When groundwater below the Earth's surface collects around solid rock and collects in pools or aquifers, what is commonly called hot springs are created. Magma heats this water, which then rises to the surface through cracks in the Earth's crust, called vents, forming a hot spring; because the groundwater is heated through contact with magma or hot rock deeper toward the Earth's core pressure forms, it sends the water back up to the surface of the Earth. The subterranean phenomenon may be violent and high-pressure underground, but by the time it reaches the surface of the Earth, it creates relaxing, therapeutic hot springs. Although these springs can be promoted as perfect outdoor baths. Many happen to be in some of the most picturesque locations in the world.
Hot springs are natural and need no luxury resort to attract healers from across the world
by Jo_Murphy
Hot springs, also called thermal springs, occur naturally as springs of water that are warmed by heat below the Earth.
Many people swear by the health benefits of hot spring mineral baths
Benefits more pronounced when bathing on a regular basis
In addition to being comfortable and relaxing, mineral baths offer various health benefits for health issues ranging from skin conditions to vascular health.
Pain relief
Patients with severe, chronic pain issues like arthritis or fibromyalgia will often pilgrimage to mineral springs baths. Soaking in warmer spring water can block pain receptors around your body, helping to eliminate or reduce aches, soreness, and pain. Think of soaking your feet in Epsom salts, for example. Many resorts offer therapeutic services, including acupuncture or massage, after bathers have soaked in the water. Warming the body's tissue is said to help make the massage more effective.
A variety of benefits to the skin
It is also said that the skin absorbs minerals and nutrients that help smooth and heal the skin—soaking in a spa may relieve symptoms of conditions like psoriasis, acne, eczema, and dry scalp.
Sulphur is a mineral with many proven benefits for the skin and may help reduce dandruff and relieve itchiness, acne, and skin redness.
Vascular benefits
Regularly soaking in hot water can improve vascular health, especially when combined with regular exercise such as hiking.
Can burn calories when combined with exercise
Does the invigoration of the spa liven up a sedentary lifestyle? Regularly soaking in hot water stimulates a zest for life. And so, indirectly, spas have the potential to help people burn extra calories associated with an increase in the body's metabolism.
Benefit mental health
It stands to reason that relaxing in a hot, mineral springs bath can help reduce stress levels and relax the body and mind, while it may also improve your sleeping habits by reducing stress or anxiety. Would these benefits be more pronounced if swimmers bathed regularly?
Do you think the Hot Springs are therapeutic?
Clays body painting artistic or healing activity
Another feature of hot springs
Rocks in the ground can be turned into clay by hot spring water. This clay can often be seen bubbling around the edges of hot springs, allowing travellers to combine the healing powers of raw earth and water.
People can bathe in the mud and enjoy body painting as they let off inhibitions, find a sense of play, relax and unwind.
Where do the minerals come from in hot springs?
Minerals are thought to have healing properties
Minerals can often be seen around the edges of a hot spring. Hot water below the Earth's surface can dissolve minerals from surrounding rock. When the water containing the dissolved minerals reaches the Earth's surface, the water cools, and minerals come out of the solution, depositing along the spring's edge.
Mineral springs baths provide a variety of benefits to the skin. When spending time in a mineral bath, the skin absorbs minerals and nutrients that smooth and heal, helping to relieve symptoms of conditions like psoriasis, acne, eczema, and dry scalp.
Who's ever heard of an extremophile?
Ancient bacteria able to live in extreme environments
Extremophiles thrive in extremely hot niches, ice, and salt solutions, as well as acid and alkaline conditions; some may grow in toxic waste, organic solvents, heavy metals, or in several other habitats previously considered inhospitable for life. Some animals are considered extremophiles, such as fish adapted to high pressure in the deep sea and can thrive in depths of up to 8200 m, which equals 820 bar pressure. These fantastic creatures are not expected to pop up in your local hot springs any time soon.
Image created in DreamUp - AI creator Deviantart. Dec 2023.
Resources
If you would like to read further
Artworks for this article were created by Jo Murphy using DreamUp AI Deviant Art https://www.deviantart.com/comicjo/gallery
Natural Disaster MCQ Quiz! - Trivia & Questions.(Accessed Dec 2023) https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=natural-disasters_15
Skin Care and Bath (Accessed Dec 2023) https://skincandybath.com/products/herbal-mineral-bath
Somayyeh Khalilzadeh, Laila Shirbeigi, Ayeh Naghizadeh, Mozhgan Mehdi Ardestani, Safar Shamohammadi, Malihe Tabarrai (2019) Use of mineral waters in the treatment of psoriasis: Perspectives of Persian and conventional medicine 32,(4) https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.12969
Rochester Regional Health (The Springs Spa) (Accessed Dec 2023) https://hive.rochesterregional.org/
Mornington Peninsular Wellness (Accessed Dec 2023) https://www.peninsulahotsprings.com/wellness
Sunergy of the Cunnamulla Hot Springs and the RiverLights Festival.https://wizzley.com/synergy-of-the-cunnamulla-hot-springs-and-the-river-lights-festival/ Murphy,J (2023)
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Your feedback would be appreciated
Unitestatesian-wise! Yes. I will be at the Hot Springs all weekend - catching up on writing.
I look forward to it very, very much!
Your comment below Jan. 5, 2024, mentions that "I am about to write an article about camp kitchen and camp fire cooking."
Might you be finishing that article, which has such a year-round appeal Unitestatesian-wise?
I don't know about cold, sleeting weather in the caravan parks here. The camp kitchens are in a great big hut. But it won't be like that at the hot springs. I hadn't really thought about that. Yes it will be sonnish
Camp-fire and camp-kitchen cooking is welcome anytime even as it is particularly the case in the way of hot food during cold, sleeting weather!
Might the article be something wizzley-able?
Now that is an interesting question. I am about to write an article about camp kitchen and camp fire cooking. I will look into it. Jo
Ancient Hawaiian and Icelandic cuisines had a tradition of heating food in their hot-spring areas.
Might that be true of Australian cuisine too?
Thank you. Slovenia sounds amazing! I just Googled it, and 2.1 million people sounds a lot! The pictures are breath taking.
We have a few popular hot springs in Slovenia too. I don't know about extremophiles but they are all considered as therapeutic for centuries. Lovely pics!
There are paintings of Kununurra. and waterfalls at Bluethumb
https://bluethumb.com.au/artworks/sea...
This is a place I had never heard of. But I have seen Australia. I won't tell you my sad story of missing my journey to Western AU.
You gave me a travel writing idea!
Jo
The healthy benefits of these hot springs remind me of Nicole Kidman's "miracle pregnancy," shared by six other women on the set of Baz Luhrmann's "Australia." They swam in the waters (albeit not mentioned as hot) of the Outback's Kununurra waterfalls and subsequently refer to the waterfalls as "fertility waters now" ('My miracle pregnancy came after a plunge in Outback fertility waterfall," Daily Mail, Sep. 24, 2008).
Have you visited the Kununurra waterfalls?
They photograph beautifully. Has anyone painted them?