Balneotherapy is the use of bathing to treat disease. This treatment is ancient, and has been used by humans for thousands of years. There are several variations, and the most popular form of this therapy is warm mineral baths. But, how effective is this treatment for Fibromyalgia? Here is a look at the research on Balneotherapy as a treatment for fibro.

History

The treatment of ailments with bathing in hot springs or mineral baths has been popular for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks and Romans used this therapy, and they had whole cities dedicated to the therapeutic use of bathing. The popularity of this therapy fell with the roman empire, but it regained attention in the Victorian era. This treatment has remained popular in Japan, parts of Europe, and the Middle East, and those are the places that have started the trend of research of Balneotherapy for the treatment of various ailments, including Fibromyalgia.

Balneotherapy Vs. Hydrotherapy

Balneotherapy is distinctly different that hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is similar to physical therapy in water that utilizes the buoyancy and resistance that the water provides to help increase range of motion and strength. Balneotherapy has a higher focus on the temperature and mineral content of the water for the analgesic and relaxation effects of the bath. Common minerals that are added to the water in this therapy are salt, sulfur, and magnesium, to soothe and help with relaxation, but traditionally it uses natural sources of hot mineral water for the treatment.  

Research

Several studies have been conducted over the past twenty years on the effectiveness of Balneotherapy for the treatment of fibromyalgia. The studies have shown very positive results. The research has focused on a treatment regimen of repeated bathing within a short period of time (i.e. weeks), and used several criteria for judging the effectiveness of the treatment. The results of almost every study show that this therapy helps to improve pain, tender points, quality of life, depression and anxiety at the time of the treatment and for months afterwards. The studies all state that balneotherapy is an effective addition to any treatment regimen for Fibro for increased quality of life and reduced pain, tenderness, anxiety, and depression.

Conclusions

Balneotherapy is a great tool to help in the fight against Fibromyalgia. In Combination with other treatments, this therapy can improve the quality of life for many fibro sufferers. The great thing about this therapy is that almost everyone has access to water and a tub. With the purchase of a few ingredients, almost anyone can create their own therapeutic bath right in there own home. Additionally, there are several spas that offer mineral baths or hot springs, and with a little research, you can find a place to have a relaxing soak in your town. We hope that this treatment will bring relief to some of our followers. Have you tried Balneotherapy? We appreciate your feedback. What were your results. Let us know in the comments.