Healthy, all thanks to carbonic acid in Bad Schönau

The spa town of Bad Schönau has an almost unique remedy

As early as the beginning of the 20th century, a spring was found in what was still “Schönau im Gebirge”, which, however, failed to attract any further attention at the time. It was only when the spring was examined more closely in 1950 that it was discovered that not only carbonic acid water but also large quantities of free carbonic acid gas were escaping from the borehole – this spring was unique in eastern Austria.

From then on, carbonic acid gas was used for therapeutic purposes in dry gas baths, following the example of “Franzensbad” in the Hungarian-Austrian monarchy. The invigorating effect was soon tremendously successful, and today Bad Schönau, with three large spa facilities in the midst of the charming landscape of Austria’s “Bucklige Welt”, has become a widely known centre for spa and health.

Health and well-being

What exactly is the healing effect of this special gas? The natural CO2 gas acts mainly in the area of vasodilatation. It improves blood circulation and wound healing, lowers blood pressure, has a positive effect on the work of the heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and brain. It consists mostly of carbon dioxide and contains small amounts of oxygen, nitrogen and other noble gases (95.77% CO2, 0.07% O, 4.16% N and other inert gases).

This is how the carbonic acid from Bad Schönau works:

  • Vascular dilation of the skin vessels – increased blood flow
  • Reduction of arterial blood pressure – with repeated use also long-term effect
  • Reduction of venous capacity by increasing venous tone
  • Stimulation of the vasomation of the skin vessels
  • Hemorheological effect: decrease in blood viscosity and increase in erythrocyte deformability, decrease in thrombocyte aggregation
  • Reduction of the sensitivity of cold receptors and stimulation of heat receptors
  • Improvement of wound healing
  • Cardiac effect: slowing of cardiac work, increase in stroke volume and cardiac output – economisation of the heart
  • Effect on the gastrointestinal tract: increase in blood flow to the mucous membrane, increase in secretion processes and resorption processes, stimulation of peristalsis
  • Effect on the kidneys: diuresis increase
  • Effect on the brain: central sedation