SPAS AND WELLNESS: THE GOLD OF THE ISLAND OF ISCHIA

The precious treasure of Ischia is undoubtedly the thermal water. Legend has it that the mythical giant Typhoeus was chained to the island under the command of Zeus. His pain touched Venus, who, out of pure grace, transformed the hot tears of the giant into salutary sources of water. On a surface of about 46.3 km ² Ischia has more than a hundred thermal water sources, with only a few sources of drinking water. Those springs, which rise over 400 m sea level, are mostly drinkable and cool. From 400m to 100m they are semi-mineral and only slightly “thermal”. Sources from 100 m to sea level but have thermal value and are rich in minerals.
Through the ravines and cracks, which arise again and again by barely perceptible earth movements of bradisism in the green tuff, the rainwater flows into the earth, especially during the winter time, absorbs the minerals contained in the tufa and warms due to the high temperatures of the underlying Magmas, by creating our high quality thermal water. The thermal bath is probably the oldest spa treatment. The treatment consists of partial or total immersion in the 37-39 warm water for 15-20 minutes. Thereafter, the patient is dried and rests wrapped in blankets for about 20-30 minutes (reaction time). A complete therapy consists of a daily bath for 12, 15 or 21 days.
Among other applications, the thermal water of Ischia is used for skin diseases, rheumatism, gynecological problems, circulatory disorders, etc. in use. Most of the island’s hotels have both open and covered thermal pools. It is especially recommended that guests gradually increase the bath time to a maximum of 15 minutes, which can be repeated several times after a bath break. In the thermal pools you should rest and consciously enjoy the bath time and remember that this is a spa. It is up to the bather to decide for themselves how long you can stay in the pool, especially to avoid getting very tired from too long a bath time.
Here are some of the most famous sources of drinking water: the Bucheto spring rises at an altitude of about 450 m and supplies fountains of Fiaiano and Ischia.
The Olmitello spring in Barano gushes in a valley near Maronti beach. Its water promotes digestion as well as kidney and liver function. The most famous was always the source of Nitrodi in Barano d’Ischia.
The thermal springs are more than a hundred, and almost every hotel has its own vein. The thermal water contains iron, bromine, chlorine, iodine and other important active substances thus also the radioactive noble gas radon. In addition to the thermal pools in the open air, the hotels mostly offer thermal baths, hydromassage, Kneipp baths, etc. to the spa guest. However, special attention is paid to fango applications.
Ischia is home to fango, which is a “hyperthermal” mass of volcanic mud that matures for at least six months in special pools with a constant flow of thermal water, thereby absorbing a high concentration of minerals.
During treatment, the patient is wholly or partially coated with the warm Fango and rests wrapped in blankets. After washing off the mud, a bath or shower with thermal water follows. The subsequent reaction time is characterized by heavy sweating. A complete cure consists of 12, 15 or 21 fango packs, one treatment daily on an empty stomach. The effect of these applications should not be underestimated. Mud and thermal baths should never be used for heart or blood pressure problems, acute illnesses such as tuberculosis, inflammation, malignant tumors, chemotherapy, etc., and in no case during pregnancy or in small children. Before the start of a mud cure, therefore, an examination by the spa doctor is always obligatory, who must confirm that the spa guest may be subjected to such a cure. The doctor is also responsible for the well-being of the patients during the treatment.
In addition, inhalations are offered, allowing direct treatment of the respiratory tract. This type of treatment is used in all forms of chronic respiratory inflammation (except tuberculosis). An inhalation cycle usually consists of 18-20 treatments. The treatment can be repeated several times during a year, which has proven to be very effective in the prevention and rehabilitation of patients. The aerosol therapy is similar to the inhalation treatment. In this case, the mineral water is transformed into a very fine mist that comes into direct contact with the lower respiratory tract. Last but not least, the thermal water is used in the gynecological area, mostly in vaginal irrigation, where the thermal water is used at 37 ° to 38 ° C. The therapy usually requires 12-15 applications of about 7-15 minutes each.
The treatments are available on request in the countless spas, spa departments, beauty farms and wellness centers of the island through massages, physiotherapy and more. Kneipp baths, but also “new” treatments such as Ayurveda massages and Thalasso therapy contribute to the further living conditions of the spa guests.