| Nature’s cure-all |
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| Written by Penny Kitchen, 2005 | |
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Page 1 of 2 Pampering, de-stressing, 'wellness', rest and relaxation in luxury surroundings - these are what come to mind when we think of spas. Spa resorts and hotels offer blissful breaks from 21st-century stress.
If something really ails us, we're off to the doctor for some pills and potions. But depending on your condition, perhaps you should look at a different type of spa, one that offers treatments that don't depend on drugs, and have yourself a holiday into the bargain. On a trip last winter to Budapest I was struck by the attitude of Hungarians towards their thermal spas. Hungarians take their baths very seriously - traditionally they are meant for relaxing and socialising, but they are also considered to have important curative properties for specific medical conditions, depending on the mineral content of the waters. This is in sharp contrast to the North American and British view of spa treatments as an occasional indulgence and elitist escape. I came away from my tour of half a dozen spas in that country promising myself I would consider an annual fortnight or more at just such a centre before reaching for the tablet bottle, should the necessity arise. HungaryNature has endowed Hungary with around 1,000 thermal springs, of which 100 are beneath the city of Budapest itself. The earth's crust in this region is very thin, so thermal waters rise easily to the surface. Whether they are simply in search of 'rest and relaxation' or they wish to sooth and improve a specific health condition, Hungarians can and do bathe outdoors in any season.Thermal waters from different springs vary in terms of the ailments they benefit and the water may be peaty brown or clear depending on its mineral content. An individual treatment plan, drawn up under medical supervision and carried out by medically trained therapists, might include relaxation therapy, massage and mud packs; passive or active exercise (for example aqua gymnastics), along with nutrition advice. Other treatments might include galvanic baths where a mild electric current is delivered through water to parts of the body; a traction bath, which relieves pressure on the spine (balneotherapy); and parafango, a heated paraffin and peat pack applied to parts of the body for locomotor complaints. Physiotherapy, in or out of the water, is also offered. Doctors claim that the benefits of three weeks of treatment on arthritic, rheumatic, nervous, gastric, gynaecological, respiratory and skin conditions can last as long as a year. Most medical spa treatments are provided as part of the Hungarian health system, but for foreign visitors, the costs - including accommodation - are low. As more people look to holistic therapies, so Hungary's thermal spa facilities are beginning to attract clients from as far away as the US. The facilities are so numerous they can accommodate 300,000 people in total at any one time. One spa at Héviz was opened in 1795 and features Europe's largest thermal lake. With a temperature that rarely goes below 29-32°C (85-90°F), regardless of the season, Héviz has such powerful springs feeding it that the entire lake replenishes itself every 24 hours. The therapeutic power of Lake Hévíz's minerals is so strong a maximum of 20 minutes' soaking at a time is recommended. Certain contraindications mean that thermal baths may not be for you: constant high blood pressure and heart disease, for example, as well as TB, haemophilia and certain cancers among others. Pregnancy also rules this form of treatment out. ItalyItaly's geology determines the presence of hot water or mineral springs. It is a relatively young country, rich in volcanic phenomena, and permeated by a dense network of groundwater channels. In north-eastern Italy many spas have developed on the slopes of the Euganei Hills in Veneto, volcanic highlands where numerous hot water springs gush out. The main form of treatment is mud therapy, recommended for rheumatic illnesses, respiratory and gynaecological problems. Abano Terme alone has almost two million visitors a year, half of whom come from abroad.In the south of the country the springs have chemical properties that are all very similar (predominantly sulphurous, or containing sodium chloride, iodide or bromide). They are recommended for a wide range of afflictions: metabolism disorders, problems of the respiratory system and the vascular system, and skin diseases. The Gulf of Naples is one of the most active volcanic zones in Italy, with heat bursting through from a supply of magma underground that is very close to the surface. Here there are numerous spas: Ischia, for example, receives 2,400,000 visitors a year (about 700,000 of whom are foreigners). Treatment may be orally, baths (including steam baths) and with mud, particularly effective for rheumatism, arthritis, obesity and metabolism disorders. FranceHippocrates, the Father of Medicine, discovered the therapeutic qualities of seawater by noticing the healing affects it had on the injured hands of fishermen. The seawater not only restricted infection risks, but patients who followed treatments involving the use of seawater found that it also promoted pain relief. Sea salt therapy is claimed to be an effective treatment that assists in the rejuvenation of the cells and also induces a healthy exchange of minerals and toxins between the blood and the water.These apparent health-giving qualities of seawater led to the creation of many therapeutic centres along France's western coast, from Brittany to Biarritz. All offer an array of different water therapies: BalneotherapyThis is a range of treatments with warm mineral salt water, from bathing or underwater massage jets to plain drinking. Alkaline water is said to help stimulate the secretion of bile, while a different mineral composition will have diuretic effects and can be used for treating kidney stones. |
