Medical balneologic assessment
Medical balneologic assessment of the water from the Georgsquelle in Thermalbad Wiesenbad
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Author: Forschungsinstitut fur Balneologie und Kurortwissenschaft in Bad Elster
1. Composition and Quality
As mentioned in the table, the water contains all single important components, necessary for the assessment. According to the definitions for spa towns, health resorts and mineral springs, the water is classified as thermal water (waters that emerge at a temperature of more than 20 °C). Moreover, the water contains 4.8 mg/l F- which is a particularly valued individual component, lying above the stipulated minimum concentration of 1 mg/l as categorized by the above stated definitions.
Therefore, the water from the Georgsquelle fulfills two requirements for the recognition of a mineral water.
Characterization: fluoride-containing thermal water
Low mineralized waters (<1 g/l mineralization) are termed soft waters. Due to its outlet temperature and F- content, the water from the Georgsquelle can be called a “fluoride-containing acratotherm”.
The water from the Georgsquelle is microbiologically unobjectionably and does not display any components in concentration that imply anthropogenic pressures. For that reason, the water can be denoted “pristine pure”.
In accordance with the “Mineral- und Tafelwasserverordnung” (German mineral and table water law), geogenically determined substances (especially trace elements) are not verifiable in concentrations above permitted limits.
Thereby, the water from the Georgsquelle meets all essential prerequisites to be officially accredited as a natural cure.
Owing to its preconditions, the water can be applied for bath cures as well as mineral cures.
2. Mode of Action – Bathing Medium
With regard to its mode of action as a bathing medium, the temperature of the low-mineralized water from the Georgsquelle is more important than its chemical composition. It is permitted that thermal waters are warmed up to their necessary application temperature. This should be performed gradually with the help of a heat exchanger.
The therapeutic effect of acratothermae is uncontested to the present. Their pain-relieving, skin smoothing and sedating effects are empirically proven, although its mechanisms of action are not fully clear.
For hundreds of years, the pain-relieving and sedating effect of acratothermae has been used for therapeutic purposes to treat diseases and traumatic injuries of the locomotor system as well as neurological disorders.
With regard to diseases of the locomotor system, the subsequent applications of acratothermae are feasible:
- increase in body temperature in relaxation baths of about 38 °C or above
- exercise therapy by making use of buoyancy in the thermal pool (e.g. hydrotherapy), in exercise pools with temperatures ranging from 35 – 38 °C
- therapeutic swimming, in the thermal pool of about 31 – 32 °C.
The increase in body temperature enhances the blood circulation resulting in the nourishment of the bradytrophic tissue and the relaxation of the musculature.
Buoyancy is the most significant factor in exercise baths. Due to the relief of the supporting apparatus and joints from bodyweight, exercises are less painful.
A combined cure, which includes the application of warm and exercise baths that are usefully complemented by therapeutic treatments (e.g. ultrasonics, short wave, hydroelectric baths and massages), can counteract pain that causes – restriction of movement – muscular atrophy – stiffening.
3. Indications – Bathing Medium
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Additional indications:
- cardiovascular diseases, particularly labile hypertension
- psychosomatic disorders
- spasticity
Also:
- sequela after cerebral apoplexy
- status after paralysis of genesis with differing origins
And:
- osteoporosis
Contraindications:
In principle, all acute phases of diseases are contraindications, especially in the case of diseases of the rheumatic forms circle.
4. Mode of Action – Mineral Cure
The low mineralization, in this case the low contents of Na+ (118 mg/l) and NaCl (with respect to the Cl- content: 54,4 mg/l), is expected to have a spontaneous diuretic effect when drinking the water from the Georgsquelle. During the application of the water, it occurs that the urine is diluted and that due to the spontaneous diuretic effect the kidneys and the urinary tract are flushed. That is not only important for patients suffering from urinary calculus diathesis, especially in the case of a missing urinary calculus analysis, but also for patients suffering from hyperuricemia to wash out the not easily soluble uric acid of the organism by an increased water intake.
These effects are also possible with drinking water. In contrast to that, the water from the Georgsquelle has been analyzed and approved the pristine purity without containing any pollutants and bactericide additives.
In default of specific and definable effects, in comparison to drinking water, the “Bundesamt für Arzneimittel und Medikamente” (German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices) does not permit the shipping of low mineralized waters.
The situation is different with respect to the F- – content. It can be regarded as scientifically proven that F- inhibits the development of caries. The top layer of teeth, containing fluorapatite, has to be constantly renewed. A lack of the intake of F- leads to a reduction of strength and resistablility of the top layer. A prophylactic intake of F- results in a decrease of incidence for caries of about 30 – 70 %. A determining factor for the caries prophylactic effect after dentition is the F- – concentration in the saliva. Recent studies have shown that the F- – concentration in the saliva increases, depending on the dose, if F- containing waters are employed.
Very high dosages of 40 – 60 mg F- per day are used to treat distinct forms of osteoporosis. It is considerable that F- stimulates bone growth.
It is recommended that mineral waters, containing 5-10 mg/l F-, are used for time-limited mineral cures (4-6 weeks) in order to support the treatment of osteoporosis. Thermalbad Wiesenbad is ideal for this indication because the application of thermal water baths is recommended for the treatment of osteoporosis. Due to a higher life expectancy, it is assumed that there will be a growth in osteoporotic diseases.
An excessive intake of F- of >20 mg per day for several years can lead to the formation of a hardened and compressed cortical bone which can result in joint stiffening and ankylosis of the spine.
5. Indications – Mineral Cure
- supporting the treatment of urinary calculus diathesis
- supporting the treatment of hyperuricemia
- caries prophylaxis
- supporting the treatment of osteoporosis
Contraindications
- decreased liquid tolerance
- acute diseases of the digestive system and kidneys
Dosage
- urological indications and hyperuricemia: during the day an intake of at least 1,5 l, the last portion shortly before going to bed
- caries prophylaxis: during the day circa 500 ml
- supporting the treatment of osteoporosis: during the day circa 1,5 l
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