BATH SPA

This bath spa resort, which lies approximately 60 km west of Piestany and 90 km far from Bratislava, can be called the Slovak “Dead Sea”. It earned this attribute due to the unique hydrogen sulphide water with a high salt content – the content of hydrogen sulphide reaches 680mg/l. The extraordinary nature of this natural treasure aids in the treatment of psoriasis, eczema, localized dermatitis, acne and arthritic psoriasis in adults as well as in children.

This bath spa resort is situated only 90 kilometers far from the international airport in Bratislava. You can get there by car by highway or use the train or bus connection.

History:

A folk legend about the creation of the bath & spa states that a shepherd discovered the mineral springs when treating his painful leg by bathing in the unusually foul-smelling spring water. News about the healing effect of the spring (a pond) quickly spread, and people from the surroundings started to seek it out. This was the first stimulus for the creation of a bath spa.
The first written note about the bath & spa town of Smrdaky is found in the land registry published in 1617 by the landowner Majteny - Novak. In his well-known work Notitia Hungariae Novae Historicogeographia (Historical and geographical knowledge about current Hungary) from 1740 the Slovak historian Matej Bel mentions the bath & spa village of Smrdaky and for the first time describes the use of the mineral hydrogen sulphide water for healing purposes.

In 1763 the official physician, Jan M. Gottmann, prepared an analysis of the Smrdaky water in which he stated that it would be an ideal place to establish a future bath spa.
An important work was the medical dissertation by senior physician Jozef Callas Nagy on Smrdaky bath & spa (Thermarum, 1840), produced at Vienna University. Apart from a chemical analysis of the water, carried out by Nitra pharmacist Frantisek Lang Adolf, there was also a list of indications of diseases which were successfully treated before the establishment of the bath spa. On the first place there are various skin diseases such as herpes and lichen etc.
The first bath spa house in Smrdaky was built between l832 and 1833 by the landowner of the area surrounding the springs, the Nitra vice-burgess Jozef Vietoris. The modern history of the spa dates from these years. Later, in 1839 the breathtaking manor house was built Jozef Vietoris for his family and very important guests. Following several reconstructions, it is still used. With its classical frontage, the manor house has become the symbol of the spa.

Indications of diseases:

The main procedures include mineral baths and mud wraps with phototherapy (ultraviolet radiation from special UV emitters), as well as cryotherapy of the skin and treatment of dermatosis on the head and chest.

• Psoriasis vulgaris, generalisata
• Dermatitis atopica (Eczema atopicum)
• Eczema chronicum, professionale
• Acne
• Ichtyosis
• Neurodermitis circumscripta
• Parapsoriasis
• Pruritus, Prurigo, Prurigo nodularis
• Psoriasis vulgaris, generalisata
• Rosacea, Dermatitis rosaceiformis
• Sclerodermia circumscripta
• Urticaria
• After burns treatments

Diseases of locomotive apparatus:

• Gonartroza
• koxatroza – artroza
• osteoporoza

• artritida
• vertebropatia
• Bachterovov´s disease

All above mentioned diseases have been treating thanks to hydrogen sulphide mineral water with high contents of salts of sodium, magnesium and calcium (3,400 mg/l) and therapeutically effective hydrogen sulphide (680 mg/l) (these contents rank of Smrdaky mineral water is the most concentrated sulphur waters in Europe).

Spa treatments: Mineral bath, Mud pack, Paraffin packs , Whirlpool bath, Scottish sprays, massage, Electrotreatment, phototherapy and rehabilitation.

Contraindications!: this bath & spa resort is not suitable for the patients that suffer of asthma!!!