Balneology is the science of baths. Balneological procedures take place mainly in the context of spa treatments. Respiratory diseases and skin diseases can be alleviated by balneological treatments, as well as metabolic diseases and various symptoms of nervous system diseases.
What is balneology?
Balneology is the science of baths. Balneological procedures take place primarily as part of spa treatments. Balneology is the term used to describe the science of baths. Balneological procedures are among the oldest healing procedures. The science of balneology deals with the use of natural healing springs and peloids. The healing springs are used in balneology both internally and externally. Thus, drinking cures and inhalations are also found in the field of balneology. In addition to bath therapy, the fields of balneotechnics, hydrochemistry and balneophysics are counted among the balneological subfields. Balneotechnics is the study of the proper tempering, storage and storage of balneological remedies. The proper design of bath tubs and inhalation accessories is also a matter of balneotechnics. Hydrochemistry, on the other hand, is the study of the composition of remedies. The effect of individual ingredients on the organism is also dealt with within the framework of hydrochemistry. Bath therapy is the most important field of balneology. Different forms of baths have different effects on the organism. The field of bath therapy therefore teaches the balneologist which baths can alleviate the symptoms of which diseases. Emil Osann is considered the pioneer of the balneological field, but as early as the 16th century, physicians and botanists were pursuing balneological directions.
Treatments and therapies
As a rule, patients participate in balneological treatments primarily as part of a spa treatment. Spa stays are prescribed to rheumatism patients, for example, but cures are also part of the treatment spectrum for diseases of the central nervous system, respiratory diseases, arterial and venous disease, and certain skin diseases. In medicinal baths there is a relatively high concentration of dissolved substances. As a result, in balneological spas the body is revitalized and the patient’s joints and muscles are relieved. Muscle pain is one of the most common complaints of diseases of the nervous system. People with the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis, for example, often suffer from it. These complaints can be improved by therapeutic bath sessions in mineral-rich medicinal water. Exercise baths in warm or lukewarm water also perform well for diseases of the central nervous system. The buoyancy provided by the minerals in the healing water is used in these procedures to exercise the patient’s muscles. This form of balneology is also used to treat arthritis and osteoporosis and can improve postural abnormalities. Peat baths, on the other hand, contain a high percentage of peat, which releases heat at a low rate. This application can improve muscle tension. On the other hand, in medicinal water containing carbon dioxide, the patient’s circulation and blood flow are stimulated. Lowering of blood pressure can be achieved by these procedures. The opposite effect is achieved with the oxygen bath. This is a warm and bubbling bath that stimulates the patients’ blood pressure. The salts of the brine bath, in turn, are used in rheumatism therapy. They are also used against skin diseases, in patients with metabolic disorders or against gynecological complaints. In the case of neurodermatitis, eczema and similar skin diseases, the sulfur bath is used, which has antibacterial effects. Against sweat gland abscesses and arteriosclerosis, iodine bath is more indicated, where the patient’s skin adsorbs the iodine. Itchy skin conditions are treated with a malt and bran bath. Weeping skin conditions, on the other hand, are improved by an oak bark bath. The inhalation bath relieves respiratory diseases with essential oils, and the spruce needle bath improves nervous disorders and sleep disturbances. In the rod bath, a current in the water acts on the patient’s muscles to achieve pain-relieving effects in rheumatism and neuralgia.
Diagnosis and examination methods
Balneology is counted among physical therapy. Thus, it is not itself a diagnostic field. Rather, diagnostics precedes balneological treatment.Balneological procedures are thus mostly to be understood as purely therapeutic applications. As a rule, they are recommended by the attending physician in connection with various diseases and the individual symptoms of a patient. The suggested applications are not usually changed by balneologists. In the case of a spa treatment, the applications may be planned by balneologists who determine the individual procedures in light of a patient’s present symptoms. As a rule, it is primarily the severity of symptoms that determines the treatment plan. In the broadest sense, then, balneologists do perform diagnostics in individual cases, as they assess the severity of symptoms in order to establish an appropriate treatment plan. Depending on the symptoms, this therapy plan may focus on preventive care, rehabilitation or the alleviation of specific illnesses or complaints. Many balneologists are themselves physicians of a particular specialty and are therefore able to assess specific symptomatology. The most important diagnostic tool of the balneologist is the anamnesis. In direct dialogue with the patient, the balneologist finds out what complaints are present. In order to assess contraindications to certain treatments, he or she usually examines the patient extensively after taking the medical history. In most cases, balneological examinations are detailed medical examinations, which primarily include a functional analysis of the musculoskeletal system. During the examination, the balneologist uses modern diagnostic tools such as X-ray, sonography or Doppler sonography, isokinetic muscle testing and ECG. Especially the result of isokinetic muscle testing is relevant in planning therapeutic applications.
