An examination of the health effects of drinking hot spring water that includes silica

Abstract

Drinking hot spring water, which has a rich mineral content, is a form of balneotherapy. The water of Shioji-no-yu, a hot spring in Ueno-village (Gunma Prefecture) is rich in silica. Inhabitants consider that drinking the water contributes to health maintenance. We studied the effect of the drinking of hot spring water on the health-related parameters. The study analyzed the participants who drank hot spring water (drinking group, n=80) and those who did not (control group, n=31). The participants in drinking group drank 500 mL of water three times (between meals) a day for four weeks. We conducted a questionnaire survey on the health-related status and the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale before and after the 4-week intervention. There found to be significant improvements in hair loss and the smell of feces in drinking group. Drinking Shioji-no-yu hot spring water may therefore prevent hair loss and improve the smell of feces. Further studies are necessary.