Although probably known about for many centuries, the original "hay bathing" was first documented in 1871. On the Jochgrimm, a 2000m high peak in the Dolomites, the workers cutting the grass would spend the night sleeping in the hay - and always woke up the next morning refreshed and full of energy, despite the exhausting nature of their work. Soon other country people started to copy them. Initially, they did it for the refreshment, but soon people started to do it to alleviate rheumatic complaints.

The inhabitants of Völs, an idyllic village in the Dolomites, situated at the foot of the Schlern (Monte Sciliar) Massif, set a milestone in the more widespread adoption of the hay bath. They built on the experiences of the hay-cutters and in 1890 began to offer the opportunity to take hay baths in their village barns. This immediately attracted "spa resort visitors" from around the region: fruit- and wine-growers with gout and rheumatic complaints. Fate looked kindly on the villagers in Völs: the well-known doctor Josef Clara (1872-1923), from Blumau in the South Tyrol, sent his sick brother for a hay bath. When his brother enjoyed an unusually short convalescence, Clara became interested in the cure and carried out numerous medical investigations before creating the first modern type of Völser hay bath, which is still so popular today.

However, back then a spell in a hay bath was no picnic: the bacteria in the hay instigate vigorous fermentation processes. This results in substantial increases in temperature. The bathers were buried up to their necks in hay and sweltered for around 20 minutes at temperatures of between 40-60 degrees Celsius. The beneficial effects are generated by copious perspiration and the essential oils contained in the hay flowers. The "bath attendants" wiped the sweat from the foreheads of the bathers, chased away the flies and occasionally offered the thirsty patients a glass of red or white wine. The guest, wrapped in linen cloths, was then allowed a rest afterwards. These days a hay bath is an altogether more pleasant experience.

What is the secret of the hay and its constituents? The higher the mountain pasture, the greater the variety of flora in the meadows. The hay grown in the Dolomites is known to be particularly "rich", which is linked to the unique soil types: dolomite is, to a large extent, made of fossilized coral reefs. They originated in the buried Tethys Sea, the prehistoric ocean from the geological Mesozoic era (approximately 250 million years ago).
Foliate plants such as lady's mantle, alpine wormwood, arnica, alpine valerian, couch grass, ryegrass and alpine fescue characterize the hay produced in the Dolomites, such as that cut on the high alpine meadows of the Schlern and the Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi). Obviously, all high mountain meadows in the Alpine region produce high-quality hay flowers; mostly true grasses, clovers and meadow plants. These contain essential oils, coumarin glycosides and tannic acids. These aid the circulation and work on the internal organs via reflex points on the surface of the body. Out of the large variety of well-known hay flowers there are some which can be noted in particular:
The physiotherapist Maria Kompatscher is in the vanguard of the movement in terms of treatment and expert support as she runs a therapy department in Völs which specializes in hay baths. Hay baths have been used here for 100 years. The introduction of customized methods has ensured that the once arduous process of hay bathing has become a beneficial, sophisticated form of therapy. The patient is covered in hay, which has previously been soaked in hot water, and is placed in a waterbed. The temperature of the water is a constant 40 degrees Celsius, which enables the special properties of the alpine hay to have their effect in 15-20 minutes. The hay originates from the nearby Seiser Alm. Afterwards, the patient rests for some time, wrapped in sheets, still with the hay and essential oil residues on their skin. The treatment finishes with a gentle massage to rub in the active substances remaining on the skin's surface.

From the article „Heublumen: Morphium der Kneipp-Therapie“
from „Naturarzt“ Nr.4 2007 by Dr. Christian W. Engelbert