What you should know about how your cure works
The following is the advice the physicians of the Marienbad spa houses give their guests. Much of it otherwise only comes up once you are there — and some of it, such as the spa reaction on the third day, is unsettling without warning.
What the physician decides and what they don’t
- 1 Always discuss with your physician which procedures are suitable for you.
- 2 The prescription for each procedure is individual and depends on the condition being treated and your overall state of health. The treatment programme is set solely by the treating physician.
- 3 The drinking cure, too, is decided by the physician. Never drink more mineral water than has been prescribed for you.
- 4 If a procedure does not agree with you, tell your treating physician — the plan will then be changed.
- 5 Do not change medication prescribed at home without your physician’s consent.
How things run on site
- 1 Your treatment plan is managed by a computer system. Keep to the agreed times; if that is not possible on a given occasion, speak to a nurse at the spa house.
- 2 It is best to resolve any problems during your stay on the spot with the staff responsible, not only after you have left.
- 3 Often on the third and fourth day of the cure, the so-called spa reaction sets in: you feel temporarily worse. This is well known and passes.
What you should know about the procedures
- 1 A peat wrap is a considerable strain for people with a cardiovascular condition. Whether it is suitable for you is always decided by the physician.
- 2 Never ask for a different temperature of the mineral bath than the one prescribed. As a rule: the cooler the mineral bath, the more effective it is and the more it fizzes.
- 3 The mineral baths in Marienbad contain, besides carbon dioxide and mineral salts, humic acids, a key component of the peat.
- 4 Reflex massage is a perceptible intervention in the body and can bring on serious effects — shortness of breath, abdominal pain, a drop in blood pressure or sudden fatigue. It is therefore prescribed by the physician alone, after an assessment of your current state of health.
What you should know about the springs
- 1 The Rudolf Spring is not suitable for guests with phosphate kidney stones.
- 2 The Marie Spring is not a mineral water spring. It releases a natural healing gas, used for dry gas baths and gas injections.
This advice does not replace a conversation with your spa physician. They decide on your treatment plan at the initial examination and adjust it during your stay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spa reaction?
Often on the third and fourth day of the cure, guests feel temporarily worse — the physicians on site call this the spa reaction. It is well known, part of the usual course, and passes. If the symptoms are severe or last longer, tell your spa physician.
Why am I not allowed to change the temperature of the mineral bath?
Because the temperature is part of the prescription. As a rule: the cooler the mineral bath, the more effective it is and the more it fizzes — a warmer bath feels more pleasant, but it is not the same thing. So never ask for a different temperature than the one prescribed.
Am I allowed to drink as much mineral water as I like?
No. The amount, the spring and the timing are set by the spa physician, personally for you: the Marienbad springs differ considerably in their chemistry, and what helps one diagnosis does not suit another. Never drink more than has been prescribed.
Is the Marie Spring suitable for drinking?
No, it is not a mineral water spring at all. It releases a natural healing gas, almost pure carbon dioxide, used for dry gas baths and for gas injections. Drinking takes place at the town’s other springs.
Sources
Studies and official documents this article relies on. Our content does not replace medical advice.
- Léčebné lázně Mariánské Lázně — Ensana Health Spa Hotels — Advice and information for spa guests from the operator’s treatment brochure.
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