Brine baths — what does it help and is it really worth it? We explain effects of mineral health baths

Glam Style
6 min readJun 5, 2022

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Brine baths — you have probably heard about their healing properties more than once. Have you prepared it yourself at home by adding salt to the bath? But did you do it in a fully conscious way? Salt baths have many advantages, but… they are not for everyone.

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Brine baths: who should and who can not use them? How do such baths affect the human body, and also how to properly prepare for such a procedure? We provide answers to these questions and many more.

Taking care of your health in many different ways has been a very popular trend in recent years, and one that we’re excited about. Not only in the context of healthy meals or physical activity (although these areas are particularly promoted). Apart from these aspects and reaching for e.g. supplements, more and more people are also interested in medical treatments. The awareness of the human body among the society has increased significantly, and additionally today it is much easier to find information on various treatments that positively influence the human body.
An example of this can be walruses, which have recently gained a lot of popularity. A lot of people, sometimes whole families, go walrushing once a week, knowing what a beneficial effect it has on their health and well-being. Swimming pools, thermal waters, therapeutic waters, and other water-related activities are extremely relaxing and often improve our health.

Today we are going to introduce the topic of salt water baths, which have been well known for a long time, but (not without reason) their popularity is constantly growing — especially recently. Apart from special places, which offer such baths, you can also use them in… at home. Ready for a relaxing evening with a book and candles?

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Brine bath: what is it?

A brine bath is one of the methods of physical medicine, or more specifically, the field of balneology, which uses natural healing resources to treat people. These include, among others:

  • water,
  • peloids,
  • therapeutic gases,
  • climatic values.

Salt water baths are the use of the healing properties of mineral waters to improve overall health. In simplest terms, they consist in immersion and staying in mineral water, which in its composition may have such elements as:

  • magnesium,
  • calcium,
  • potassium,
  • sodium chloride,
  • iodine,
  • bromine,
  • sulfur.

Of course, they are not all present at the same time. How does the whole process look like? Well, a bath with a given element (or several) is selected, depending on the needs of the person concerned. It is worth knowing that when it comes to their quantity in the pool or bath — it is not arbitrary. The dose should not exceed 15 grams per liter of water.
Mineral water services may be used in such places as e.g. thermal baths. This possibility is also offered by various spas, sanatoriums and other institutions.

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Brine bath: properties

The advantages of salt baths are really many. This treatment can significantly affect the state of health, improve the work of the whole body and help in the fight against a number of diseases. Despite the many positive properties, however, they should not be treated as a mainstream of health prevention, but only as a support of treatment or assistance in maintaining good health. So what exactly do we owe them?

  • Salt baths reduce muscle tension and have a very positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system.
  • Chloride and sodium ions lead to a decrease in nervous excitability, which affects the autonomic nervous system.
  • Such baths also have a positive effect on the work of internal organs. Thanks to this, e.g. pain complaints are reduced.
  • The properties of such baths cause acceleration of metabolism through relaxation of intestines, which also results in improvement of appetite.
  • Another advantage of the treatment is normalization of blood pressure and adequate oxygenation of tissues.
  • Additionally, the immunity of the body and functioning of the peripheral circulation are significantly improved.
  • The brine is also good for the respiratory system.
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Brine bath: for which diseases is it worth it?

Salt water baths will therefore have a positive effect on most people. There are cases for which it is particularly recommended to take advantage of such benefits of nature. These include, for example, people with spinal diseases, suffering from psoriasis, infertility, asthma, obesity, chronic inflammation of the reproductive tract, paraparesis and hemiparesis. These are the people who will benefit from a salt bath far more than others.

Specific conditions for which this ritual has a large, positive effect include:

  • obesity and overweight,
  • degenerative diseases,
  • multiple sclerosis,
  • neurological conditions,
  • pain syndromes,
  • gynecological diseases,
  • hypertension,
  • asthma and allergies,
  • respiratory diseases,
  • insomnia.

Brine bath: contraindications

How huge and invaluable impact on our body has a brine — this we already know. Unfortunately, not everyone can enjoy the properties of salt water baths. As with most health treatments, there are usually also some contraindications to them. Also in this case it is not different. Here is a list of cases in which you must not use salt baths:

  • pregnancy,
  • tuberculosis,
  • hyperthyroidism,
  • inflammatory conditions,
  • fever,
  • cancer,
  • ovarian failure,
  • recent heart attacks,
  • certain mental illnesses,
  • cardiovascular diseases.

In the case of other chronic diseases, it is always advisable to consult your doctor prophylactically before taking a salt bath. Exactly the same as when you introduce such baths with high intensity into your schedule. Your health and the knowledge of the professionals are the elements that should be put first.

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Salt baths at home: how to do?

As we mentioned earlier, there are many places where you can use such facilities. People are increasingly willing to explore the knowledge of treatments and perform them, if possible… at home. So how to reap the benefits of salt baths, without leaving our cozy corner? It is trivially easy and even children can use it (however, they must be at least five months old). To prepare a salt bath at home, you need to dissolve from 15 to 40 grams of sodium chloride (a portion for one bath for an adult). The amount should not exceed 60 grams. This can be done with sea salt, which you can easily buy in any drugstore, pharmacy or local store. The longed-for moment of relaxation is available at your fingertips…

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