Piešťany Spa owes its reputation mainly to its unique natural springs of thermal mineral water, which rises from a depth of over 2,000 metres. These springs bring to our waters many specific chemical compounds and energy from the earths depths.
This water is the main factor in the formation of our incomparable healing curative sulphur mud. It is a uniquely peculiar peloid which is the result of long-term reactions of thermal water with local soft rocks and specific bacterial micro flora.
Thermal mineral water
The unique thermal water rises from ten springs through tectonic breaks at a depth of approximately 2,000 metres. It contains 1,500 mg of mineral elements per litre of water, and is trapped at a depth of 60 m, which guarantees a constant chemical composition and temperature. The water temperature of the 10 springs at the outlet is from 67 to 69°C, and it is used for baths and drinking cures.
The most important component for the treatment of diseases of the locomotor apparatus is the high content of sulphur (from 6 to 10 mg per litre), which occurs in the water in various forms and chemical compounds (sulphates, sulphites, sulphides). Even the high content of hydrogen sulphide is important – 4,7 mg per litre on average. The most important component in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system is the high content of sulphur in the healing water (between 6 and 10 mg / l); the sulphur takes on many forms and comes in various chemical substances (sulphates, sulphites, and sulphides). The high content of hydrogen sulphide - 4.7 mg per litre of water on average - is also an important factor. The thermal mineral water has mechanical effects and causes hydrostatic pressure and lifting force, thus making movement easier thanks to diminished effects of gravity; at the same time it improves circulation of blood and lymph. Water pressure functions as a bandage and makes exercising and movement in water easier. One of the important physical effects of thermal mineral water is the hyperthermic reaction of the body. The nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine and immunity systems are involved in this reaction. Apart from physical effects, chemical effects of the sulphuric water is important as well – during and after a bath (since sulphur creates deposits in human skin), sulphuric substances penetrate through skin into tissues deeper in the body, especially in the form of chondroitin sulphate, and suppress the activity of hyaluronidase, which heightens the concentration of hyaluronic acid in serum. Sulphur also provides pronounced keratolytic, keratoplastic, vasodilating and antiseptic effects which are used to significant effect in the treatment of a select group of skin disorders.
Sulphur mud
Spa Piešťany's sulphur mud is a unique peloid. Its base is a homogenised sediment precipitating in the river Váh by-pass branch on the site of the current hot springs of the sulphuric thermal mineral water.
It is prepared for balneological application using original technology which causes it to mature and regenerate and is accompanied by a multitude of chemical and biological reactions. The mature mud has a butter-like consistency, it is greasy, malleable, with good heat conducting features and it cools down four times slower than water, compared to which the former has 350 x higher viscosity. Mud packs of Piešťany mud have positive effects on cartilage nutrition, mineral changes in bones, synovia, articular capsules, muscles, and tendons. Its effects on intervertebral discs are also notable; the substance of the intervertebral disc is renewed and its hydration improves significantly. Another noteworthy effect is the suppression of the activity of leukocyte elastase which is involved in the destruction of joint structures during inflammatory joint disorders.
