Our mission is to empower natural mineral water communities and stewards with research, education, and resources to promote therapeutic uses that enhance health and well-being.

Balneo “to bathe” -ology “study of” Verb (Medieval Latin)

Pronounced: (bal nee OL uh jee)

Balneology is the Science, Art and Culture of therapeutic mineral water use

The Core Pillars of Balneology

Balneology Association of North America Drinking Water

DRINKING

Drinking water from a free flowing source of concentrated minerals is beneficial for homeostasis by improving metabolic, digestive and urinary imbalances. 

Water hydrates to quench thirst and to balance physical systems for activities like exercise and workouts.

There are many waters from around the world to choose from making this practice an enjoyable exploration in wellness.

Soaking Balneology Association of North America

SOAKING

Soaking/Bathing in mineral waters is the most recognized form of balneology.

By immersing in mineral waters one can receive multiple beneficial effects for body systems including: circulatory, immune, skeletal,  nerves and the skin.

Timing rhythms in and out of the waters, including rest, make this a high quality practice towards wellness.

Balneology Association of North America Steam and Sauna

STEAMS & SAUNAS

Steams are gaseous mineral waters generated from thermal springs taken for inhalation therapy and to promote sweating for releasing toxins. Different mineral compounds effect the upper respiratory system impacting allergies, hearing loss, lung disease (COPD) and asthma which benefit from steams - a practice widely used in Europe.

Wet and dry saunas promote sweating to calm nerves, release impurities and to reinvigorate body systems.

Pelotides Balneology Association of North America

MUDS

Heated muds, otherwise known as peleotherapy provide naturally sourced matured earth from geochemical, biological, and geological processes that consist of clay and other minerals, various microorganisms, gases, and different chemical composites hydrated with mineral waters for therapeutic effects.

A wellness practice from antiquity, the application of muds benefits vascular and neuromuscular systems, balance skin conditions and calm nerves. 

Join Our Live Community Zoom Presentations + Q&A

Learn from community experts and share your knowledge in our Q&A sessions every third Wednesday of the month at 11am PST. The live community calls are free to join, so please join our email list to get an invite to them. Please consider supporting us with a membership to receive a password to view our previous presentations archive, so we can continue the conversation together.

Join our BANA community as we swim back In time together for stories of health and rejuvenation from the mineral waters of the 1800s. This presentation covers many topics including the westward push after the Civil War in 1864, which led to the discovery of numerous hot springs in the region. European settlers observed Native Americans using these mineral waters, and pioneers soon began to self-medicate with thermal waters. This led to the prescriptive uses of mineral water in the west, with 21-day treatment regimes becoming popular. More elegant pioneer resorts offered treatments such as needle baths, while drinking the waters for health benefits and the therapeutic uses of mud baths were also common practices. Additionally, the marketing of mineral water therapies played a significant role in promoting these treatments.

Become a member to receive a password for our Live Community Presentation Archive HERE!

Upcoming Live Community Zoom Presentations + Q&A

November 20th, Wednesday at 11am PST

on Zoom

H2O-The Intelligence of Water, round table discussion of the documentary film with Emmanuel Itier

Film Trailer

An experienced feature film Producer, Emmanuel Itier directed several pictures before completing in 2012 the Peace documentary ‘The Invocation’ narrated by Sharon Stone and staring Desmond Tutu, HH The Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra as well as many worldwide peace activists. In 2013 Mr. Itier executive-produced a Drama filmed in Hong Kong: ‘Red Passage’ which won many Awards in the Festival circuit. Emmanuel Itier has also been a successful Music and Film journalist for both Rock Magazines, French TV networks and various websites for the last twenty five years. Finally, Itier has been a buyer for many French and American Film distribution companies for the last twenty years. He was on the board of directors of the Santa Barbara Film Festival for a decade and he writes poetry. He is also very involved with charities and the political world. Mr. Itier seats on the board of Directors of ‘Darfur Women Action Group’ in an attempt to bring Peace to Darfur. He is also the founding President of the Rotary E-Club of World Peace (www.RotaryEclubofWorldPeace.org ) and he is part of the U.N Association, Santa Barbara chapter. Lately he joined the World Council of Wisdom ( https://thevisioneers.ca ) to bringPeace to the World.

December 18th, Wednesday at 11am PST

EHTTA European Historic Thermal Towns Association

https://historicthermaltowns.eu/

We will introduce the association and share an upcoming invitation to the thermal congress in 2025. We will also learn more about their time at Saratoga Hot Springs.

on Zoom

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BANA Best Practices

Balneology is a science, art and culture that embraces the climatology, temperatures and hydrogeology of geothermal locations, and is backed by significant research that proves the health benefits for people who seek the waters for wellness.

Our leadership team brings years of experience to guide the strategic application of the TRIQUETRA which identifies and integrates the Ten Domains, Cultural Best Practices and the BANA Flow Formula at Site-Specific-Sources.

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Are You a Hot Spring Owner or Water Steward?

Hot spring owners and water stewards can benefit from joining BANA’s national registry for therapeutic mineral waters to stand united as a community in the face of state and federal guidelines that impact the use of our therapeutic waters. Join our coalition of water sources registered with BANA to proactively address regulations affecting the operation of hot springs across North America.

 

Access Awards

Chris Devlin, presented the Kathy Clark Access Award to Rose O’Bennick and Becky O’Bennick-Knapp. BANA recognized both for their longstanding stewardship of the healing tribal mineral waters and the economical access to the waters they continue to provide to the public. 

Leroy and Rose O’Bennick leased the land from the tribes where both hot springs sit and provided access to the healing waters shortly after the historic Tribal Bath House closed in the 1970’s. After Leroy’s passing in 2015, Rose and her daughter continued to maintain access to both plunges. Both work hard to fill the tubs up in the morning and drain them each night to provide the most pristine soaking experience. People who seek mineral waters for soaking consider the Camas Hot Spring aquifer to be one of the finest waters in the nation. Many also believe it’s the best in the world. 

BANA’S National Access Award recognizes therapeutic hot springs whose owners and operators provide affordable public access to “taking the waters”, a phrase that references the different ways thermal mineral waters are used to benefit health and wellbeing. Re-named after Kathy Clark, a long-time hot springs access advocate who passed away in 2022, the Access Award is BANA’s highest recognition given once each year.

As more people recognize the healing qualities of natural thermal mineral water, the need for focused stewardship of this important resource, including the surrounding watershed, becomes an important policy concern. BANA also recognizes the continued efforts of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to preserve and protect the watershed that supports the famous hot mineral water flowing from the Camas Hot Spring Aquifer.  Read the article here. 10/27/23

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BANA was recently quoted in National Geographic,

“You’re not going to a hot tub party in the woods,” says Janet Abbott, the board president of the Balneology Association of North America (BANA), a thermal water education and research group. “Soakers need to be as low-impact as they can and pack in and pack out.” -Janet Abbott, Director and Board President

 

“Spa Cultures already exist and have existed since the beginning of recorded history and now is a time to research, rediscover, relearn, and re-mainstream the arts, sciences and cultures of Balneology into the practices of mindfulness, wellness, health-care and therapies.”

— Dr. Jonathan Paul de Vierville, Director of Spa Cultures, Board Vice President