The  study  characterizes specific  therapeutic waters  in  Polish  health  resorts, which  contain iodide,  fluoride,  silicon,  sulphides,   iron(II), carbon  dioxide  and  radon  in  concentrations that ensure  the  therapeutic  status   of water   and  specify  how  it  can  be used  for  medical treatment. Based  on  the physicochemical   analysis, it  has  been  verified   that  among  160 waters from 39  health   resorts,   37  contain  Fe(II) in  concentrations   > 10  mg  dm-3, which  means that  they  can  be classified   as  ferruginous. Twelve  waters containing  fluoride in concentrations  > 2  mg dm-3 were  recognized  as therapeutic fluoride  waters.   Five waters  were classified  as  siliceous   ones owing  to  the  content  of silicon  compounds above  70  mg  dm-3 (H2SiO3). Twenty-eight of the  analysed   waters   contain  sulphides  (H2S+HS-)  in concentrations > 1  mg dm-3  and  64  waters   contain  iodide  in concentrations  > 1  mg dm-3.  Carbon dioxide, which  occurs  in 72 waters  in concentrations   above  1  g dm-3  (acidulous  waters), proved  to  be the  most widespread  component. Waters   which contain  radon  in  an  amount corresponding to the  radiation of 74  Bq  (2  nCi)  in  1 dm3  are  classified  as  radon  waters. Ten of the analysed waters were found to contain this element. The waters were highly  varied  in chemical  composition and type  of specific components.  Sulphurous waters  are  mainly  used for mineral baths; ferruginous  waters  are drunk; fluoride  and  silicon-rich waters  are taken  for mineral baths  and iodide waters  are used for mineral   baths  and inhalations. Using  these waters  in balneotherapy is  an important   part of spa  treatment  and  defines  different  healing profiles of Polish  health resorts.