Levico water
Levico water is described as the water of various springs in the area of Levico in the Brenta Valley in Trentino in northern Italy. It springs, among others, from a spring in the village of Vetriolo at an altitude of 1600m in a grotto at the end of a tunnel dug into a layer of arsenopyrite,[1] the so called Starkwasserquelle [strong water spring]. On average, about 780 l/hour of water regularly come to the surface in the gallery, absorbing minerals and metals that go into solution with the cooperation of microorganisms from the surrounding rock. The spring flows from four crevices at the bottom of the vitriol grotto and is led through a passage to the exit of the cave. Besides this main spring, there are several smaller ones in the grotto, called capillary springs, which also join with the above spring.
A slightly lower spring, which rises in the so-called ochre grotto, is called the weak-water spring [Schwachwasserquelle], or in former times also the drinking spring. Only the more concentrated water of the strong water or bathing spring is currently used for therapeutic purposes.
The water of the strong water source has a high acidity and contains, among other things, sulfate, iron and other metals such as copper or zinc. In 1858, the Italian physician Luigi Manetti conducted the first chemical analyses: "strong water" contains iron in colloidal solution, also copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium and arsenic in therapeutic quantities.
It is used in the regional Casa Raphael in Roncegno. Roncegno had a now dried up spring of similar composition.[2]
History
The first historical mention of Levico-Ouelle is found in the famous historian Michelangelo Mariani, who reported on the Trentino Council in 1673. Mariani mentions in his report that above Levico, in the Sugana Valley, there is a famous spring that was already known in the Middle Ages. This valley was characterized by its richness in metals, with more than 60 different combinations of minerals and metals, and for centuries mining was carried out in the depths of the mountain, where the water also springs. In 1858, the Italian doctor Luigi Manetti carried out the first chemical analyses: "strong water" contains iron in colloidal solution, also copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium and arsenic in therapeutic quantities.
Levico water in anthroposophic medicine
Levico water is the basis of various medicines of anthroposophic medicine. It is described in the anthroposophic pharmaceutical codex (apc).[3]
Levico baths at Casa Raphael
In Casa Raphael, spring water is used diluted in baths. With 60 liters of water per bath, the total amount increases from 10 to a maximum of 20 liters of levico water. After the bath there is a post-bath rest for 20 minutes.
References
- ↑ "Levicowasser" [Levico water]. Casa Raphael (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2022-01-29.
- ↑ Otto Wolff (1995). "Die Heilquelle des Levico-Wassers" [The healing spring of Levico water]. Der Merkurstab (in Deutsch). 48 (3): 269–273. doi:10.14271/DMS-16720-DE. ISSN 0935-798X. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
- ↑ International Association of Anthroposophic Pharmacists IAAP (ed.), ed. (2013). "Levico water". Anthroposophic_Pharmaceutical_Codex_APC_third_edition_3.0.pdf (PDF) (in Deutsch) (3 ed.). Dornach, Schweiz. pp. 57–. Retrieved 2022-02-02.CS1 maint: extra text: editors list (link)