Thermal or geothermal water is a natural resource of warm water which temperature is above 30 C° (86 F°). Thermal water originates from the deeper layers of earth's solid mantle and reaches the surface through natural channels, hollows, caves as hot springs or through artificially drilled wells. Because of its high temperature thermal water can contain substantial quantities of dissolved solids. The mineral content can be very different between geographic areas and can have beneficial health effects when used internally or externally. Thermal bathes, natural spas are renown for their healing effects against various skin and rheumatic diseases.
The best known thermal spas in Germany, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Hungary and Ukraine.
Balneotherapy is a complex of medical and therapeutic methods based on using mineral waters. Also, the term "balneotherapy" is applied to everything relating to spa treatment, including the drinking of waters and the use of hot baths and natural vapor baths, as well as of the various kinds of mud and sand used for hot applications.
Balneotherapy may be recommended for wide range of illnesses, including arthritis , skin conditions and fibromyalgia. As with any medical treatment, balneotherapy should be discussed with a physician before beginning treatment, since a number of conditions, like heart disease and pregnancy, can result in a serious adverse reaction. Depending of mineral content of mineral water, it can have beneficial health effects for many disease:
Thus, carbon dioxide water baths improve the contractility of the cardiac muscle and coronary blood circulation, reduce the high blood pressure, expand the vessels of the skin, activate the function of internal secretion, and the central nervous system.
Natural sulphide baths cause sharp expansion of the skin vessels which improves the cardiac performance and facilitates healing of the skin, excretion of protein decomposition products.
Natural radon baths have a distinct sedative and analgesic action, improve the action of the heart, normalize the blood pressure.
Iodide-bromine baths improve the action of the internal secretion glands, soothe the central nervous system and improve cardiac performance.
Today recreation in mineral water resorts includes not only drinking or bathing in the water containing all necessary agents to cure various illnesses but also all kinds of technical and medical resources like therapy baths, therapeutic massage, gyms, parks etc to enhance the healing effect of the water and improve not only physical, but also mental health of a human.
Mud-baths are also included in balneotherapy, and the dirt and water used to mix mud baths may also contain minerals which are thought to have beneficial properties.
The local effect of mud on inflammatory tissues is characterized by anesthetic, anti-inflammatory and resosbable action. The mud therapy procedures also exercise a favorable effect on the whole human organism by improving its general vitality and reactivity.
Mud therapy is prescribed in case of diseases of the backbone, joints, muscles and the musculoskeletal system in general, trophic ulcers and wounds, diseases and consequences of traumas of the central and circumferential nervous system, female disorders, diseases of the stomach and the bowels, as well as vascular disorders. Thus, mud therapy is prescribed in case of arthrosis, neuritis, radiculitis, adnexitis, chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and other diseases in the remission phase.
Such baths are strictly forbidden in case of the inflammatory phase of the disease!
