The World-Renowned Healing Water of Unknown Geochemistry (Lourdes, France)

In the area of Lourdes (Pyrenees, France), the town world-wide known for Marian shrine and the Massabielle (MS) healing spring water, karst spring waters, drinking waters provided for pilgrims and river water were studied in details in multidisciplinary (geochemical, biological, tensiometric) survey. It was the first such a wide geochemical test of the MS water, and at the same time the first one, the results of which were published and are widely available. Since the disclosure of the MS spring in 1858, in an atmosphere of great interest and excitement, there were various hypotheses indicating the inferred factors or components responsible for actual or putative healing properties of the MS water. Among others, it was proposed similarity of the MS water to curative waters of this Pyrenees region, and presence of ozone or bacteriophages. Recently, germanium and hydrogen were also announced as possible healing agents. As a result of the research carried out, it was found that the MS spring water is enriched with numerous elements (Li, Na, Cs, Ba, S, F, Br, REE, B, Sb and Bi) comparing with other studied springs and with bedrocks geochemistry. Studies do not verify the claim that Lourdes waters are rich in germanium.