Geothermal and Sea Spas For Healing

I have to admit that I was completely unaware of and pretty skeptical the first time I even heard about thermal cures, either balneotherapy or thalassotherapy.  Of course I was a mere 20 year old American student who had just set foot on French soil to pursue studies, that ended up more around love, romance and gastronomy than purely academic.

Anyhow, I had grown up indoctrinated by American western medicine, that would have probably considered anything such as that hogwash.  Big pharmaceuticals were in power, and as you well know now, predominate the mainstream of modern medicine.

It was in France that I not only learned about  thermal cures, but also about homeopathic medicines.  European treatment protocols were more holistic, and besides medication, thermal cures were seen as a complimentary approach of healing.

My French boyfriend had told me about his annual  summer cures in Auvergne and members of his family literally swore by them.  Even more unbelievable to me, was that they were for the most part reimbursed by the French national healthcare!

Well, today I am glad to report that thermal cures are still very much around and still well supported by the French populace.  Sunday, I attended a salon called the The Thermalies at the Carrousel du Louvre, where  thermal cure stations, as well as pleasure and beauty spas in France and elsewhere were there promoting their splendid thermal treatments.

Medicalised treatments spas can be found all over Europe, using waters from hot springs, called thermae meaning hot and balneae, meaning baths in Greek.   Those based along sea coasts are called thalasso therapy, with thalasso meaning sea in Greek.

First a brief history of thermalism.  Herodotus, the Greek historian reported the benefits of thermal spring cures dating back to 500 BC that he felt must last at least 21 days, which by the way still remains the norm here in France.

Hippocrates the father of medicine, from the Greek island of Kos also mentioned healing mineral waters from springs and the sea.  He wrote papers on the healing properties of a “water cure” and was the first to document curative minerals in various waters.

Plato  also announced “The sea cures all ailments of man”  and Euripides said “The sea washes away all of man’s illnesses”.

Romans were enthusiastic thermal bathers, and most of their settlements sported at least one if not more large thermal baths, that were used not only for cleanliness but also for the roman society to center around them for socializing and entertaining.

Thermal spas, both inland and along the sea coasts remain very popular in European culture.  Today, France boasts 210 medical spas inland and on all of her three coastlines, ranging from medical cures to luxury ones for relaxation, anti age and beauty treatments.

Besides France,  Hungary is a thermal spa paradise.   The whole country is built on top of the Carpathian basin, where the earth’s crust is reportedly 10 kilometers  thinner than elsewhere. There is an old Hungarian saying that if you dig a hole just about anywhere in Hungary, you are likely to strike upon a hot water spring.

Not surprising that the city of Budapest,  was given the name Aquincum, because of the preponderance of thermal springs noted and valued  even back then.  Budapest alone still has a multitude of spas, some ancient ones dating back to 1500’s, where aqua therapy is considered a complimentary part of medical practice.

In France, the French health care system will reimburse up to 65% of treatments in medicalised spas for stays of three weeks, and the mutuals or additional insurance that most French have, will pick up the rest.  That does not though include lodging nor meals. The spas also offer short stay weekend treatments, or 3 to 6 days, however these are not reimbursed.

Costs are around 1,500 euros and up, depending on the facilities, the location, and of course the reputation. Mostly are for adults, but I saw one specifically for adolescents and children.

The French health care recognises twelve medical conditions that are in part reimbursed for thermal treatments.  Rheumatological, Respiratory, including nasal and sinus problems, Cardiological,   diseases of the veins and lymph, Neurological ,Psychiatric, Gynecological, Urinary diseases, Gastrointestinal, and Metabolic diseases such as diabetes and  obesity, Dermatological, Bucco dental, and adolescent and child development.

From 2013 statistics, 65% of curists (those who go to cures), are women, versus 35% men.  The majority are between 60 and 74 years of age. From my own ball park observation of the attendees yesterday, I would guess approximately the same.

Five thermal spas in France are  specific for psychological/psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety and mild depression.  Two are the Pyrenees, one in Auvergne, one north of Bordeaux,  and the other near Lac Leman/Swiss border.

Of course the big question is whether these spas are effective?  In 2009, a study was published in the French Annals of Rheumatology noting that 462 patients followed with an arthritic knee reported less pain and more mobility even 9 months after a three week cure.

Likewise, a rheumatologist at Aix les Bains, reported that in general arthritic patients are noted to use 20 to 30% less analgesics after a cure.

A much larger study of 6011 arthritic patients in Italy demonstrated that 59% of them who had a one cure  for two consecutive years, reported needing less pain medications and had fewer appointments with their physician.

In 2008, there was an interesting  study comparing the effectiveness of cures against the antidepressant with anxiolytic properties Paxil,  Patients diagnosed with GAD, generalised anxiety disorder were divided into groups that participated in a three week cure versus those who took Paxil.

