| Balneotherapy | |
|---|---|
 Roman Baths in Bath Spa, England July 2006 | |
| MeSH | D001452 |
| This article is part of a series on |
| Alternative medicine |
|---|
 |
Balneotherapy (Latin: balneum "bath") is a method of treating diseases by bathing, a traditional medicine technique usually practiced at spas.[1] Since ancient times, humans have used hot springs, public baths and thermal medicine for therapeutic effects.[2] While it is considered distinct from hydrotherapy,[3] there are some overlaps in practice and in underlying principles. Balneotherapy may involve hot or cold water, massage through moving water, relaxation, or stimulation. Many mineral waters at spas are rich in particular minerals such as silica, sulfur, selenium, and radium. Medicinal clays are also widely used, a practice known as 'fangotherapy'.
- ^ Angus Stevenson, ed. (2007). "Definition of balneo therapy". Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. Vol. 1: A-M (6th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 180. ISBN 978-0-19-920687-2.
- ^ Melillo, L. (1995). "Thermalism in the ancient world". Med Secoli. 7 (3): 461–483. PMID 11623481. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ Chisholm 1911.