The thermal spa

Tradition holds that wherever a well is drilled in Hungary, geothermal water at 40 to 70 C gushes out. Although this is not literally true, it is a fact that medical bath, indoor and outdoor pools with medicinal or thermal waters, and health hotels have been built in almost seventy towns and villages.

Hévíz, close to Lake to Balaton, is a medicinal haven well-known all over Europe. This is where Europe's largest hot-water lake is located. It is clouded in steam in winter; and the bottom of the lake is covered by several metres of medicinal mud. The lake and the surrounding forest lend a unique microclimate to the environment. A hydrotherapy hospital and later a winter pool were established here for the treatment of rheumatic and locomotor disorders. Several spa hotels have also been built, which look forward to helping their guests to a state of glowing good health by offering the most advanced therapies, as well as fitness courses.

Water lilies, radioactivity and health - that's the combination you'll find at the thermal lake in Hévíz, in the west of Hungary.

In the middle of Hévíz the worldwide famous building of 'Tófürdő' - the bathing complex around the lake - can be found. It is the biggest warm-heated spa lake in Europe which extends in a valley. The 4.4 ha lake's healing power is the most curable in the world. For centuries this 'miraculous healing effect' was known only by local people.

The average depth of the Lake is 12 metres and its features a natural hot spring, about 35.6 metres deep, with a surface temperature averaging 28-32 degrees - and never falling below 25 degrees, neither in winter. Between 'Tófürdő' and the hospital there is an old, beautiful park after tiring cures for walking.

The water of the Hévíz Lake is equally rich in sulphur, calcium, magnesium, hydrogen-carbonate, as well as those with a slightly radioactive content. In winter a 'mist cap' is formed from the vapour on the surface of the water which prevents the water from cooling down and at the same time a natural inhalatorium is created. Inhaling the sulphur-hydrogen emitted into the air and the radium-emanation produces favourable curative effects: keeps our vocal cords in a good condition. Due to the high water output of the spring, the water of the lake makes a 'massage effect'.

The medicinal mud, which covers the bed of the lake in a thick layer, deserves special attention. The medicinal water and mud originating from the several then thousand year-old Pannonian Sea, together with the complex physiotherapeutic treatments, are suitable for treating all kinds of rheumatic diseases. The temperature of the mud is usually 40 C that has a relaxing effect.

The Hévíz treatment is recommended in the following cases (indications):

• All rheumatic (degenerative, arthritic and calcification) forms of locomotor disorders (arthrosis, ligaments, small joints and disk problems, spondyosis, dyscopathia).
• Inflammation of the joints and the spine in remissive stage (arthritis, polyarthritis, e.g. PCP, Bechterew disease) The Hévíz treatments of these diseases are effective only after the acute period. Symptoms of chronic locomotor disorders can effectively be relieved.
• Connective tissue diseases (diseases of the ligaments and muscles), inguinal ligaments, rheumatism
• Secondary diseases of the joints, joints problems with metabolic diseases (grout, gland problems)
• Inflammations of the joints associated with skin diseases (e.g. psoriatic arthritis)
• States after breaks, injuries and locomotor operations (primarily breaks of the limbs in remissive stage)
• Chronic problems affecting the peripheral nervous system caused primarily by mechanical reasons (sciatica, polyneuropathy, paresis)
• Pre-and post-operative treatment of the joints, the post-operative treatment of disk herniation
• Chronic gynaecological diseases

The Hévíz treatment is not recommended in the following cases (contraindications):

• Malignant tumours /treatment is not recommended even after successful operation/
• Decompensated heart diseases, vasculary diseases, hypertension that is uncontrollable, or if it causes organ problems, severe arteriosclerosis, / coronary arteriosclerosis, after heart attack /if the doctor prohibits/, severe varicose vein complaints /venuous thrombosis/
• All acute inflammatory diseases / inflamed varicose vein, active stage of arthritis/
• All acute and infectious diseases /e.g. TBC, hepatitis, etc./
• Leukaemia, other severe haematopoietic disease and severe anaemia and haemophilia
• Pulmonary asthma in case of frequent seizures
• Active ulcers (gastric and intestinal), renal insufficiency and kidney stone
• Sudden syncopal spells (epilepsy, Adams-Stokes syndrome)
• Chronic alcoholism and severe liver cirrhosis
• Exudative eczema and extensive wounds
• Hyperthyroidism accompanied by organic complaints, decompensated diabetes, severe weight loss or gain
• The first six weeks after therapeutic x-ray treatment
• Pregnancy
• The diseases of the central nervous system associated with partial or complete paralysis
• Parkinson's disease
• Mental diseases Heart diseases causing circulatory disorder