The health-promoting effect of medicinal water has been known for centuries. However, the fountain cure became really popular only in the 18th century, when the healing springs were also used to a greater extent for internal cleansing of the body. Today the user can carry out his drinking cure also at home. There are about 60 German medicinal springs at his disposal. If he strictly adheres to the instructions on the bottle label, he can expect an improvement in his state of health at the end of the fountain cure.
What is the fountain cure?
A fountain cure is a drinking cure with medicinal water, which is carried out to treat a disease or even preventively. A fountain cure is a drinking cure that is performed to treat a disease or also preventively. The recommended duration is four to six weeks, during which up to 1.5 liters of a certain still medicinal water are drunk daily. Those who like can also do a three-month cure. During the fountain cure, meals are consumed as usual and to the usual extent. It is better for health to drink the healing water in addition to the normal drinks throughout the day, even if this brings the patient’s fluid intake to more than 3 liters a day: the larger amount of water is more likely to activate the body’s natural self-healing powers. The fountain cure helps best if the patient does it 2 to 3 times a year. The composition of healing waters differs depending on the layers of rock they have passed through on their way through the depths of the earth. Most often they contain calcium, magnesium, hydrogen carbonate, sulfate and fluoride. Users who have never taken a drinking cure and do not yet know which healing water is suitable for the treatment of their ailment should look in the healing water directory. There they will find all of Germany’s bottled healing waters with detailed information about all of the ingredients.
Function, effect and goals
With a well cure, mainly the classic diseases metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal diseases and diseases of the draining urinary tract are treated. These include gallbladder dysfunction, intestinal sluggishness and constipation, gastric hyperacidity and hypoacidity, urinary tract infections, urinary stones, kidney disease and impaired bladder function. A drinking cure also helps to balance a mineral deficiency present in the body and regulate the water-electrolyte and acid-base balance. Medicinal water purifies the body and thus frees it from dangerous toxins that the patient has taken in through the consumption of food and medication. Metabolic waste products are also flushed out of the cells and intercellular spaces, leaving enough space for the absorption of new nutrients. Elevated blood pressure is down-regulated. With the help of a fountain cure, the performance of the brain is increased. In addition, the patient can enjoy cleaner and firmer facial skin. Hydrogen carbonate containing medicinal waters are used to support the treatment of diabetes mellitus, for urinary stone prevention and against gastric hyperacidity. They also help with chronic gastritis by reducing stomach acidity and healing the inflammation. They also positively influence lipid metabolism disorders and urinary tract infections. The longed-for treatment success occurs when the patient consumes a healing water with at least 1,300 mg/l of hydrogen carbonate. Springs with a sulfate content of at least 1,200 mg/l have a positive effect on disturbed fat metabolism, on bile, intestinal and pancreatic disorders, irritable bowel syndrome and intestinal sluggishness. Caries preventive are medicinal waters with a fluoride content of more than 1 mg per liter of water. A drinking cure with a medicinal water with a high iron content eliminates iron deficiency and has a positive effect on blood pressure, vascular diseases (vein weakness), rheumatism and nervous diseases. Mineral springs containing more than 250 mg/l of calcium compensate for calcium deficiency and thus have a preventive effect against osteoporosis. Well cures with medicinal waters containing at least 100 mg/l magnesium promote digestion and relieve migraines, normal headaches and muscle cramps after exercise. They also help alleviate urinary tract infections. Patients who want to achieve the best healing results with their fountain cure drink their spring water chilled and consume a higher than suggested amount. In addition, they do not take it in small sips, as is actually customary for healing water applications, but drink it briskly.
Risks, side effects and dangers
The fountain cure is well tolerated by most users. However, there may be problems if the patient does not consume the healing water that is suitable for his or her condition. In addition, side effects occur with extremely large amounts of water: Depending on the composition, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and flatulence occur. Exacerbation of existing diseases is also possible. Patients with severe heart disease (cardiac insufficiency) and kidney dysfunction (impaired renal function) should generally not take drinking cures, as the intake of large quantities of liquid is detrimental to their health. The same applies to patients with hypertension and glaucoma. It is also advisable to observe the contraindications printed on the bottle label. Side effects do not occur if the patient follows the instructions on the bottle label and the recommendations of the doctor. Medicinal water at room temperature is better for the stomach and intestines than cooler water. Immediately after getting up and then once an hour, he drinks a glass (0.3 l) of water in small sips. In this way, the health-promoting ingredients are best processed by the body. After 2 p.m. until bedtime, the amount consumed is ideally less. By 2 p.m., the patient should have consumed two-thirds of the amount of water consumed that day. If he suffers from digestive disorders, it is recommended to drink the medicinal water shortly before meals.
