Bad Sobernheim, the newest 'Bath' in the Nahe valley
Bad Sobernheim is the newest of the three "Baths" in the Nahe valley and is
therefore overshadowed by the two older ones: Bad Kreuznach and Bad Münster
am Stein. This is somewhat unfair, though, because Bad Sobernheim has its
own particular and attractive qualities. In the 100 years of its existence
it gradually developed into a city renowned for its Felke mud treatments.
In this time its reputation as a health resort became important economic factors
in the region. After being acknowledged by the government as Felke-Heilbad
in 1989 the award of the "Bad" (=spa) title followed only five years later.
Bad Sobernheim has its own attractive advantages: high standards, a new and
impressive infrastructure and three health-resort hotels managed by doctors
who consider holistic and natural treatments not to be trends that come and
go, but have emphasized them for decades. The basic principles of the Spa
(beginning in 1907) go back to the natural healer Emanuel Felke.
It is here that Pastor Emmanuel Felke, a natural healer (naturopath) worked,
beginning in 1915. He made mud (healing earth), air, light, and water the
bases for his treatment methods. These are complemented today by the latest
findings of nutritional science as well as the most modern diagnostic techniques.
Here, a "cure" does not mean just following a programme, but it involves a
harmony of comfort, health and nature. Just how important this is, has been
recently and impressively documented by
scientific studies,
which show how the immune system (Sommer 1999), blood pressure, levels
of cholesterol, uric acid and liver indicators (Breden 1998) can be
influenced for the better.
After a period of observation lasting 3 weeks, the results of the study demonstrated
a significant reduction of cholesterol, uric acid, liver indicators and blood
pressure. At the same time, vitality and physical fitness improved. The results
of the Felke-cure were a reduction of risk factors for arteriosclerosis, meaning
more protection for the heart and vascular system, combined with a generally
improved sense of well being and a higher level of fitness. It is worth coming
to Bad Sobernheim to relax and be restored. The best part is that one feels
good doing it.
Literature
H. Breden: Natürlich gesund werden. Köln 1998
P. Sommer: Immunfit. Bad Sobernheim 2003