The ideal place to have a thermal cure is at the health spa. These installations are situated at the foot of springs in order to take advantage of the properties of the mineral-medicinal water which flows by.

This which is now so fashionable, was well-known to the Greeks who were the genuine inventors of hydrotherapy and climatotherapy. For their part, the Roman thermal baths had the capacity to offer baths and massages to 2,000 people per day. And the aristocrats and� bourgeoisie of the 19th century used to spend their holidays in Evian, Baden-Baden, Panticosa, La Toja or Vichy.

Currently, they are health centres and places to go to in search of relaxation and rest which are affordable to nearly pockets.

Water which treats all
The treatment carried out with the mineral-medicinal water is known by the name of thermal cure and is a combination of cremotherapeutic, hydrotherapeutic and complementary�techniques�which are carried out at a rhythm, intensity, duration and frequency which are established by the doctor beforehand and are accompanied by a healthy diet and an exercise programme.

• The bath: it hydrates, relaxes and allows the performance of the water's�main active agents. It is used in slimming, circulatory, and relaxation�treatments. It is also an excellent preparation prior�to massages.
• The hydromassage: in this case, the mechanical effects of the water in motion and the air in the water are added to the effects of the bath. It is a very complete and effective option.
• Pressure jets: one of the most requested varieties. The method involves letting them bombard your body, both partially or completely, with a pressurized jet of water. The key to the method is finding the adequate pressure, water temperature and exposure time. Amongst some of its benefits are: muscular relaxation and toning; as well as of the blood system, its slimming properties and its peeling effect.
• Steam baths: these shouldn't be confused with saunas. o se deben confundir con la sauna. In the latter, dry heat at a very high temperature of between 80 and 90�C is used, whereas in the steam baths the water temperature does not exceed 50�C. Therefore, it has less side effects, it allows the user to sweat a lot, toxins are released, the lungs are cleaned and absolute relaxation is attained.
• Massage: In 90% of cases, treatments using water normally end with a massage. The In-shower Massage stands out, which consists of the application of a scheme of muscular and osteoarticular pressure and stretching whilst having a hot shower and the salt massage, based on superficial friction with sea salt and different mineral and vegetable oils.

With these techniques, rheumatism, the respiratory sytem, circulation, kidneys and urinary tracts, the digestive tract, skin, the nervous sytem are treated. Also, one can lose weight, rejuvenate and get your body in shape.

In order that a health spa can be considered as such, it has to meet a series of requisites: have mineral-medicinal waters which have been declared as being of public use, a medical service and adequate installations froma technical-sanitary point of voew in order to carry out medical treatments which are advertised. Make sure of this by calling the "Asociaci�n Nacional de Estaciones Termales" (National Association of Thermal Resorts) on the Telephone number 915 49 03 00.

Here we provide you with the telephone number of some health spas where you are sure to have a great time:

• Hotel Balneario de Li�rganes (Cantabria). Tel. 942 528 011
• Hotel-Balneario Vichy Catal�n (Gerona). Tel. 972 47 00 00
• Balneario Termes La Garriga (Barcelona). Tel. 938 717 086
• Gran Hotel La Toja (Pontevedra). Tel. 986 730 025