Fango treatment
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Fango therapy: a benefit for joint and skin complaints
The delightful mud therapy of Fango originates in Italy, hence the use of the Italian term for mud: “fango” and can be found in specialised fango spa hotels. Using natural mineral mud, heated with thermal spring water, it helps to heal or alleviate various health issues. Combining this treatment with a relaxing holiday in a beautiful location makes it twice as pleasant.
The most popular hotels for Fango treatment
Fango treatment - Discover the healing power of the warming mineral mud
Mud heat therapy has its origin in Italy, which is where the Italian word "fango" comes from by which this type of natural therapy is known. The use of natural, mineral-rich mud mixed with thermal water helps toheal or relieve various types of health problems.When this treatment is combined with a vacation in a relaxing and natural environment, it can become a unique and effective experience.
Read on to learn more about the fango treatment and to discover which destinations will make your vacation unforgettable.
Definition: What is fango therapy?
Fango is Italian for "mud" and refers to the traditional Italian mud therapy. The mud used in fango treatments consists of two main parts, one solid and one liquid.
The solid element consists of an inorganic base, such as clay, and an organic substance that includes microflora (diatoms, bacteria and algae), microfauna and humus.
The liquid part consists mainly of mineral water or thermal water. The mixture is left to mature for a long time so that the rougher clayey part can absorb the nutrients and minerals of the water.
The history of the fango treatment
The practice has ancient origins: there are, in fact, testimonies that confirm the existence of this treatment since the time of ancient Egypt. The mud mixed with clay obtained from the silt present on the banks of the Nile, was used to improve the elasticity and appearance of the skin.
There is evidence to suggest that fango therapy might have been practiced in ancient Greece, near hot springs and volcanic mud baths. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, often referred to as the "father of medicine," is said to have recommended the use of hot springs and mud baths for a variety of health conditions.
Later, during the Roman era, mud therapy began to be a common practice in Italy. During the Roman Empire’s period of maximum growth, the treatment reached the peak of popularity in Europe. Today, the opportunity to travel and combine your holiday with a relaxing spa therapy like fango therapy is not to be missed!
Procedure and content of a classic mud treatment
Mud therapy must be prescribed and supervised by a thermal physician. Before each treatment, amedical examination takes place, during which the physician decides on which parts of the body the healing mud should be applied and what temperature and duration are best suited for each treatment. The treatment is usually performed in the morning on an empty stomach. A typical mud therapy in Italian spas usually involves four steps:
1) The mud pack, in which mud at a temperature between 38°C and 42°C is applied by a "fanghini" to the affected areas. The patient is then wrapped in cloths and blankets to enhance the warming properties of the mud. The treatment lasts between 15 and 30 minutes.
2) The thermal bath, in which the patient, after cleansing the mud with a short shower, takes a bath for about 10 to 15 minutes in thermal water at about 37°C. Sometimes the water is also enriched with ozone to stimulate circulation.
3) The sweat response, in which the patient is dried off after the bath and allowed to rest for at least 30 minutes, well covered, while the body's biological response to the mud pack continues.
4) The massage, which usually marks the end of mud therapy, but can also be supplemented by other treatments.
Indications and contraindications of fango heat therapy
Indications and effects
Disorders of the musculoskeletal system
Fango packs have been shown to relieve pain. Thus, fango treatments have been observed to be helpful for motor system disorders, such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, joint pain, and limited range of motion, as well as for primary and secondary forms of osteoarthritis.
They may also be beneficial in post-accident and post-surgery treatment, gout, cartilage calcification, articular rheumatism, inflammatory rheumatism (except acute forms), rheumatoid fibrosis, rheumatoid tendonitis, rheumatoid hip pain, soft tissue rheumatism, and rheumatoid arthritis (at rest).
Skin diseases
Also, fango is used as therapy for skin diseases. These include atopic dermatitis, skin redness, fungal infections, hives, acne and sun allergy. Fango mud has pain and itch-relieving effects and provides the skin with moisture.
Nerves and Stress
Finally, mud treatments can also have a relaxing effect due to the heat. Thus, mud therapy is not only used in the elimination of stress, but also applied to general nervousness and psychosomatic and psychological disorders.
Contraindications and side effects
Contraindications for the fango treatment are:
- acute arthropathy
- pregnancy
- epilepsy
- hemorrhagic ulcers
- circulatory problems
- severe endocrine, infectious, or cardiac disease
So far, no side effects have been reported with mud therapy.
