[Spa treatment and health status]. / Curas balnearias y estados de salud.

Spa treatment, in its global complexity, is an active therapeutic way of treatment, capable to have an influence on the somatic and psychological status of the patient, seen its proven utility for protecting and restoring health. Spa treatment acts on the patient, in his body and mind, being a valuable complement of usual medical practices, at any age and circumstances. In spite of the short period of application (2 to 4 weeks), a considerable wellness is obtained when the indication and way of treatment are adequate, valuing the good results that can be reached in people of advanced age, depressive status and some other illnesses.

[Spa therapy in depresive status and undercover depressions]. / Curas balnearias en cuadros depresivos y depresiones encubiertas.

The actual interest of Spa Therapy in Depressive states and Undercover depression has been tested in the centers of several countries and its effects have been considered of great value in this pathologic processes. This hydrothermal treatment determines subjective improvements in a high percentage of the patients and helps the implantation of an effective psychotherapy.

[Therapeutical interest of the Spa treatments]. / Interés terapéutico de las curas balnearias.

Spa-therapy is considered as a way of improving health and have been considered of great value as a therapeutic agent in various pathologic chronic processes. Additionally it is important to consider the influence of various circumstances as a primary, secundary and tertiary factors, operating in the Spa treatment in various pathologic processes. The Spa cures can be very benefitial in the "pluripathology" and certain functionnel senile troubles, but the therapeutic plan should be agreed with the patient's personality, diagnostic work-up, therapeutic alternatives and patient-doctor relationship. Doctors should dedicate enough time to the patient, make a rigurous examination and establish an appropiate treatment.

[Considerations regarding Spa treatments]. / Consideraciones en torno a las curas balnearias.

Spa treatments constitute complex therapeutic processes, spanning multiple millennia. These treatments have had and retain multiple indications in the cure of multiple chronic affections, functional deficiencies, senile troubles, etc. Additionally it is omportant to consider the influence of climatic circumstances as well as social and psychic factors. The spa treatment in all its coplexity can play the role of therapeutic agent in various pathologic processes, but also be an important factor to consider in healthcare education. However, many professionals consider these procedures as an obsolete therapy of little justification today.

["Fatigue of life" aging. Balneology cures]. / Envejecimiento "cansancio de la vida". Curas balnearias.

The process of getting old involves involution and is influenced by the personal circumstances which affected the person's life. Biological studies have established the "hope of life" in 120 years, even if that age is hard to reach for people who lead an ordinate life. To grow old does not mean being ill though it carries frequently "pluripathology", certain functional troubles such as the psychical and sensorial ones. The "fatigue of life" has special importance as it can get to be incapacitant. Balneotherapic cures can be very beneficial. The Crenotherapy and the climatological influence and the sociotherapy under the control of the Doctor, can be very favorable.

[Sanitary interest of carbonic, carbogaseous or acidulated waters]. / Interés sanitario de las aguas carbónicas, carbogaseosas o acídulas.

The intention of this Communication is to highlight the main characteristics of the carbonic, carbogaseoses or acidulated waters of the Spanish legislation, as therapeutics agent as well as bottled drinking waters. These waters stimulate the secretion and motility of the digestive apparatus and if they are given by oral way in a correct amount, they have diuretic effects. In balneation they also introduce a vasodilatation, effect due to the penetration of the gas carbonic into the skin and its contact with the vascular walls, but this practice is not common in Spain.