Mineral AND HEALING waters

Only few countries have on such small area so many different mineral springs as Slovakia.

A little bit from history.... 

The very first person, who systematically described mineral springs, was Georg Wernher in his book De admirandis Hungariae aquis hypomnemation. The book was printed in Basel in 1549. Georg Wernher described there 22 mineral springs, mostly on the territory of Slovakia. He was the very first who made also analysis of physical and chemical properties of water substance. His scientific work surprised Europe and attracted the attention of scientists. His studies were cited by all known specialist and writers in the field of mineral and healing waters.

In the 17th century Martin Szentiványi, a professor at the university in Trnava, excellent teacher but also scientist with encyclopedic knowledge was a pioneer in the field of hydrology, he was devoted to balneology and the mysterious properties of healing mineral waters and its use not only in Slovakia but also in Hungary.

Karol Otto Moller, a famous Hungarian doctor, called also Hungarian Hippokrates (his work Consilium medicum de curada peste cum praeservationibus – Medical advice to treat plaque and its prevention – was known also in the world) lived since 1705 in Banska Bystrica a he was head of the medical preparatory school in Banska Bystrica. He has been devoted himself also to analysis of mineral springs – Sliač, Sklené Teplice, Vyhne, Bojnice, Turčianske Teplice etc.

Another important personality, who devoted his energy to study mineral and thermal springs, was Matej Bel, polymath, author of encyclopaedia, teacher. In his most important work Notitia Hungariae novae historico geographica he together with his colleagues assembled the known facts about mineral and thermal springs and their practical applications. Thanks to Matej Bel and his colleagues were described 137 springs. 

During the reign of Maria Theresa occurred in 1763-1769 the first registration of mineral and thermal spring, which had been documented by chemical analysis and therapeutic indication instructions. The official doctors were assigned to undertake the registration.

Since that time many scientists documented the mineral springs in Slovakia – professor H.I.N.Crantz from university in Vienna (1777) recorded 158 places with mineral and thermal springs and he personally analysed many of those waters, professor Pavel Kitaibel from Budapest (1829), professor L.Tognoi, David Wachtel in his work Ungarns Kurorte und Mineralquellen (Hungarian Spas and Mineral Springs) not only assembled medical and topographic data but he also categorised the springs.

Present time

In this small country with an area of 49.035 km2 there are more than 1600 mineral springs registered and it is supposed that there are more of them. Healing water from springs is used either in spa or is bottled.

According Czechoslovak standard ČSN 86 8000, later Slovak standard 86 800 were mineral waters classified as follows: 

1. Natural table mineral water - is water, which by its chemical composition, physical properties and taste is suitable as a refreshing drink, which contains in 1 liter of at least 1000 mg of dissolved carbon dioxide and maximum 6000 mg of dissolved solids which neither individually nor together do not have  significant pharmacological effects. 

2. Natural mineral water - is water in natural springs and artificial catchments which in place of groundwater withdrawal contains in 1 litter of water more than 1000 mg of dissolved solids or 1,000 mg dissolved CO2.

3. Natural healing (spa) water - is water, which due to its chemical composition and physical properties as positive, scientifically proven effects on human health has, that it is in the public interest to use the water in medical therapy.

Natural mineral water must be first at least five years studied, to demonstrate its healing properties in balneology practice, stability of its composition and to see its nutritional properties did not change. Only after can be water recognized as a natural healing source by the Ministry of Health.

If healing water is bottled, water as obtained from spring may not be modified. Only removal of unstable components (e.g. iron and sulfur compounds) or removal of carbon dioxide by allowed methods is permitted. Disinfection treatment with any means is prohibited as well as addition of bacteriostatic agents (e.g. chlorine). No other substances except carbon dioxide can be added to the water.

Most widely known, recognised natural healing mineral waters bottled  (source Slovak Ministry of Health):

Most widely known, recognised natural mineral waters bottled (

source Slovak Ministry of Health):