Druskininkai is Lithuania’s biggest SPA town, known for its unique combination of underground mineral waters, curative mud and surrounding pine tree forests that provide extremely clean air. The medicinal properties of Druskininkai mineral water were discovered in the 18th century and the town was declared a health resort by King’s decree. The wellness traditions of Druskininkai have been developing throughout centuries. The concept of medical SPAs emerged during Soviet times and has been modernized since Lithuania gained its independence. Medical SPA is a hotel-style wellness center, where doctors assign certain healing procedures that might involve special mineral or whirlpool baths, massages, physiotherapy, mud treatments, aromatherapy and many others. Medical SPAs, as well as regular SPAs of Druskininkai also offer regular beauty treatments and massages. The town of Druskininkai has many activities for the whole family. It boasts the biggest AquaPark in the region, year-round Snow Arena, an adventure park, multiple parks and bicycle trails. It offers rich gastronomical experience, museums, various cultural events and festivities throughout the year.

For more information: http://info.druskininkai.lt/new/en

Vital energy source at AquaPark in Druskininkai, Lithuania  

Located in a well-known SPA town in southern Lithuania, surrounded by fragrant pine tree forests, Druskininkai AquaPark is the biggest waterpark in the region. It offers fun for the whole family, as well as beauty and wellness treatments. The AquaPark has slides up to 200 meters long, streams, waves, and an impressive children’s play area with a sandy beach. For the rest of the family - it’s all about healing and relaxation. There are 22 different types of saunas from all over the world ready to be explored, and guests can pamper themselves by choosing from a variety of luxurious treatments, from ecological honey to Black Sea salt. Therapeutic mud treatments, as well as healing mineral waters have made Druskininkai famous in the 18th century, and these traditions are still continued today - so visiting the AquaPark is inseparable from spending some time in the town itself to gain strength and beauty.

“Dirty SPA” Experience: Growing Popularity of Mud in Wellness

Therapeutic mud got in the spotlight of SPA trends as a 100% natural way to relax and heal. Druskininkai, a Lithuanian SPA town, offers old traditions in curative mud SPAs

As the world is searching for natural ways to restore and sustain health, balneotherapy and therapeutic mud procedures are becoming increasingly popular. Visitors to medical SPAs - facilities that combine relaxation with rehabilitation - enjoy mud applications and baths, galvanic (warm) mud procedures and other mud applications. 
 
Besides Dead Sea in Israel or mud baths in California, mud is exceptionally widespread in Eastern European resorts. For example, Druskininkai, Lithuania became a recognized wellness town in 1835, when the chemical composition of its mineral waters and mud was researched and recognized for their curative properties. Over 10 SPAs in Druskininkai offer
procedures that use local mud, including unique white mud applications and massages used for beauty and health. 
 
“Mud, in combination with mineral water, has been used in health promotion for centuries. Until it is extracted, mud accumulates heat, which is then slowly released during procedures. Depending on what is the source of mud, it can consist of particles similar to hormones found in human body or to vitamins - this is where the wide range of its healing properties come from. Nowadays, medicinal mud is used in pads as a highly effective treatment for periodontal disease or gynaecological treatment for infertility and other conditions,” said Dr. Arvydas Balčius, Director for Medicine at “ Eglės sanatorija ” medical SPA in Druskininkai.     While mud has been well-known for its exfoliating and cleansing effect on skin - both mud and clay are used to treat acne and skin inflammation - new research says this natural resource can be included  into medical routines for patients with a wide spectrum of diseases and those who are looking to improve their overall wellbeing. Specialists recommend mud applications to relieve symptoms of conditions ranging from musculoskeletal apparatus or nervous and digestive system disorders to post-traumas, burns and pains. 
 
Every therapeutic mud procedure has three stages. Firstly, the mud affects skin receptors. In response to the outer reflex, biologically active substances circulating in the blood are released. This triggers a reaction in the body, which can last up to more than 24 hours after the procedure.
 
