At present, in the area of Baile Herculane there are 16 known thermal mineral springs, located along the Cerna river on a length of almost 4 kilometers. One characteristic of mineral waters is that they contain high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide (up to 60 mg/l). The springs at Baile Herculane are comparable in value to those in the resorts of Vichy and Mont Dore in France.

Natural therapeutic factors can be used for both preventive and therapeutic purposes.

For prophylactic purposes can be practiced hydro gymnastics in sulfurous thermal water pools, to help healthy and apparently healthy people with predisposing factors for illness, or to prevent and correct:

- constitutional deficiencies in the locomotor system (scoliosis, kyphosis, hyperlaxity, capsulo-ligamentous instability);

- poor adaptation to thermal factors (cold hands and feet);

- activities in cold, damp, drafty conditions;

- sedentarism;

- vicious positions in the work process;

- activities with tools generating vibrations, shaking.

Climatotherapy can also be applied as a preventative measure, excellent in combating physical and/or intellectual overwork. 

In terms of treatments spa recovery, these are based on mineral waters from the area, which can be used in three ways: external cure, aerosol or internal cure.

Mineral waters thermal baths (38- 60ºC) are used in external cures in the form of hydrobaths in pools or baths in specially designed tubs. They are found:

- springs with sulphurous, chlorinated, sodic, calcareous mineral waters;

- springs with chlorinated, sodic, calcic mineral waters (Hygeea, Hercules springs);

- Springs with oligomineral sulphurous mineral waters.

External cure with thermal mineral waters is recommended in the treatment of the following conditions:

- degenerative rheumatism: arthrosis (coxarthrosis, gonarthrosis), spondylosis;

- inflammatory rheumatism: ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis;

- abarticular rheumatism (tendinitis, tenosynovitis, scapulohumeral periarthritis, myogelosis, fibromyalgia);

- post-traumatic diseases (sprains, dislocations);

- peripheral and central neurological diseases (pareses);

- associated diseases: gynecological (adnexitis), cardiovascular (mild hypertension); occupational diseases (silicosis), eye diseases;

- dermatologic conditions: eczema, pruritus, urticaria, soothing effect on irritated skin.

Contraindications: all decompensated, acute stages, skin infections, malignant tumors.

Mineral waters can be used as aerosols in:

- respiratory diseases: bronchial asthma, apart from asthma attacks;

- O.R.L. diseases: chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinosinusitis outside of the pustules.

Last but not least, mineral waters can be used as an internal (drinking) cure, crenotherapyin gastrointestinal disorders (chronic gastritis), diabetes mellitus or dyslipidemia.

Springs suitable for internal cure are:

- DIANA III spring: natural mineral water, sulphurous, chlorinated, sodic, calcareous, hypotonic;

- NEPTUN III (eye) spring: natural mineral water, sulphurous, chlorinated, calcareous, sodic, hyperthermal, hypotonic.

Besides therapies with natural healing factors specific to the resort, patients also benefit from other spa treatments:

- thermotherapy (paraffin) procedures;

- electrotherapy procedures;

– massage;

– physiotherapy individual;

- hydrokinetotherapy, sauna.

AUTHOR: Dr. Gabriela Dogaru

Primary Rehabilitation Physician

Doctor of Medical Sciences

Vice-President "Romanian Association of Balneology"

Clinical Hospital of Recovery Cluj-Napoca

U.M.F. "Iuliu Hatieganu" Cluj-Napoca

The article was published in SPA&Wellness Magazine November 2016 edition.