You may have heard of a wine sommelier discussing the flavors and aromas of a fine wine, but have you ever heard of a water sommelier? According to this Los Angeles based water expert, different natural water sources have varying flavors depending on their mineral content. This trendy idea, however, is not the first time we have focused on the mineral content of water. In fact, in classical medicine, the ancient Greeks used mineral water in procedures thought to provide health benefits. The term given to the treatment involving bathing in mineral water is balneotherapy.
Balneotherapy, otherwise known as bath therapy, is the use of mineral water from natural thermal spring sources to treat medical ailments such as muscle and skeletal disorders, heart disease, headaches, and psychological illnesses. The key to balneotherapy is the mineral content in these waters. It is believed that these minerals can potentially be absorbed through the skin, reducing inflammation and positively affecting the immune system.
Do these baths really treat medical problems successfully?
One study specifically examined the effects of balneotherapy on lower back pain. Participants with back pain were separated into two groups: one group bathed in regular tap water while the other group soaked in mineral water. Three weeks later, a follow-up was conducted to examine their posture, mobility, pain, use of analgesics, etc. The results demonstrated that the mineral water group marked significant improvements in the examined parameters compared to the tap water group. Another group of researchers conducted a systematic review of various studies to examine the effects of balneotherapy on rheumatological diseases. Researchers concluded that there is a correlation between balneotherapy and improvement in rheumatological ailments, but the studies did not provide enough evidence to make any definitive statement.
These studies indicate that balneotherapy may play a role in the recovery from some ailments. However, there is little research available to demonstrate the exact mechanism of how the minerals in these waters are absorbed and used by the body. Therefore, it is difficult to make any conclusions on the specific physiological changes and benefits bathing in mineral water can provide. As with any alternative treatment, it is best to employ balneotherapy along with the necessary physical and pharmacological treatments to resolve a health problem.
Feature Image Source: Rony Michaud