Even though mud healing effects are not immediate, following the procedures, changes occur in cardiovascular system, blood composition, in metabolic processes, and so on. Moreover, mud baths have a strong relaxational effect and can benefit the psychological state of the patient. 
 
Mud procedures can be classified into overall and local. Most SPAs and wellness centers offer mud baths, while some invite to try mud wrap procedures, which are believed to accelerate weight loss. Localized procedures include mud applications on damaged areas and medical mud devices. The most widespread types of mud used in such procedures are pead mud or peloid, white mud and sapropelic mud that is usually extracted from sea. White mud is sourced from lake sludge and is considered to have better healing qualities than peat based therapeutic mud. 
 
Even though medicine and wellness are seen to be constantly embracing new technologies, affordable and unbelievably effective therapeutic mud procedures are age-proof. If crowded Dead Sea resorts seem like too much hassle, Eastern European medical SPAs can be the best option to enjoy the warm and healing properties of curative mud.

Eastern Europe Emerges as Leader in Wellness: the Centuries-Old Secrets of Medical SPAs 

A unique combination of centuries-old healing methods, natural curative resources and modernized medical SPAs are making sure all eyes of wellness-seekers are on Eastern Europe.

Increasingly pressured lives are leading people to choose more relaxing destinations for their vacation with many looking to be immersed into peace and quiet, to be closer to nature and to experience some pampering. In some countries, nature is even prescribed by doctors. As the demand for wellness is growing around the world, Eastern Europe is becoming one of the most popular destinations. 
 
A renaissance is sweeping across the Baltic states and a few other Eastern European countries driven by former Soviet-era medical wellness resorts that are undergoing modernisation and opening up their fascinating, little-known wellness traditions to the entire
world. There is no coincidence that the market valuation for health and wellness in this region went up to  30 billion euros in 2018, a jump from 22 billion euros in 2013. 
 
There are many reasons why Eastern European wellness market has been gaining increased attention. SPA resorts in Eastern Europe have a significantly lower price tag than those in Western Europe, and they offer unique services as well as centuries-old health & wellness traditions - the region has long been a leader in natural healing methods and resources. Traditions of using thermal baths, saunas, curative mud and clean air are centuries-old. Currently, old traditions are being combined with modern health treatments to achieve holistic wellbeing, overall health and relaxation.
 
“In today's fast-paced world, people seek for something extra, a true feeling of immersing themselves in relaxation, unique experience, as they want to feel healthier and more energetic. Wellness in Eastern Europe goes beyond SPA massages and healthy nutrition. We offer a combination of unspoilt nature, local ingredients and health procedures that are prescribed to each visitor by a medical doctor. Even if your major health complaint is too much stress, our doctors will design a personalised course for you that might involve relaxing mineral baths, individualised massages, aromatherapy and other treatments. This is what medical SPA is all about, ” said Ričardas Malinauskas, mayor of Druskininkai, a wellness town in Lithuania.
 
Established as a SPA town in the early 18th century, Druskininkai
became one of the most popular health resorts in the area. Artists and nobility would come to Druskininkai to spend their summers, and doctors would prescribe healing mineral water and clean forest air to patients for treatment of asthma and other ailments. Druskininkai flourished in the 19th century as health town, and also produced its own artists - famous cubist sculptor and painter Jacques Lipchitz, as well as Lithuanian composer and painter Čiurlionis were born in Druskininkai. During Soviet era, newly built sanatoriums of Druskininkai were attracting visitors from all Soviet Union, and in modern times, the town has reinvented itself as a wellness center famous for medical SPAs, wellness and beauty treatments and a vast array of activities from bike paths in pine tree forests to year-round Snow Arena.  
 
A wealth of natural wellness properties and old healing traditions are waiting to be discovered across Eastern Europe, tapping into ancient methods and techniques to offer today's stressed out, international visitor a truly unique experience, good for both mind and body.