Indications: What can water help with?

• Cardiovascular diseases, post-myocardial infarction treatment, blood pressure abnormalities, venous diseases
• Vegetative-nervous dysfunctions
• Chronic respiratory diseases 
• Organic and functional disorders
• Conditions after operations in the fields of surgery, orthopedics, gynecology
• Metabolic disorders

Forms of application

1. During drinking cures, healing water is administered in quantities between 100 ml and 1,500 ml. Depending on the ingredients, different healing waters can be used to treat deficiency symptoms, gastric mucosal irritation or thyroid dysfunction.
   
2. The exercise bath is an exercise treatment in the water that uses the heat effect and buoyancy of warm water. It is suitable for many applications, such as after fractures, operations and similar problems.
   
3. As a fine mist or vapour, healing waters also have a local effect on the mucous membranes as a means of inhalation. This stimulates the body's self-cleaning mechanisms, loosens stubborn mucus in the airways and relieves inflammation.
   

Types of water

Mineral thermal water

Thermal water is characterized by a high temperature at the source: It has to be at least 20 degrees Celsius before it can be called thermal water. 

Brine water

On its way through countless layers of rock, salts from the primeval sea can also dissolve in the water. This creates a salty brine that is used for therapeutic purposes. Only water with at least 5.5 g sodium and 8.5 g chloride ions per liter can be called brine.

Water containing sulphur and radon

Sounds toxic, but it's not: water containing sulphur and radon has also been used in healing medicine for some time. Sulphur baths have a therapeutic function for skin diseases and rheumatism. The radioactive noble gas radon can be found in small doses in some springs. Radon water is used as a drinking cure or bath in various therapies.

CO2

The carbonic acid bath is a bath that is mixed with carbon dioxide. The substance turns into carbonic acid in the bath water, which is absorbed through the skin. Carbonic acid baths can promote blood circulation, lower blood pressure, improve the oxygen supply to organs, relieve pain and combat inner restlessness.

Predicates: What makes a spa a spa?

Awards serve as a seal of quality in health tourism. In order to receive an award, certain standards must be met in the area of medical facilities and tourist infrastructure. The state's health resort law defines these requirements.

Mineral/thermal spa

Not every spring is a thermal spring: for the title thermal spa, the water at the spring must be at least 20 degrees Celsius. If the thermal water also contains valuable minerals and trace elements, then the spa town can call itself a mineral thermal spa. The healing waters come from natural local springs. If the temperature of the mineral-rich water is less than 20 degrees Celsius, it is called mineral water - thus the spa is a mineral spa.

Brine spa

In order for a spa to be called a brine spa, 5.5 grams of sodium ions and 8.5 grams of chloride ions must be contained in one litre of water. In Baden-Württemberg there are a total of six spas with brine.