With over 10 spa towns spread around Slovakia, the country’s historical wellness waters have quite a reputation.
Visitors
come here not for their leisure only, but mainly for medical reasons.
The facilities provide different treatments both therapeutic and medical
professional depending on their agenda.
The medicinal springs have
been well known since the Middle Ages. The most famous of these towns is
Pieštany (pronounced pieshtany), located in the western region of the
country and about an hour and half drive from the capital, Bratislava.
It is the biggest spa town with some 40 hotels spread around the city.
Well-manicured
grounds, mountains, the Vah River and dense forestry surround the town
of Pieštany. Many thermal water facilities are spread throughout the
grounds to provide a quaint and relaxing atmosphere for its visitors.
They
come mainly from the EU and from Arab countries to enjoy the treatments
this town can provide, and many visit Pieštany regularly.
The hotel
staff members are trained practitioners of medical and physical
therapy. Each spa resort specializes in the treatment of different
medical conditions, or “indications.” Detailed brochures and pamphlets
are available online to choose an appropriate treatment.
Each hotel
has a typical European feel of simplicity to it. They are well equipped
to provide a relaxing atmosphere while their spa schedules are designed
to keep a visitor busy throughout the day.
At meal times an adequate diet is served, supervised by a dietician and recommended by the doctor at the hotel.
The
“medicine spa” and the “preventive, relaxation and rehabilitation” stay
are the most popular choices for visitors. The first aims to treat the
musculoskeletal system and rheumatoid arthritis, prevention of
osteoporosis, back pain problems, and cardiovascular diseases as well.
The
second type of treatment is mostly nonmedical and focuses more on
relaxation and ease of stress than anything else. There are anti-stress
massage sessions, slimming treatments using heat therapies, massages and
wraps targeted for patients that want to lose weight.
Many visitors
that choose this type of spa retreat are diabetic or have weight issues
that require a less invasive treatment than surgery.
Others hope to
treat their state of health after injuries caused by accidents,
disabilities after strokes, certain skin diseases and targeted muscle
rehabilitation due to a medical condition.
Each stay requires a specific duration to insure effectiveness. Most treatments are between two to four weeks.
For
over a century, Pieštany has developed proved methods to stimulate the
body to achieve rapid pain reduction and early healing to many problems
such as in the nervous system and post-injury conditions. The thermal
water naturally springs from 2,000-meter-deep tectonic disruptions. Its
temperature ranges from 67-69 °C at its source. The waters are mildly
mineral, sodium disulfide, hypotonic and calcific. The thermal water and
its natural mud are recognized for their healing effect on many
mobility disorders and other ailments. The water is directly pumped into
thermal baths or individual tubs (according to one’s preference) where
it’s used for treatments. The mud is either applied to the body in the
form of packs, or alternatively, build directly over the hot mud
springs.
The waters are rich in minerals and warmed by the heat of
the earth’s core to provide what is probably one of the most remarkable
natural remedies known. Residents of the town and many other spa towns
in Slovakia and Hungary visit the thermal baths on a weekly basis to
unwind from the stresses and strains of modern life. It has become a
habit for many and has become part of their tradition.
The usual
minimum stay at one of the spa hotels is about a week, packages are
provided according to the consultation of doctors at hand. Doctors at
the spa conduct weekly checkups on the patients and initially record the
progress of the treatments they suggested for sufficient results.
Treatment plans are adjusted and are safe to follow as part of the spa
services. Throughout the stay, doctors are always at hand to give
necessary advice and guidance to ensure that the patient gets the most
out of the facility.
At the end of each stay, the doctors conduct a
final consultation to ensure that the treatments prescribed have gone
according to plan. The doctors also give medical and lifestyle advice to
help continue the improvement of health once the patient has left.
Thermia
Palace Hotel located on Spa Island is one of the highest recommended.
It is a historic Art Nouveau hotel of more than a 100 years old that
accommodated many famous personalities. Together with the Irma Health
Spa nearby, the hotel provides the ideal conditions for visitors to
enjoy the accommodations throughout the year. The Balnea Esplanade
Palace is also located on Spa Island and is associated with the Balneo
rehabilitation center nearby where most of the curative treatments are
held. Many more hotel spas are located around the town and can easily be
found. All hotels provide many different international cuisines on the
grounds as well as cafes and shopping passages for visitors to stroll
along while enjoying the culture of Pieštany.
http://www.arabnews.com
.jpg)
