ABSTRACT
The effects of high concentration mineral water bating (31.16g/kg, mainly composed of Na, Ca, Mg chloride and sulfate) were studied in 13 healthy men (44.9±16.3y.o.). The subjects took 41°C, 10min bathing and kept warmth by a blanket for 30min. Blood pressure (BP), Heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), total peripheral resistance (TPR) and sublingual temperature by electric thermista as deep body temperature were measured during and after bathing. Skin blood flow by LASER doppler flow meter and venous partial gas pressure and pH were also measured.<br>Sublingual and forehead temperature was increased significantly by +1.4°C after 10min bathing and +0.9°C increase continued even after 30min. Diastolic BP and TPR were significantly decreased, and HR and CO were significantly increased by +20bpm and +2.7<i>l</i>/min, respectively. Significant increase of skin blood flow was also demonstrated. Significant increase of venous pO<sub>2</sub> (+20 Torr) and decrease of pCO<sub>2</sub> (-8.0 Torr) suggested the improvement of peripheral oxidative metabolism due to increased CO.<br>High concentration mineral water bathing was highly effective than simple water bathing probably due to the thick coating effect by binding concentrated minerals with skin furface protein.