Nature-based therapies in the non-alpine terrain of Austria

Written by Anna Rokita, Florian Priller, Matthias Kraus, Alexander Lasser und Melanie Quehenberger

Introduction

Nature-based therapy is gaining global attention for their Integrated and Ecological approach. Blending traditional treatments with the healing power of natural environments in Austria, innovative projects including natural settings into psychotherapy, physical rehabilitation, and wellness practices are getting more attention! Austria offers a rich variety of nature-based therapies. From forest and water therapies to barefoot walking, peat treatments, and “Kneipp” methods! These innovative approaches support physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This overview highlights selected Austrian projects and practices that showcase the country’s commitment to holistic health and sustainable wellness tourism.

Nature as co-therapist

Austria’s first certified healing forest, created with Göttweig Abbey, is a pioneering nature-based therapy project. Covering 53 hectares, the Göttweig Healing Forest offers guided walks inspired by Japanese forest bathing, helping participants reduce stress, reconnect with nature, and enhance well-being.

Scientific evidence supports forest therapy’s capacity to reduce blood pressure, enhance immune function, and improve people’s mood. Project leader Susanne Bauer, together with Udo Brändle and Uwe Rinner, recently showcased the Göttweig Healing Forest and its innovative concepts at the International Society of Forest Therapy (ISFT) Congress in Lithuania (1). Krems, with its natural landscapes and accessible woodland provides an ideal environment for holistic health promotion and stress reduction (1,2).

Barefoot running

The article “Raus aus dem Schuh” by Physio Austria emphasizes the importance of barefoot walking for foot health. Not only barefoot walking, but also barefoot running is beneficial. Modern shoes are often too tight and can weaken the foot muscles, leading to misalignments such as hallux valgus. Barefoot walking, particularly barefoot running, strengthens the foot muscles, improves body awareness, and can prevent posture-related issues. However, barefoot running requires an adjustment in running style and should be professionally trained (10).

Matthias Zuckerhut, a physiotherapist and coach in Vienna, specializes in natural barefoot running technique. In his coaching, he teaches how to reawaken the original functions of the feet and body. The technique is based on biomechanical and evolutionary principles as well as research and experience from Prof. Daniel E. Liebermann (Harvard University, USA) and Lee Saxby (UK). This approach reactivates the natural cushioning and stability of the foot, leading to better overall coordination and proprioception (11,12).

Water therapy in Abtenau

Abtenau Water Therapy utilizes the mineral-rich springs of the Abtenau region, notably the Anna and St. Rupertus springs, whose waters are naturally high in sodium, calcium, chloride, and sulphate giving it a distinctive, slightly bitter taste. Traditionally, this water has been used for drinking and bathing. Recent studies have highlighted the health benefits of combining bathing in Abtenau’s healing water with physical activity such as mountain hiking (2).

Research from the Paracelsus Medical Private University has demonstrated that regular baths in mineral water, when paired with exercise, can enhance immune function, balance, and overall well-being—especially in older adults. Participants reported improved skin condition and increased vitality after a week-long program of hiking and daily mineral baths (3).

Today, visitors to Abtenau can experience the therapeutic effects of this natural resource through guided “fountain of youth” hikes and wellness programs, making it a unique destination for health tourism in the Austrian Alps.

Results from Abtenau Interreg Project “Jungbrunnen-BERG-Study“

Bathing in Abtenau’s highly mineralized healing water increases T-helper cell counts (p=0.011) and improves the T-helper to cytotoxic T-cell ratio by day 60 (p=0.015), suggesting a rejuvenation effect. Gender differences were observed: women showed a significant increase in naïve T-helper (p=0.033) and naïve cytotoxic T-cells (p=0.039). No effects were found on memory T-cells or their ratios to naïve cells (2).

Projekt:Leben – Nature-Oriented Behavioral Therapy in Mondsee

Projekt:Leben, located in Mondsee (upper Austria), offers a nature-oriented behavioural therapy, which “combines elements of behaviour therapy with experiences and activities in nature.” (4) This approach utilizes nature as a therapeutic medium to enhance mindfulness, emotional processing and self-reflection, and stress reduction to treat mental and physical health issues, for example depression, trauma, and behavioural disorders like ADHD. Activities such as forest bathing, gardening, and outdoor exercise promote relaxation, improved mood, enhanced focus, and encourage personal growth and responsibility.

Even small integrations of nature into daily life can significantly increase well-being. Such integrations could be fresh air breaks at work, daily nature rituals, be it a walkin the forest or watching the sunset, or even a nature-related environment like apicture above the dining table (4).

Leoppoldskroner Moor – Therapeutic peat applications, Paracelsus Bad, Salzburg

For hundreds of years humans have been aware of the healing effects of natural resources, such as peat. The Paracelsus Bad in Salzburg offers evidence-based balneotherapy utilizing high-quality peat from the local “Leopoldskroner Moor”, one of Europe’s most renowned peat bogs (Best-known peat bogs). The “black gold” (5) has been used for medical purposes in Salzburg since 1820 and is crushed and prepared for treatment in the own “peat kitchen”. Medical peat is rich in humic acids, minerals (magnesium, iron, copper), and plant-derived organic compounds and is applied in the form of packs, wraps, and baths. These applications are indicated for chronic musculoskeletal disorders, rheumatism, dermatological conditions, and muscular tension. The combination of thermal and biochemical effects promotes analgesia, detoxification, and enhanced circulation (5).

The local company “SonnenMoor” further extends these benefits through a range of peat-based products, including peat baths, skincare products, ointments, as well as drinking cures and capsules for oral intake. Representing a sustainable, nature- conscious approach, the peat is harvested by hand from the natural unfertilized moor meadow in Leopoldskron and produced and shipped in Anthering, Salzburg (6).

Brine Therapy – Bad Ischl

Even the Austrian imperial family trusted the healing power of brine therapy, frequently visiting Bad Ischl in the Salzkammergut, which became a renowned wellness destination. Brine-based treatments remain valued today for their preventive, restorative, and therapeutic effects. Salt, brine, sulphur, and brine mud support respiratory health, musculoskeletal function, and the treatment of burnout and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Naturally rich in minerals, the Bad Ischl brine contains 25–30 grams of salt per liter and is used in pure or customized forms across various treatments. Salt concentrations range from 0.9% to 12%, with the general spa pool matching the 3% level of the Adriatic Sea.

Brine baths are central to therapy in the region, offering deep relaxation through buoyancy and promoting holistic well-being. They relieve pain, reduce inflammation, boost circulation and metabolism, support organ function and immune health, and help regenerate body and mind. Used in baths, massages, and hydrotherapy, brine is absorbed through the skin, triggering beneficial biological processes. It’s also gentle enough for use in cancer care. When inhaled, brine mist soothes respiratory conditions by reducing inflammation, loosening mucus, and aiding mucous membrane regeneration (8)