Results were that the thermal cure proved to be more effective for two months afterwards than those on Paxil.  I would question though, if the same effectiveness lasted longer than two months, and how it would stand up to medication along with psychotherapy.

Many years ago , before the advent of anti anxiety medications, warm baths were used to calm and comfort patients in psychiatric hospitals, such as I reported in another post on Saint Anne psychiatric hospital in Paris.

I asked two thermal spas that treat anxiety and depressive disorders about what would constitute a daily regime. Both indicated that mornings were given to thermal water immersion of various sorts and that afternoons, the curists all participated in multiple relaxation, or anti stress groups.

From a psychotherapeutic perspective, I feel that all of these spas offer several benefits, which are conducive to healing, even those spas who treat non psychiatric illnesses.

First and foremost is a change of scenery to a very pleasing environment, which we all need.  Often these spas are located in stunningly beautiful geographic areas, be it the mountains, lakes, or seacoast.

Receiving three weeks of personalised attention is very therapeutic, especially for those who only get to see an occasional doctor. Being listened to is extremely therapeutic due to the need for individual contact and fosters a sense of being cared for, which can be severely lacking is plain medical settings.

Meeting other curists, who suffer from the same malady, helps in not feeling all alone with your illness or affliction. It also allows you to draw inspiration, strength and treatment ideas learned from other patients.

The social aspect too is healing in being with and socialising with other patients for three weeks, especially for those whose illness limits them getting out of their house.  Social isolation is a deterrent to healing and can make any illness feel worse.

Increased physical movement, walking, various muscular exercises for those who illness limits physical activity is utmost beneficial.  All sorts of exercise and walking offers a distraction and is excellent in  alleviating the stress of dealing with any illness.

Intense relaxation through bubbling thermal baths, aromatherapy and in and out of water massage on a regular basis is so healing.    This allows also for a skeletal release of physical and emotional toxins and is psychological smoothing for those who lack physical touch from others.

Water is probably one of the most obtainable therapeutic agents to treat a variety of ailments.  Hydration, irrigation and bathing in these healing waters all go to contribute to a holistic approach.

Many spas use muds, clays and algae to treat various  skeletal muscular illness, circulatory and dermatological diseases.  The Adour river  that empties into the Atlantic ocean provides one of the most famous in France.  Gathered from the algae rich banks, it is processed to be free of pathogens and is applied daily to afflicted areas as a curative agent.

Each mineral spring has a different composition of various essential minerals and oligo elements that can be useful  in treating  specific illness.   Drinking these mineral waters are usually a part of the daily regime, as well as bathing in them and for some ailments irrigations.

For example at Neris les Bains, which treats depression in Auvergne, the mineral springs have a higher amount of lithium, which is the oldest and most used treatment of bipolar illness.  The hot springs in Vichy are high in bicarbonates of sodium, beneficial to digestive problems.

Ax les Thermes thermal spa high in the Pyrenees offers waters from the springs, that comes from over 4000 meters deep in aquifers over 8,000 years old that constantly bubble out at 770C(158F).  You can be sure they are quite pure and strongly mineralized after flowing eons through very ancient depths of the earth.

Since the earth has always been symbolic of the feminine aspect of all of nature, hers waters be it from deep springs or oceans, which are constantly subjected to the gravitational pull of the moon are both full of regenerative powers to give rebirth and renewal.

Hard to imagine that Evian mineral water comes from a geological strata over 35,000 years ago! No wonder it tastes so pure!  Their spa is located on the French side of lac Leman.

It was the French biologist René Quinton, considered the father of thermalism in France, that noted in 1897  the composition of seawater is quite like our plasma that flows in our veins.  He used seawater injections as treatments. Another reminder that we are a part of the universal whole, physically and psychically.

Immersed in warm waters  or bathing in salty oceans  brings us back to our source and our physical beginning in the womb of our mothers.  The bubbling sounds of springs and the regular crashing of ocean waves resemble the rhythmic heartbeats of mother and the swooshing sounds of blood flowing in our umbilical cord.

It is comforting being surrounded by warm waters, a lost remembrance of being gently rocked around in our own amniotic sac for nine months before birth.  We may not have conscious memories of such, but our unconscious never forgets.

I think that all of above are the many reasons for the healing nature of thermal waters and the sea.  I have never been for a medical cure, but have enjoyed immensely thermal spas in France and Hungary, such as the Széchenyi in Budapest, seen in the photo.

I especially love the bubbling thermal pools  outdoors in the cold and snow, that cause a thick curtain of steam to rise above my head.  The relaxation is so much,  that I feel transported to another time and space.

Water is the essential element of all life and immersion in it has been a part of  sacramental religious and spiritual practices for many ages. I feel we will always find ourselves drawn to it to reconnect and remember from whence we came.