The balneotherapy Is effective for the treatment of many diseases. It can relieve your symptoms if you suffer osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid arthritis, among other conditions of the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, it is usually used in physiotherapy.
It can also be useful in the treatment of various skin conditions, including psoriasis, acne and dermatitis.
Characteristics of balneotherapy
Within what is considered balneotherapy are various treatments or therapies involving baths with sea water, river water, hot springs Or waters with a high content of mineral salts.
In addition to the immersion baths, Massage With water in motion and relaxation or stimulation exercises performed with water or water, Are also considered part of balneotherapy.
In spas, complex buildings specially designed to offer these treatments, there are usually steam baths, common saunas and dry saunas, As part of balneotherapy. In some cases the treatment may include the intake of these waters.
Treatments with medicinal clays, rich in mineral salts, are often combined with balneotherapy and can be considered part of This discipline. These sludges are usually obtained from rivers, lakes or lagoons.
One of the advantages of clay therapy is that Take a long time to cool, so that it is easier to combine mineral therapy with thermal therapy.
It is important to emphasize that all these treatments must be supervised by properly trained personnel. Ideally, when entering a Spa, be a doctor who evaluates your personal situation, your general health, and then indicate the best treatment for you.
For balneotherapy to be effective, it is also important to lead a healthy life, with a balanced diet and sports and recreation activities. In general the spas are located in regions with a pleasant natural environment, which allows patients to contact nature, so that Can be more relaxed and in this way make the most of your balneotherapy treatments.
History of balneotherapy
Balneotherapy is nothing new, there are indications that it was already used by the ancient Greeks, Romans and other peoples.
Since the time of Hippocrates Y Galen The power and importance of healing waters and baths is known. In 1473, the first publications On the cures with thermal water, which were true treaties of balneotherapy, and which gave origin to what today is medical hydrology, that is, the Application of different waters as treatment for certain diseases.
In the nineteenth century balneotherapy had its greatest boom, due to the lack of drugs for many diseases. Almost all conditions that Had no specific treatment, were treated with thermal water and many medical researchers at that time recorded a large number of techniques and Applications of balneotherapy.
In Italy, for example, the use of hot springs for curative purposes has ancient origins, but even today there is a Number of spas that apply hot springs from the bowels of the Earth (especially in volcanic areas) for the treatment of various Conditions.
Medicinal mineral waters
In most cases, the waters used in balneotherapy treatments contain a certain concentration of mineral salts. Depending on What these salts are, the therapeutic effects of these waters may be different.
For example, in Sulphated water , The sulfate anion is the predominant one. This type of water favors bowel movements and Liver functioning, therefore, are frequently used in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system.
In the Chlorinated water , On the other hand, the chloride anion predominates, although there may also be a similar concentration of sodium. These Waters are applied in patients with respiratory disorders and skin conditions, as they have an anti-inflammatory and disinfectant effect.
The Sulphurous waters, With high content of hydrogen sulfide, have an anti-allergic and antirheumatic effect. They are used for Treatment of rheumatic and dermatological conditions.
Waters with high Calcium salts Have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and sedative properties.
The waters with presence of baking soda Can be administered orally and are useful in the treatment of heartburn, gastritis and Hernia hiatus among others, due to its antacid effect.
On the other hand, waters with Carbon dioxide, Naturally or added by man can stimulate the secretion of juices Gastricos that favor the digestion, if they are ingested as part of a balneotherapy treatment.
Waters with a certain concentration of iron May have a positive effect on patients with fragile nails and hair, due to their Regenerative properties.
He Water with radon , Which is a source of weak radioactive emissions, can be drunk, inhaled or used in baths for the treatment of Degenerative or inflammatory diseases of the joints and vascular diseases.
In order for water from a spring to be considered useful for balneotherapy treatments it must have a salt concentration equal to or greater than 1 gram per liter. Most of these types of waters arise with a certain temperature, although not all the waters applied in balneotherapy are hot springs.
Techniques applied in balneotherapy
The most frequent are the balneotherapy treatments in which the water is applied topically, for example, in Immersion baths .
For example, if you go to a spa you may be placed in a bath filled with water at a temperature between 34 and 37 degrees, for about 15 to 20 Minutes. Then you'll have a break of about half an hour, covered with sheets or blankets so you do not cool down suddenly.
Another common technique is the application of water springs Under pressure, as in a whirlpool. With this type of treatment, in addition to Benefits of water rich in minerals, also the positive effects of the mechanical action of the jets are obtained.
