5 Possible Health Benefits of Hot Potting

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine stepping into a very warm natural body of water, with birds singing around you and refreshing outside air. Feel relaxed yet? That’s just one of the many possible wellness benefits of soaking in a hot spring.

The act of soaking in a natural hot spring is also called hot potting, balneotherapy in a therapeutic and complementary health context, hydrothermal therapy, and immersion therapy. Such waters can be found in many settings, from those naturally occurring outdoors to pools at spas and wellness resorts.

Hot potting involves bathing in hot spring water. Because the waters originate from deep within the earth, they gather minerals on their way to the surface, explains Marcus Coplin, ND, a primary care naturopathic physician and the director of hydrothermal medicine for the Balneology Association of North America.

Every hot spring has a unique mineral composition. However, “There are benefits to soaking in warm or hot water regardless of the content of the minerals,” says Krista Ingerick, a licensed massage therapist and the spa operations manager at The Springs Spa, a wellness center that provides integrative therapies for Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic in Clifton Springs, New York.

“In general, most people enjoy soaking for the relaxation and pain-relieving effects, so arriving with the mindset that you’re ready to tune out to the outside world and the stress of daily life is the first step.”

Here are some other potential benefits of hot potting.

1. May Provide Potential Pain Relief

“The heat of the water helps relax the muscles and can have pain-relieving effects,” says Ingerick. “Essentially, this therapy can act as a whole-body immersion heat pack.”

Indeed, this may become part of a treatment plan. “One thing I do want to caution is that I don’t want it to sound like if you have arthritis, you can soak in hot springs and be fine. Though it is effective [as a complementary therapy for some people], part of the efficacy is the proper application of prescription medication and physician monitoring,” says Dr. Coplin.

2. May Relieve Certain Skin Conditions

Minerals such as sulfur and magnesium have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and these and other minerals may be useful in treating some skin conditions, says Ingerick.

3. May Help You Relax

Relaxation is one well-known potential benefit of hot potting. “The simple experience of soaking in a warm bath for relaxation can have profound effects by turning off our fight-or-flight stress response, allowing our bodies time to heal,” says Ingerick.

She adds that relaxation is a nice antidote to fatigue and can help improve resilience in the face of stress. The setting, like a natural spring or a spa, may also play a role in promoting relaxation.

4. May Support Weight Loss

Research suggests that the heat from a soak may increase your metabolic rate (this is, in part, the speed at which your body burns calories), lower markers of inflammation, and help regulate your stress response, says Coplin.

Coplin agrees that a hot springs soak can’t do it all. “While hot springs soaking can be a nice component of a comprehensive weight loss program, it is unrealistic to think you will soak and come out 20 pounds lighter. This is something you would do regularly in addition to a mindfulness-based diet and exercise program,” Coplin says, and in conjunction with your primary healthcare provider under your doctor’s guidance.

5. May Provide Cardiovascular Benefits

One of the most notable things that affects your body is the heat of the water, which may improve circulation of blood and lymphatic system fluid, which helps clear waste out of the body, says Coplin.

• Soaking in hot spring water, known as hot potting or balneotherapy, is associated with potential benefits such as temporary pain relief, reduced stress, and the easing of certain skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
• The pain-relieving effects of hot potting are often temporary, and it should be viewed as a complementary therapy rather than a proven treatment for conditions like arthritis.
• To support goals like weight management and cardiovascular health, hot water immersion is most effective when used regularly alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise program.
• If you plan to use hot potting as a complementary therapy for any health condition, always discuss your treatment goals and plan with your primary healthcare provider.