Spa cures and balneotherapy: what it is and how clinics abroad price it

Balneotherapy is treatment with bathing in mineral or thermal water, often combined with mud packs and other spa procedures. In several countries it is sold as a "spa cure": a stay of a set number of days at a medical spa, with a physician who prescribes the treatments. This page covers only medical spa cures, meaning a named physician at a licensed facility; hotel wellness and day spas are not compared.

What does it involve?

• Medical consultation — a spa physician reviews your history and writes a treatment plan for the stay.
• Mineral or thermal baths — bathing in natural mineral or thermal water, in pools or individual tubs.
• Mud and peloid treatments — packs or baths with natural mud.
• Drinking programs — set amounts of mineral water from a local spring, at some spas.
• Physical therapy — exercise in water, massage, heat or other physical treatments added to the plan.

The number of days and procedures depends on the spa's program. This page does not state typical durations.

How do clinics price it?

• Package of N days — the usual unit. One price covers a stated number of nights.

A package usually includes accommodation, some or all meals, the spa physician's consultations and a set number of procedures per day or per stay. Items that are often charged extra include:

• procedures beyond the number in the package;
• tests ordered by the spa physician;
• a single room, a better room category or a companion's stay;
• a local spa or tourist tax;
• transfers and travel.

Prices are only comparable within the same unit, for the same number of nights and a similar number of procedures. A package with one procedure a day is not the same product as one with three.

What should I ask the clinic before paying?

• How many procedures are included per day, and which ones?
• Who is the spa physician, and what is their qualification and license?
• Is the spa licensed as a medical facility? See how to check a doctor.
• What medical conditions or medicines would stop a procedure, and is that checked before you book?
• What happens if a procedure is cancelled on medical grounds? Is it replaced or refunded?
• Which meals are included, and are special diets possible?
• How long is the quoted price valid, in writing?

What this page does not tell you

This page reports what clinics publish about price and terms. It does not tell you whether a spa cure suits you or works for any condition; those decisions belong with your own doctor. On the evidence, a Cochrane review on balneotherapy for osteoarthritis found the evidence weak because of poor study quality, and advised caution in reading positive findings. A Cochrane review on balneotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis also found limited evidence. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health gives general questions to ask before starting any complementary health approach. For other medically supervised stays, see therapeutic fasting.