BREATHE HEALTHY - Krimmler Waterfalls as a Natural Remedy A scientific study confirms

A visit to Krimmler Waterfalls stimulates a sustainable, functional, symptomatic and immunological improvement in people who suffer from asthma.

This clinical study is based on the following findings:

The Krimmler Waterfalls were declared a health spa as early as 1803.
Dr Paul Oberlechner, the then chief medical officer of Zell am See, described the waterfalls as follows:
"The Krimmler Waterfalls as a remedy for city life and sensibility"

.... because the spa surpasses all the medication under the sun for nervous debility, caused by city life, sedentary habits, headache, stress, grief, strong coffee, excessive medication or bloodletting, poor diet, insomnia, abstinence of meat dishes, strict diet, pubescent or excessive lust, self abuse and menstruation, where reading novels and sensibility arise. Those who love simplicity will find the health spa a worthwhile experiment – and anyone not familiar with it should visit at the first opportunity. Here you can experience weak and strong forces, the gentle and the powerful, yes, and I would even say, the mild and the radical, which not only serve to alleviate the previously mentioned nervous symptoms, but also act as a source of healing in the case where such debilities are, in part or full, the result of some mechanical cause". (Source: Salzburger Landes¬chronik)

Over the years, various findings on "waterfall electricity” and older medical literature on this subject have endorsed Dr Oberlechner’s scientific discoveries.

The Paracelsus Private Medical University of Salzburg (PMU), an authority on "asthma and allergies" is now a competent partner. The university tested the healing effects of the Krimmler Waterfalls between 2006 and 2008. The study involved establishing the "Splash Camp Krimml" in July and August 2007 in the Krimml region, where a clinical trial was conducted with 54 asthmatic children.

Splash Camp Krimml study results
The analysis of the results shows that exposure to the waterfalls results in a sustainable, functional, symptomatic and immunological improvement.

• Significantly higher numbers of regulatory T-cells - cells responsible for balancing the immune system - thus reducing asthmatic inflammation
• Significantly higher gamma delta T-cell numbers - cells that relax the respiratory tract and lungs after a painful asthma attack
• Significantly more activation markers of innate immunity - another sign of a "recovery" of the immune system
• Significantly less eosinophil cationic protein, a marker of allergic inflammation
• Significantly fewer allergy and inflammatory biochemical messengers (IL-5, IL-13).

Asthma symptoms improved with both groups during a three-week stay at the camp - but only the "waterfall children" were able to sustain the positive effect for four months. Also, a 30 per cent improvement in lung functions was only seen in this group two months later, compared with before the camp. Other asthma parameters also improved to sustainable levels in the waterfall group.

The effect of the finest electrically charged water particles are responsible for this change.They are generated from mists of spray from the Krimmler Waterfalls that enter the respiratory tract and into the lungs, resulting in a sustainable functional, symptomatic and immunological improvement. The climatic spa at Krimmler Waterfalls therefore provides a new, gentle and natural therapeutic option for young allergy and asthma sufferers.

The following apply with regard to the practical local impact of the PMU research results on asthma and allergies:

A temporary installation was made for a short period in 2008, which involved establishing a seating area by the waterfall and compiling information. A special exhibition under the theme “Waterfall Health” will also be held at Krimml Wonderful World of Water (WasserWunderWelt) during the month of August.

Further measures to promote health tourism in the region include the co-operation of Land Salzburg, Großglock¬ner Hochalpenstraßen AG, PMU, Austrian Alpine Association, the Municipality of Krimml, the Hohe Tauern National Park in Mittersill and outside experts, working together with the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce.