Body bathing is the most common method of mineral bathing, which allows the human body to fully contact the mineral water, thereby producing significant biological effects. The chemical components in the mineral springs can have an effect on the body in two ways: the direct contact of mineral water on the skin;
The substance in mineral water enters the body through the skin and the body removes substances through the skin to the mineral water. For example, a hypotonic mineral bath can dissolve chloride, cholesterol, and sugar in the skin; in an acidic spring bath, the skin discharges potassium and calcium, and in an alkaline spring bath, the skin discharges chlorine. The application of radioisotope studies confirmed that certain ions in mineral water can enter the body during bathing, and the amount that enters the body is related to the spring temperature, the ion concentration in the spring water, and the bathing time. Mineral springs with different physical and chemical characteristics have different effects on the body. Acidic springs have astringent effects on the skin; alkaline springs can promote epithelial shedding; nitrogen springs have the effect of enhancing body functions, similar to radon springs; arsenic springs can lower blood sugar and have antagonistic effects such as thyroxine. There are two types of bathing methods: horizontal and sitting. The semi-recumbent position is used for the horizontal bathing. The bather should lie on his back and soak in the bathtub or bath, with the head, neck and chest exposed to the surface of the water, and the water surface should not exceed the level of the nipple. The sitting position is to use the sitting position to soak in the bath, and only the head is exposed to the water surface during the bath. The horizontal bath is easy for the patient to accept less burden on the heart and lung organs, and the sitting bath is mostly suitable for bathers with better physique.