When Emanuel Felke was born on February 7, 1856 in Saxony-Anhalt, in the heart of Germany, no one could have imagined that people would still be talking about him 100 years after his death in 1926. But that's exactly the case. The pastor and naturopath developed the Felke Method named after him. To this day, it's still used in the wellness hotel BollAnts - Spa im Park, for example.

The pillars of the Felke method

© BollAnts - Spa in the park

Felke began working towards a healthier faith community while he was still working as a pastor. He relied on simple, natural means. For example, he used water treatments, a healthy diet and clay therapies. His method thus combined four main pillars: nutritional therapy, exercise therapy, hydrotherapy and healing clay applications.

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The diet according to the Felke method is wholesome and plant-based. It emphasizes natural foods such as fruit, vegetables, wholegrain products and nuts. Sugar, white flour and animal fats are avoided. The Felke method also includes regular exercise in the fresh air, such as walks, gymnastics and physical work outdoors. This is intended to promote blood circulation and stimulates your metabolism.

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Water treatments such as cold and warm baths, wraps and casts activate the circulation. They're also intended to strengthen the immune system. An essential and characteristic component of the Felke method is the use of healing clay. Clay packs and clay baths are said to have a detoxifying effect, relieve inflammation and have a positive effect on general well-being.

Millennia-old knowledge

Of course, Pastor Felke didn't "invent" all these things. After all, the Romans already knew about the all-encompassing effect of healing earth. But the pastor combined them into one methodology. The aim behind these measures was to activate the body's own self-healing powers. Felke, who was a pastor in several churches, finally established his spa practice in Bad Sobernheim. And this quickly became known far beyond the region's borders.

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Inspired by "clay pastor" Felke, Andreas Dhonau developed treatments for the Bad Sobernheim healing earth in 1907 for what was then known as the Felke-Kurhaus. Dhonau was the grandfather of the physician Dr. Bolland, whose family was instrumental in developing the Felke-Kurhaus into the BollAnts - Spa in the Park after Felke's death. To this day, it offers traditional treatments with clay and healing earth. However, yoga, meditation, massage and Ayurveda have also found their way onto the spa menu.

What can clay really do?

What Felke suspected and observed closely is now scientifically well documented: clay has many positive effects on people. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, it helps with skin diseases and can absorb toxins, bacteria and heavy metals from the skin and body. In addition, studies have shown that clay promotes wound healing.

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Some clays also have antimicrobial properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. People with oily or acne-prone skin benefit from the clay's ability to regulate the skin's moisture. Because clay stimulates blood circulation in the skin and underlying tissue, the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells improves. This in turn supports the healing process of the skin.

BollAnts - Spa im Park
Felkestraße 100, 55566 Bad Sobernheim, Germany
Tel: +49 6751 93390
Web: bollants.de
Price: Doubles from € 360