Are hot springs good for you?

Stripping bare and bathing in warm, mineral-rich water is a practice dating back thousands of years. The supposed healing powers of hot springs bring people together to relax and restore.

A regular soak is still common in many parts of the world. For some people, it’s considered more than just a cultural practice, it’s part of staying healthy and happy.

In France, you can even get a doctor’s prescription for a thermal ‘cure’ for everything from arthritis and gum disease to depression.¹

There’s no denying that a trip to a hot spring is incredibly relaxing. But can it really improve your health and wellbeing?

While not backed by rock-solid science, the healing powers of hot springs may help with things like:

• arthritis pain
• sleep
• digestion
• muscle and bone health
• circulation
• cell oxygenation
• hormone balance.²

As you may know, a long hot soak in the bath can help you unwind. Some studies suggest that hot springs take that to another level, with the heat and water blocking your body’s pain receptors and helping your muscles and joints relax.²

Other research suggests that hot springs can help lower blood pressure and improve vascular health,³ burn calories⁴ and improve skin conditions.⁵

Thermal springs are also considered an effective complementary therapy for a range of health conditions, including those related to the:

• heart
• lungs
• brain
• gastrointestinal tract.⁶

At the end of the day, the simple act of relaxing in a hot spring may be where the magic lies.⁷ Because, anything you can do to relieve stress and bring yourself back into the moment can have a positive flow-on effect on your mental and physical health.

According to some balneotherapists (aka ‘bath’ therapists), the minerals inside hot springs are absorbed by the skin when the steamy water opens your pores. However, others argue that as your skin is designed to be a protective barrier, it’s unlikely that the minerals will get through.⁸

Numerous minerals can be found in a hot spring, each with its own smell, colour and potential healing qualities.

For instance, that rotten egg smell you sometimes find at a hot spring is sulphur. It’s thought that sulphur can help things like skin irritation, breathing disorders, heart conditions and inflammation.⁹

Hot springs also commonly include:

• iron
• zinc
• calcium
• magnesium
• chloride
• potassium.

Some hot springs offer a smorgasbord of mineral concoctions designed to energise, detox, improve skin, boost mood, ease muscle pain and much more.

A trip to a hot spring is a personal experience that may improve your health and wellbeing. However, as many of the benefits are still debatable, it’s important to not rely on hot strings in place of any medical treatment.

Likewise, if you have a medical condition, it’s important to check with your doctor before visiting a hot spring. You may need to avoid thermal pools if you:

• are pregnant
• have heart disease
• have any open cuts or sores.

Regardless of the benefits, taking time out to relax in a hot spring is a generally safe and rewarding experience, and might be just what the doctor ordered.

Remember to always dip your toe into the water before entering to test the temperature, and always drink plenty of water during your soak (just not from the hot spring itself).