Study on the spa reaction in the context of radon therapy

The spa reaction is an adaptive reaction of the body as a result of external influences. It is a positive element of spa therapy and leads to important metabolic changes for the body. These changes cause an increase in the body's immune activity and regeneration reactions. The mechanism of this reaction is not fully understood.

The aim of the study was toevaluate the changes in the body's integrated antioxidant system during radon therapy , especially with regard to the spa response. The study was conducted in the resort town of Świeradów-Zdrój and focused on patients undergoing radon water treatment for degenerative joint and intervertebral disc diseases.

The total antioxidant status (TAS) was determined before treatment, after 5 and after 18 days of treatment using a colorimetric test. The study group comprised 35 patients with degenerative joint and disc disease, while the control group consisted of 15 people with osteoarthritis who did not undergo radon therapy.

On the 5th day of treatment, both groups showed an increase in TAS, with worse results in the control group. After treatment, the TAS value continued to rise in the study group, while it fell significantly in the control group.

The results indicate a positive effect of radon therapy on TAS growth in spa guests, possibly suggesting a link between these changes and the spa response phenomenon. This in turn is due to a low dose of ionizing radiation from the radon dissolved in the healing water used in the therapy.