Healing Waters Water is the center of life. The food we grow depends on water without it, it withers and dies. The body is approximately 70 percent water, and, although we can live without food for about eight weeks, without water, we could only survive for about 10 days. Despite the obvious importance of water to our lives as nutrition and for survival the healing properties of water are often forgotten.
Water is a healer with a long history.
According to archaeological evidence, balneology using natural mineral waters for the treatment of disease has been with us for more than 5,000 years. At the temple of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, bathing and massage were integral parts of therapy for the sick. Legend has it that Hippocrates, who is known as the father of Western medicine, was a descendent of Asclepius. And, indeed, Hippocrates did use water and bathing as therapeutic tools. The Romans also embraced water as a healer.