
On this page you will find all the important information about the origin of balneotherapy, its current treatments and also how and where you can enjoy a great healthy vacation with beneficial balneotherapy treatments.
Balneotherapy and where it comes from
Definition: What is balneotherapy?
Balneotherapy can be defined as all therapies in which thermal mineral water baths or pools are the main focus. It typically involves bathing in natural thermal lakes or ponds, but can also involve bathing in swimming pools filled with thermal water or with a direct tap to the thermal source. The word balneotherapy is of Greek origin and is composed of "balneo", meaning "bath", and "therapy", meaning "treatment" or "health treatment". referedbath therapy".
Baths are of course inseparable from water, so balneotherapy is also a subgroup of hydrotherapy (healing through water). Within balneotherapy there are in turn special sub-forms such as the thermal therapies, the thalasso therapy or the Kneipp therapy, in each of which only special water is used.
Should you ever stumble across the term "balneology": this refers to the study of healing through baths.
Origin of balneotherapy
Bathing has been used for millennia as a way of cleaning, soothing and healing the body. Archeologists have found bathing rooms in the palace of Knossos even date back to the 18th century BC and evidence of people bathing in thermal springs and in lakes and seas even as early as the 1st century BC. Bathing was very popular among the Romans and some of their bath houses exist even today.
In the Victorian era, spa towns regained popularity and developed around natural springs in beautiful locations. Doctors explored the beneficial use of spring water for the health and developed our modern day spa and bathing therapies.
Balneotherapy in combination with other retreats
Since balneotherapy literally means "healing with the help of bathing" we often get the question "is it just bathing" and nothing more? The answer is of course no: today, balneotherapy involves many varied treatments and is often combined with other spa therapies, creating an all-round holistic healing effect.
Balneotherapy is also often combined with hydrotherapy, which is more focused on exercises and muscle regeneration using water (in pools, showers, water jets etc.).
Balneotherapy can also be undertaken at the Dead Sea in Jordan or Israel. This is especially beneficial for those with skin problems, such as psoriasis, eczema or vitiligo.
Kneipp Therapy is a typical German spa treatment, using alternating hot and cold water baths and other water treatments, and is often combined with balneotherapy treatments.
Balneotherapy can also be combined with thalassotherapy. Thalassotherapy refers to a wide range of treatments using products from the sea, such as seawater, seaweed or sea salt, and involves bathing in seawater pools, which is then also a type of balneotherapy.
As you might guess, spring water is not only great for bathing, but also for drinking. This can be in mineral water drinking therapy: simply drinking the spring water, in specific amounts prescribed by the spa doctor, which is beneficial for digestive or mineral deficiency problems. Or in inhalation therapy: when the spring water is breathed in as a steam, which is highly beneficial for lung-related health issues.
The benefits and effects of balneotherapy
A hot bath is something wonderful. It warms the whole body, relaxes us, softens the muscles, blood vessels expand and we can rest. In addition, with a balneo bath in health water, the medicines dissolved in the water are absorbed through the skin and also through the respiratory tract. Depending on the composition of the healing water, these medicines can induce different effects in the body. For example, they can stimulate metabolism or have a pain-relieving effect. In some cases, the healing water also contains other additives such as essential oils. These are usually selected and customized according to the individual to enhance the positive effect of the bath even more.
Balneotherapy indications: Balneotherapy is particularly suitable for the conditions such as osteoarthritis, psoriasis, eczema, stress, circulatory disorders and rehabilitation after sports injuries, as well as for general improvement of well-being.
Classic balneotherapy treatments
What are the classic treatments of balneotherapy?
- Spring Water Bathing: due to the different mineral compositions, each type of spring water is suitable for different health issues.
- Salt Water Bathing: the water is either naturally salty (i.e. from a salt lake or sea) or has added bath salts
- Sulfur Bathing: spring water with a high sulfur content
- Mud Bathing: mineral mud that is slightly watered-down with spring water
- Oil Bathing: spring water with a herbal oil added
- Exercise/watercourse: swimming in large pools where bodily movement is required, such as with a countercurrent channel.
- Alternating hot-cold baths: first you will spend some time in a hot pool to warm you up, then a short dip in cold water, then hot water again, followed by cold water (Tip: don't be afraid of the short cold moments, after 5 minutes in warm water it is very beneficial and pleasant).
- Partial bath: a bath where only some specific parts of the body are bathed
In addition to the baths, there are also the following complimentary balneotherapy treatments:
- Mineral water drinking therapy: the spring water is used internally (drinkable). However, only a few types of spring water are suitable for this.
- Inhalations: the health water is evaporated into steam and is taken in through the airways.
How best to book your retreats with balneotherapy
Since most of our health spa program include balneotherapy anyway, they are titled according to their specific type of therapy offer and you have a really excellent range of programs to choose from. Keep an eye out for the following offers:
- Thermal spa therapy: Balneotherapy with thermal water
- Thalassotherapy: Balneotherapy with seawater and other natural remedies from the sea
- Kneipp therapy: Special balneotherapy with many alternate hot-cold bath treatments and beneficial bath salts & oils
- Complex healing: Balneotherapy with complementary medical treatments
- Mud therapy: Balneotherapy with mud baths
- Fango therapy: Balneotherapy with thermal water and a special Italian mineral mud (Fango)
- Radon therapy: Balneotherapy with radon-containing mineral water
- Sulfur therapy: Balneotherapy with sulfur-containing mineral water
FAQ - Balneotherapy
Can I book balneotherapy as a mini break?
You don't always have to spend a whole week on a health vacation. Especially in the field of balneotherapy, there are also excellent offers for balneo weekends or balneo short vacations. In these programs, the focus is on relaxation in the water and there are usually few other therapeutic treatments.
Which is the best hotel for balneotherapy?
The best hotel is the one that perfectly suits your needs.
Browse our best rated hotels with balneotherapy:
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What problems can be treated with balneotherapy?
Balneotherapy has a wide range of applications. It can help with skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, but is also used for chronic conditions or for relaxation in mental distress.