The waters of health of Terme di Riolo

There is reliable information about the thermal springs and water of Riolo dating from as early as 1579, thanks to the scrupulous work of the historian Leonida Costa, who collected and translated Latin texts to study the characteristics of the water from these springs and published the results of his research in a treatise entitled De Aquis Rioli (1579). The first works to channel the thermal water and build treatment facilities began in 1870, at which time names were also given to the springs and buildings.

The mineral waters of Terme di Riolo are of “gessoso solfifera” (gypseous and sulphurous) origin and spring forth in the Vena del Gesso Romagnola Regional Park, from aquifers situated at different depths. The particular geological conformation of the Vena del Gesso (gypsum vein), dating from 7 millionCura idropinica delle Terme di Riolo years ago, guarantees a progressive addition of mineral salts and biological elements that have been present in the earth’s crust for over 500 million years. As it makes its way toward the surface, a process lasting about 40 years, the water passes through lime, sulphate, calcium, sodium chloride and clay deposits and organic layers of varying nature, thus becoming enriched with mineral salts. It is simultaneously filtered of all impurities, while its wealth of biological elements is left intact. By the time it emerges from the surface, the water is thus perfectly filtered, bacteriologically pure and ready to be drunk and used for different therapies.

This Naturel territory is one of the richest in both number and variety of medicinal waters. It boasts about sixty springs which vary in composition. The chemical and physical properties of the water differ greatly, so there are countless applications and therapeutic possibilities that only a physician can know and hence recommend. The thermal waters can be used in many ways: for drinking, irrigation, inhalation or bathing, or applied in association with other mineral or organic substances.

Of the various springs present within the territory, Terme di Riolo uses the sulphurous water called Breta, the salso-bromo-iodine water called Vittoria and margherita and the water called Salsoiodica, four types of water that are essential to the body, being capable of contributing precious mineral salts and vital substances and rebalancing metabolism.

Acqua Breta: sulphurous mineral water, bicarbonate – sulphate – alkaline – earthy. It is one of the most balanced Italian sulphurous waters; it is known for its tolerability, as well as its proverbial efficacy. The main clinical indications are:

  • Respiratory system: chronic bronchitis, asthmatic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, emphysema, rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis and rhinogenous deafness;
  • Digestive system: difficulties in digestion, hepato-bilio-pancreatic digestive insufficiencies, forms of hypersecretion, dyskinesia and some forms of biliary calculosis, irritable bowel syndrome, mild constipation and after-effects of gall bladder surgery;
  • Metabolic disorders: hypercholesterolaemia, carbohydrate intolerance, diabetes, obesity, gout
  • Urogenital system: chronic inflammatory forms, urinary tract calculosis, cystitis, chronic cystopyelitis, metritis, annexitis, vaginitis, secondary sterility
  • Osteoarticolar disorders: arthritis, results of injury
  • Skin: acne, psoriasis, seborrhoea, chronic eczema, urticaria, dystrophic lesions

In particular, Breta water performs a variety of actions:

  • It favours the exfoliation of dead epithelial cells of the horny layer (keratolic action), stimulating cellular regeneration (keratoplastic action);
  • It stimulates a higher production of a specific class of antibodies, Immunoglobulin A, thus assuring a more effective and efficient defence against the most common respiratory afflictions such as colds, coughs, bronchitis (immunostimulating action);
  • It induces the vasodilatation of capillaries, thus improving the blood supply to the tissue concerned (microcircolation reactivating action);
  • It intervenes at a cellular level by stimulating antioxidant action;
  • Hydrogen sulphide is capable of fluidifying mucus, allowing it to run more easily and be subsequently eliminated (mucolitic action).

Acqua Salsoiodica: salso-bromo-iodine thermal water. Main clinical indications:

  • Osteoarticolar disorders: arthritis, results of injury
  • Genital system: chronic gynaecological inflammatory diseases and their after-effects (annexitis, metritis, ovarian dysfunctions, dysmenorrhoea, vaginitis, female sterility)
  • Vascular system: peripheral vasculopathies (varices, effects of phlebitis)

Acqua Vittoria and Acqua margherita: salso-bromo-iodine thermal mineral waters with small quantities of hydrogen sulphide. Vittoria also contains considerable amounts of magnesium, in addition to having a higher concentration of sodium chloride. Main clinical indications:

  • Digestive system: constipation, diminished biliary flow

Spring mud of Terme di Riolo

Terme di Riolo | vulcanetti bergullo

The very fine curative mud of Terme di Riolo is unique in Emilia Romagna in that it “springs“, or spontaneously emerges from the ground, pushed by gas from “little volcanoes”, or mud springs, situated near the spa, and is already Naturelly mixed with salso-bromo-iodine thermal water.
The mud of Terme di Riolo displays characteristics which are extremely interesting from the standpoint of heat retention capacity and ion exchange capacity (Official Analyses of the Hydrology and Environmental Protection Section of the Department of Pharmacology II, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Pavia, July 1989). Thanks to its origin, it is extremely plastic, with a velvety texture, and highly penetrable.

Once collected, it undergoes a maturation process in special tubs until acquiring the clinical, physical, biological and therapeutic characteristics that make it the ideal means for an anti-inflammatory, anti-pain, muscle-relaxing and revitalizing therapy.

Main clinical indications:
  • Osteoarticular disorders: rheumoarthropathies in quiescent phases, such as post-injury primary or secondary arthritis, fibromyositic rheumatism, chronic gout in joints
  • Skin: acne, psoriasis, seborrhoea, chronic eczema, urticaria, dystrophic lesions
  • Peripheral vasculopathies, water retention and cellulite

At Terme di Riolo, spring mud is used:

  • In Mud therapy (total and partial hot mud applications)
  • In Naturel Methods (leg wraps with cold virgin mud and essential oils, according to Kneipp hydrotherapy)
  • In Thermal Aesthetic treatments (virgin mud face mask, cosmetic virgin mud body and scalp wraps)