These techniques stimulate the blood circulation, help increase vascularization and promote muscle relaxation, which can achieve a Some analgesia (relief of pain) and improves the mobility of the locomotor system.
Other treatments include Wraps, underwater massages, irrigations , among others.
Some waters with a high mineral content can To drink Always under medical indication, although it is not the most frequent treatment. With this therapy it is possible to stimulate kidney function, improve digestion and intestinal mobility.
Finally, these mineral waters can also enter the body through inhalation , In a sauna for example, or even by means of Inhalers or nebulizers.
What do the scientific studies say?
Balneotherapy is traditionally known for providing relief to joint pain, relaxing muscles, favoring oxygenation of tissues, Decrease stress And for its use in beauty treatments.
But you're probably wondering, how effective is balneotherapy? Are there scientific studies that support this type of treatment?
Well the answer is yes. There are several scientific studies that have shown the positive effects of balneotherapy in patients with different Conditions. Although the researchers believe that further studies are needed, the positive results that have already been achieved are very Encouraging.
Here we present some of the scientific studies on the effects of balneotherapy, and their results.
Study on the general effectiveness of balneotherapy
A team of researchers reviewed in 2009 a group of scientific studies on the effectiveness of balneotherapy treatments in various diseases.
After reviewing data from 203 studies, the researchers concluded that balneotherapy may have a positive effect on patients With different rheumatic conditions such as fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis and low back pain. It is also Effective in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Balneotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Another review of studies on the effect of balneotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the results of which were published in 2015, Concluded that"the positive findings in most studies can not be ignored,"but they also point out that Research in this regard.
Studies suggest that balneotherapy treatments can decrease pain and improve joint mobility in this type of patients.
Balneotherapy in patients with osteoarthritis
In 2008, the results of many investigations on the effects of balneotherapy in patients with osteoarthritis were reviewed and found
High-mineral water immersion baths can alleviate pain and improve the quality of life of patients (by comparison With a control group that received no treatment).
The baths in sulfur waters and baths of immersion with Dead Sea water are also able to relieve the pain after a month of treatment, Also compared to another group of patients who did not receive any treatment.
The great advantage of balneotherapy treatments is that, in most cases, they do not have adverse side effects, unlike Virtually all medications usually prescribed for pain relief in this type of patients.
Balneotherapy for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis
In the area of dermatology, balneotherapy also has important applications. Positive effects have been seen in patients with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis .
Although the mechanism by which water with minerals has a curative effect on the skin is not known, it is believed that this could Be due to a combination of chemical, thermal, mechanical and immunoregulatory effects.
Again, one of the main advantages of balneotherapy is that it does not imply any type of medicine that is potentially toxic or harmful side effects.
If you submit to a balneotherapy treatment, there are practically no risks to your health and well-being, and you may get very positive effects if Atopic dermatitis or psoriasis.
Scientists recommend using balneotherapy as a complementary treatment to medications or as Only treatment if with the medicines you have not managed to improve much.
Baths with Dead Sea water in patients with fibromyalgia
The effects of balneotherapy in patients with fibromyalgia have been well studied by the scientific community through various investigations, all With very positive results.
In one of these investigations, 48 patients were treated with fibromyalgia and underwent balneotherapy with Dead Sea water (water Sulphurated), in a spa on the shores of the mentioned sea. The therapy lasted 10 days.
The overall condition of the patients was evaluated before starting treatment, after ten days of therapy, one month after the end of treatment And three months later.
In patients receiving treatment, a significant improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms was observed. The patients had less fatigue, Lower levels of anxiety, less Headaches , Sleep problems and joint pains. And best of all is that these positive effects are Remained after three months of therapy.
Another scientific study revealed that balneotherapy is also capable of improving respiratory function in this type of patients. In a study carried out Of 56 people, who received complementary therapy with balneotherapy, had significant improvements in their symptoms. dyspnoea And in their Spirometry , Even six months after the end of treatment, which lasted three weeks.
That is why scientists recommend balneotherapy (if it can be with Dead Sea water, better) as a complementary treatment in patients with Fibromyalgia, that disease whose symptoms are so difficult to alleviate.
As you can see, balneotherapy is an effective treatment in many diseases, and its effects have been scientifically proven.
If you are suffering from joint pains due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia, balneotherapy may be an excellent option for you. The Even if you have psoriasis or atopic dermatitis and you have not been able to relieve yourself with conventional treatment.
Just be sure to receive the treatment in a spa that works with seriousness and responsibility. Remember that the treatment you receive must be Indicated by a doctor.