Fango retreats in Italy
In Italy, the origin of mud therapy, there are several wonderful places to choose from, thanks to the numerous.
Among the most famous destinations for a mud therapy retreat in Italy are theEuganean Hills, including Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme. Somewhat lesser known, but equally fascinating, are Levico Terme, Monteortone Terme and Bagno di Romagna.
In the south is the island of Ischia, immersed in the crystal clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea opposite Naples, whose thermal springs, with their unique composition of minerals, make it one of the best destinations for mud therapy.
Italy can undoubtedly be called "the land of mud therapy". The retreats practiced there, especially in the Euganean Hills, use certified mud as the main ingredient, according to researchers at the University of Padua.
Other beautiful destinations for a fango treatment
In Slovenia, the main spa treatment programs are called "Healing therapy" or "Medical Wellness". These include a range of therapies such as mud therapy, massage, balneotherapy and more. On the Slovenian coast there is also a special saline healing mud that is enriched with seawater instead of thermal water.
In Hungary, the mud is obtained from the Thermal Lake in Bad Heviz. The so-called "Heviz thermal mud" has a particularly dark brown color and is therefore sometimes called "black mud". Most of the Hungarian mud therapy takes place here, at Lake Heviz. Depending on the need, the mud is used hot or cold.
Germany is another destination whose hotels offer various mud programs. Especially Bavaria is known for this treatment due to its excellent thermal water . In addition, Germany also has its own forms of mud therapy with the mud bath and mud treatments.
One of our best recommendations for lovers of mud therapy is Lithuania. Here you can enjoy the so-called "white mud". Besides the special color, the mud pleasure in Lithuania is also extraordinary because flavors are added to the mud, which make it smell pleasant. So with the "fango aromatherapy" you get a doubly rewarding combination.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions about fango therapy
Healing mud has many positive effects on the musculoskeletal system. However, what is often forgotten is that mud is also a beauty treatment. Mud wraps soften the skin and especially improve blood circulation and purification. So when you book a mud treatment, your beauty treatment is included in the price.
Yes, mud therapy can also help you lose weight. The warmth of the mud and the associated "sweating" stimulate the metabolism and you can lose weight faster, especially if you book a low-calorie diet plan as part of your program. If you book a spa stay with mud and half board and walk, swim or cycle through the beautiful countryside every day, you will certainly be glad when you come home and weigh yourself.
A complete mud treatment with pack, bath, sweating reaction and massage usually lasts from 1 to 1.5 hours.
It is best to wear bathing suits or briefs to the fango treatment. Even though mud usually washes out well, you should leave your favorite piece of clothing in the hotel room as a precaution.
Fango therapy booked via SpaDreams starts at $465.
Here are some tips to get a particularly good value mud therapy:
- Book programs designed for one or two weeks. They usually offer the best value for money.
- Book your mud therapy vacation with half board. Our hotels usually offer such a good breakfast and dinner buffet that you do not have to eat three times a day.
- Even in Italy, the cradle of thermal mud therapy, there are so many hotels that you can always find a current special offer that allows you to travel up to 35 percent cheaper.
- If you book in advance, you not only have the opportunity to book the cheaper room categories, which are often in demand, but also to get attractive discounts. Advance bookings usually begin 90 days before arrival or 60 days before arrival. In addition to discounts of up to 25 percent, customers who book in advance can also take advantage of additional services that are only available at an additional cost if booked a few days before arrival.
- Book for the off-season. Fango therapy destinations in Italy are beautiful as early as spring and have good weather until late autumn.
These are our best-rated fango hotels:
- PREMIERE Luxury hotel terme & spa - Rating: 4.8
- Ermitage Bel Air Medical Hotel - Rating: 4.8
- Medical SPA Hotel Gradiali - Rating: 4.8
- Hotel Ariston Molino Buja - Rating: 4.7
- Hotel Terme Mioni Pezzato & Spa - Rating: 4.7
- Hotel President Terme - Rating: 4.7
- Hotel Terme Neroniane - Rating: 4.7
- Hotel Terme Due Torri - Rating: 4.7
- Hotel Terme Olympia - Rating: 4.7
- Hotel Terme Venezia - Rating: 4.6