In the ebb and flow of wellness trends, mineral springs remain a steady source of healing. One of the most storied landscapes where these therapeutic waters emerge is the Desert Southwest, especially in and around the Coachella Valley.
An offshoot of the San Andreas Fault bisects Desert Hot Springs, where tectonic movement creates the perfect conditions for hot springs: Molten rock relatively close to the surface heats a vast underground pool that feeds multiple wells. Palm Springs itself has just one mineral spring, at The Spa at Séc-he, which draws from a separate geothermal source. There, water from a 12,000-year-old aquifer emerges from 8,000 feet below at 105 degrees Fahrenheit, carrying a mineral payload gathered over millennia.
What makes each spring unique lies in its geological fingerprint. The combination of minerals depends entirely on where the water originates and what it picks up during its journey underground. Séc-he’s unique composition includes bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, chloride, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and sulfate.
Private soaking tubs at The Spa at Séc-he offer access to the mineral water of Palm Springs, considered sacred by the Agua Caliente tribe.
Photo courtesy visit greater palm springs
Long before Europeans arrived, Indigenous people revered mineral springs as sacred sites. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians used the waters of Séc-he (“the sound of boiling water” in the Cahuilla language) for irrigation, bathing, and in ritual practices, believing the underground source bridged the physical and spiritual worlds. The tribe continues to steward and protect the spring today.
Modern science affirms much of this ancient wisdom. A 2020 Journal of Clinical Medicine review cites several studies showing thermal water therapy effective in treating chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Another review, in the International Journal of Biometeorology, reports that balneotherapy, the term for soaking in mineral waters, may reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
Minerals in thermal springs work both externally and internally. On the surface, some reduce inflammation and have antimicrobial properties. As Daniel Spencer, director of spa at The Spa at Séc-he, explains, “When you soak in the waters at Séc-he, you’ll feel almost like you have oil on your skin. Your hand just kind of slips. You feel really hydrated and really soft, and it lasts for days.”
Internally, temperature plays a crucial role in mineral absorption. Warm water opens the pores, enhancing absorption of beneficial compounds. Minerals, which act as building blocks for the body, penetrate the skin to support joint health. Magnesium, in particular, improves sleep quality, which research links to cognitive health and reduced Alzheimer’s risk.
Today’s mineral spring facilities expand on this tradition with a layered approach to wellness. At Séc-he, in addition to traditional mineral soaks, guests can submerge in magnesium-rich flotation pods, undergo cryotherapy, and recharge in grounding rooms designed to neutralize electromagnetic exposure. The philosophy acknowledges that total wellness isn’t achieved with a single intervention but rather a constellation of intentional practices.
That intentionality matters. When you purposefully engage in self-care, whether it’s a mindful walk or a therapeutic soak, the benefits compound. It’s the difference between collapsing in front of the television after a stressful day and choosing an activity that leaves you feeling better in the morning.
The popularity of mineral springs reminds us that the earth provides natural remedies for our ailments, something that Native communities understood long before settlers arrived and began building “spa-tels” throughout the region: Some of the most powerful cures bubble up from the land beneath our feet.
