Social Thermalism brings thermal water treatments to SUS patients Credit: Disclosure The therapeutic properties of the mineral waters of Águas de Lindóia are no longer just a tourist attraction but have also become a tool for promoting public health. Through the Social Thermalism Project, patients served by the Unified Health System (SUS) have free access to treatments that use thermal water as a complementary therapy for different clinical conditions. Developed in integration between the Municipal Balneário and the Municipal Health Department, the project receives patients referred by basic health units. Before starting treatment, each person undergoes an assessment by trained professionals, who define the most appropriate therapeutic modality according to their clinical history and individual needs. One of the modalities offered is thermal baths, recommended as a complementary treatment for people with chronic pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis, skin diseases, circulatory problems and patients recovering from orthopedic surgeries. Rich in silicon, Águas de Lindóia mineral water has antioxidant properties and is recognized for its beneficial effects on the skin, in addition to contributing to muscle relaxation and well-being. The project also offers crenotherapy treatment, based on the intake of mineral water and aimed mainly at patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. The protocol is carried out for 21 days and has shown positive results both in the elimination of kidney stones and in the improvement of renal function in the patients monitored. These results are currently the subject of research developed in partnership with the Institute for Energy and Nuclear Research (IPEN), at the University of São Paulo (USP), which monitors patients undergoing treatment in the city. In 2026, when Águas de Lindóia celebrates the centenary of scientist Marie Curie's visit to the then Termas de Lindóia, the project gains even more relevance. In August 1926, the researcher was in the city at the invitation of doctor Francisco Tozzi to analyze the mineral sources in the region. His studies contributed to scientifically proving the therapeutic properties of the waters, strengthening the reputation of Águas de Lindóia as a health-oriented destination. The only person to receive two Nobel Prizes in different scientific areas — Physics, in 1903, and Chemistry, in 1911 — Marie Curie helped consolidate a legacy that spanned generations. A century later, this historic recognition is translated into an initiative that brings together science, public health and quality of life, allowing the benefits of mineral waters to reach patients in the public health network free of charge.