In the strict sense of the term, balneotherapy is defined as the use of baths containing thermal mineral waters from natural springs at a temperature of at least 20°C and with a mineral content of at least 1 g⁄l. The temperature of the thermal water is usually around 20 degrees. Balneotherapy has been used since ancient times in the treatment of various diseases and is still in use today.
There is no international definition of balneotherapy in a broader sense and the treatment methods included. It may involve mineral baths, sulphur baths, brine baths, radon-carbon dioxide baths or Dead Sea salts. As an adjunct to balneotherapy, spa therapy employs various modalities such as physiotherapy; a change in environment and lifestyle per se may contribute to the changes seen in patient outcomes, i.e. the therapeutic result may not be due to the balneotherapy alone. As the composition of the mineral waters differs in its content in terms of cations and anions, it is difficult to assess the specific therapeutic component.
Studies of medical evidence:
- Resource: mountain hiking + iodine-sulphur-Na-Cl-water / brine baths / Na-Ca-Cl-SO4-water. Indication: prevention of falls; healthy aging: stamina and strength (Prossegger et al., 2019): evidence level Ib
- Resource: mountain hiking + Mg-Ca-SO4-water. Indication: non-specific chronic pain in the lower back area (Huber et al., 2019): evidence level Ib
- Resource: balneotherapy. Indication: rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain in the lower back area (Morer et al., 2017): evidence level Ib
- Resource: balneotherapy. Indication: stress (Antonelli & Donelli, 2018): evidence level Ib
The available data suggest that balneotherapy may in fact be associated with healing in several rheumatological diseases. However, existing research is not sufficiently clear to allow firm conclusions to be drawn. The use of Alpine balneotherapy in health tourism would require the examination of each Alpine healing water as regards its effects on specific indications, with account taken of experiences drawn from successful product development.
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Health tourism potential:
- Identification of existing natural healing springs.
- Development of tourism offers with therapeutic services in cooperation with experts and institutions (health hotels, spa resorts, Kneipp associations, therapists. etc.).
- Making natural springs accessible to the public.
