Balneology

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Treatment bath at a spa in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Balneotherapy (from Latin: balneum, "bath") the treatment of disease by bathing. It may involve hot or cold water, massage through moving water, relaxation or stimulation. Many mineral waters at spas are rich in particular minerals (silica, sulfur, selenium, radium) which can be absorbed through the skin.

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[edit] Definition and characteristics

The term "balneotherapy" is generally applied to everything relating to spa treatment, including the drinking of waters and the use of hot baths and natural vapor baths, as well as of the various kinds of mud and sand used for hot applications. Balneotherapy is refers to the medical use of these spas, as opposed to recreational use. Common minerals found in spa waters are are sodium, magnesium, calcium and iron, as well as arsenic, lithium, potassium, manganese, bromine, and iodine. Resorts may also add minerals or essential oils to naturally-occurring hot springs. Though balneotherapy commonly refers to mineral baths, the term may also apply to water treatments using regular hot or cold tap water.

Mud baths are also included in balneotherapy, and the dirt and water used to mix mud baths may also contain minerals which are thought to have beneficial properties.

[edit] Treatment of diseases

Balneotherapy may be recommended for wide range of illnesses, including arthritis[1] , skin conditions and fibromyalgia[2] . As with any medical treatment, balneotherapy should be discussed with a physician before beginning treatment, since a number of conditions, like heart disease and pregnancy, can result in a serious adverse reaction.

Scientific studies into the effectiveness of balneotherapy tend to be neutral or positive, finding that balneotherapy provides no effect or a placebo effect, or that there is a positive effect. However, many of these studies suffer from methodological flaws, and so may not be entirely reliable.[3] [4]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sukenik S (1999). "Balneotherapy at the Dead Sea area for knee osteoarthritis". IMAJ 1 (2): 83-85. PMID 10731301. 
  2. ^ Deniz Evcik (June 2002). "The effects of balneotherapy on fibromyalgia patients". Rheumatology International 22 (2): 56-59. doi:10.1007/s00296-002-0189-8. 
  3. ^ Verhagen AP (January 2004). "Balneotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000518. PMID 10796385. 
  4. ^ Verhagen AP (October 1997). "Taking baths: the efficacy of balneotherapy in patients with arthritis. A systematic review.". J Rheumatol 24 (10): 1964-71. PMID 9330940. 
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