SPA and Balneology
The Latin phrase “Sanus per aqua”, who’s ancient meaning is “health through water” has acquired the meaning of „mineral spring”. In times of busy schedules, stress, tiredness and lack of free time, more often each of us wonders what the real pleasures of life are. For example- the Jacuzzi, bath with milk and honey, the massage with honey and chocolate, hot stone therapy, soothes music, a candle flame, the favorite essential oil, the smell of wood sauna, flowers on the body and others. All these pleasures and spa treatments are the newest method against stress, connection with the nature and maintaining a healthy lifestyle of contemporary, modern man.
Steam bath, for example, also known as Turkish bath (hamam) takes us into the world of Orient. It is believed that the relaxing and healing properties of steam were used in the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans. From these starts the concept “Roman bath”. The steam bath is a warm and humid room temperature to 50 degrees and relative humidity of 100%. There are soft and relaxing effect and many healing properties for the skin and the respiratory tract. 
Other spa treatment with a similar effect of the steam bath is the sauna. It is also called Finnish sauna, because it springs up from Finland. In the past saunas represented the Finish underground houses, where they placed heated stones in the fireplace, threw water on them and that way they created an artificial hot steam that warm them during the cold Scandinavian nights. Today, the sauna is a room with wood paneling, usually lime, aspen, pine or cedar and it is heated to about 100 degrees. Heating the sauna is possible through electric wood stoves, where are stored special volcanic stones. After each steam bath or sauna is required the cooling, or so-called “cold shock therapy”. Today there are icy showers (the Scottish contrast showers), buckets of ice water for quick watering. Cooling procedures supply of incredible body energy and prepare it for the next spa procedures. One of the biggest temptations in the modern spa centers is the massage. The skin becomes soft and supple, the circulation is improved and the energy systems in the body are balanced. They also act positive and calm to the nervous system. One of the most popular offered massages are with honey, chocolate, seaweed or essential oils, and also massage with bamboo, fruit and therapy with hot volcanic stones.
Bulgarian spa resorts are a combination of superb climate and wealth of mineral waters with different chemical composition, different mineralization, temperature, gases and microorganisms. Bulgaria is among the first in Europe in wealth and diversity of hydrothermal waters and bioclimatology.
The healing qualities of the Bulgarian mineral waters were known in ancient times. Around the mineral springs are built balneotherapy sanatoriums and entire villages: Hisar-Drevna Augusta, Kyustendil-Pautalia Akve Kalide (later Termopolis, today Burgas mineral baths), Sapareva bania-Germaneia, Slivenski bani-Tanzos, Sofia- Ulpia Serdika. The country has more than 225 deposits of mineral springs with a total capacity of 5000 l/s, with a predominance of deposits with temperature of 37 to 50 degrees. In Northern Bulgaria are more in common cold waters, and in Southern Bulgaria-warm and hot (hyper thermal) water. Hyper thermal mineral waters are mainly in the valley of Struma, Mesta, the northern foot of the Western Rhoropes. The hottest mineral spring in the country is in Sapareva Banya (101.4 degrees- overheated water). The country is known for its highly qualified staff, excellent accommodation possibilities and variety of programs and services, which include: massage, mineral water baths, pearl baths, reflex therapy, traditional acupuncture, remedial gymnastic, laser therapy, acupressure, paraffin treatment, apitherapy, phytotherapy, mud treatment, aromatherapy, anti-stress programs, diet programs and weight loss programs, balneo cosmetic, sauna, solarium, fitness, medical cosmetics etc. Today SPA and wellness tourism are one of the Bulgarian’s faces.
Albena- This is a seaside resort in northeastern Bulgaria, famous for its long sandy beach, fine golden sand, and clear sea. It is far from industrial pollution, with fresh air and green hills. Mineral water is hypothermic, characterized as hydro, contains hydrosulphite and carbon dioxide. In the village Kazashko (6 Kilometers from Varna), is located a mud field, which healing mud is used in the prevention and treatment of various diseases.
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omorie- This is also a popular seaside resort in Bulgaria, which is a wonderful place for balneology treatment and spa. Here is the only of its kind in Bulgaria Pomorian Lake, known all over the country with large deposits of mud. The presence of the curative mud in Pomorie allowing more successfully develop of balneotherapy and in the time the small town become one of the best rehabilitation centers in the country. Through mud treatment the metabolic processes in the body improve significantly, and the cholesterol levels get better. The healing effect is the result of complex action of chemical, biological, electro dynamic and mechanical factors of curative mud. Pomorian mud- black layer of silty-sulphide, high saturated with minerals and salt. It is saturated with trace elements, enzymes, hormones, and other biologically active substances. It appears corrective and curative effect. The mud has a smell of hydrogen sulphide and alkaline reaction. It contains sulfur, iodine, copper, strontium, amino acids, enzymes, estrogen, and vitamins. Its radioactivity is very low. Pomorian lye is secondary material in the process of salt extraction. It is apply as a warm compress. This is a dense residual liquid, leaked from the salt hills, in which the salt from the lake crystallized. The liquid has a high density, light yellow to brown color, with salty bitter taste and specific odor.
