Hot spring water has therapeutic effects due to its physical and chemical properties. Physically, the warm moisture causes capillaries and blood vessels to dilate, promoting blood circulation. The buoyancy and pressure of water provide massage, anti-swelling, astringent, and pain-relieving effects. Chemically, the minerals and special chemical components in the spring water produce different effects on the human body. Civilizations such as Rome and Egypt used hot springs for health and wellness thousands of years ago. Hot spring minerals promote immune function, reduce inflammation, strengthen joints, decrease arteriosclerosis, and enhance cardiovascular function. Hot spring bathing has thermotherapy effects that help relax muscles throughout the body and relieve pain and discomfort.

Because hot spring bathing causes profuse sweating, which dilates blood vessels and promotes metabolism, it has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects for neuralgia and arthritis. Sulfur springs are particularly effective for treating skin conditions such as athlete's foot, hemorrhoids, psoriasis, and eczema. The trace minerals in sulfur can form a thin film in the air that, when inhaled, can boost immunity against nasal allergies. Sulfur springs are considered ideal for treating rheumatism, while alkaline carbonate springs with a pH above 8 also have good therapeutic effects for gout.

According to research by Gunma University Medical Department in Japan, soaking in acidic hot spring water (pH around 2, 42°C) for 10 minutes twice daily for 2 months improved atopic dermatitis in three-quarters of patients. For chronic lung disease patients, standing in 38°C spring water to inhale, then squatting to submerge the nose while slowly exhaling through the mouth, done 3 times daily for 2 months, reduced arterial carbon dioxide and improved breathing. Additionally, hot spring sitz baths can promote anal blood circulation and prevent hemorrhoid worsening. For those prone to colds, soaking in 39°C springs can stimulate lymphocytes and boost immunity.