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ansko–This is popular mountain resort, located at the foot of Pirin Mountain, which offers attractive opportunities for recreation and tourism in all four seasons. Today Bansko is a town-museum, where old and new live together, it is a town, which had maintained a balance between ecology, flora, fauna and national colour. The closest spas to Bansko (6km) are Dobrinishte village-one of the most famous spa resorts in Pirin Mountain. They are gushing 17 mineral springs, whose water is used by treatment of various diseases of the respiratory and nervous system.
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elingrad- The spa capital of the Balkans
It is located in the Western Rhodopes at an average altitude of 760 m, whit short cool summer, long winter, with the cloudless days at the year. With its over then 80 mineral springs, Velingrad is one of the most popular spa resorts. Great number of sanatoriums, clinics, spa centers and hotels welcome dozens of tourists. This is the town with the largest resource of mineral water in the country- 143l/sec.
The town and surrounding area has 3 mineral waters deposits with different physicochemical characteristics. Mineral water from Chepino is hypothermal with temperature of 48 degrees. It is characterized as hydro, sodium, fluorine and silicon. Mineral water from Ladzhene is hot with temperature of 60 degrees. Mineral water from Kamenica is hot with temperature 90 degrees. Mineral water is suitable for drinking, inhalation, and external balneology treatment. Mineral waters of Velingrad are preferred for prevention and treatment of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, respiratory system diseases and diseases of gastrointestinal tract.
Devin- Located in the heart of Rhorope Mountain, with an average altitude of 685 m. The town is well known for its fresh mountain air, mild climate and hot mineral waters. A legend says that the sky over Devin is the bluest, the stars are the brightest and the air is charged with positive energy that gives strength and health. Mineral water from Devin is hypothermal, with temperature of 42 degrees, which is hydro carbonate, sodium, fluoride, radon, suitable for drinking and outdoor balneology treatment. Mineral water from Beden village is hot with temperature of 76 degrees, also suitable for drinking, inhalation and outdoor balneology treatment. Devin mineral water are preferred for prevention and treatment of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, respiratory system diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, skin diseases and others.
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yustendil – It is located at an altitude of 527m in the southwest of the country, in the foothills of Osogovo. Millennial history is closely linked with its healing mineral waters. The ancient Romans appreciated this precious treasure and built here the largest Asklepion on the Balkans, an area of 3.600 m2- a place for healing, recreation and entertainment for the weary soldiers. The climate is mild with Mediterranean influence, and located near the city largest deposits of peat mud, complements the natural healing factors of the resort. The hot mineral water that gushes from the ground is clear, clean, with pleasant taste and slight smell of hydrogen sulfide. Kyustendil mineral waters are preferred for prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal system, gynecological diseases, peripheral nervous system, respiratory diseases, and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, skin diseases and others.
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andanski – Situated in favorable relief and climatic factors in the southwestern part of Bulgaria, in the area of the middle stream of Struma river. Here is it felt beneficial influence of the Mediterranean climate. Long ago Sandanski has deserved the fame of the best natural health station of bronchial asthma in Europe, as well as for chronic, joint and kidney diseases. Water has a unique chemical composition, colorless and odorless, and has an excellent taste and medicinal properties. Today the resort has six large springs and numerous thermal springs are divided into two thermal zones. In the region of Sandanski Municipality there are over 80 springs with a temperature of 42-81 °С. Settlement near the mineral springs was established in the 2nd century BC. It was destroyed by barbarian in the end of the sixth century. Since that time it bears the name St. Vrach in memory of the brothers Kozma and Damian- healers who heal with the help of faith all diseases of humans and animals. All the year the town is favorite destination for many Bulgarians and foreign.
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isarya- Located in Southern Bulgaria, under the southern slopes of Sredna Gora Mountain, 360 meters above sea level. Hisarya has millenary wealthy history. Its mild climate and mineral waters have attracted people to these places from ancient times. Even before V-IV century BC here has existed prehistoric settlement. The city was founded 17 centuries ago by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who settled down here because of the precious mineral waters.
At the resort gushing 22 springs located in a small area with different physic-chemical characterization and temperature that ranged from 41 to 52 °С. This fact is unique not only for Bulgaria, but for the world. All waters are with low mineralization, sulphate-sodium, high alkaline with low hardness, clear, colorless and pleasant quality. The healing properties of Hisar mineral water are endless. Very good results are achieved in the treatment of nephrology, urology, gastroenterology and liver diseases, as well as those of the musculoskeletal system. Patients with diseases of the digestive system, chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, gall-stone disease, diabetes, chronic hepatitis and many others are favorably affected. Exactly in Hisar has started the first organized medical treatment. Today Hisar offers great opportunities for recreation and balneology treatment, with numerous hotels of different categories, spa centers and specialized hospitals.
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