Balneotherapy (Latin: balneum "bath") is a method of treating diseases by bathing, a traditional medicine technique usually practiced at spas.[1] Since ancient times, humans have used hot springs, public baths and thermal medicine for therapeutic effects.[2] While it is considered distinct from hydrotherapy,[3] there are some overlaps in practice and in underlying principles. Balneotherapy may involve hot or cold water, massage through moving water, relaxation, or stimulation. Many mineral waters at spas are rich in particular minerals such as silica, sulfur, selenium, and radium. Medicinal clays are also widely used, a practice known as 'fangotherapy'.
The statue of "A man breaking a walking crutch" in the spa town Piešťany (Slovakia) - an eloquent symbol of balneotherapy.
"Balneotherapy" is the practice of immersing a subject in mineral water or mineral-laden mud; it is part of the traditional medicine of many cultures and originated in hot springs, cold water springs, or other sources of such water, like the Dead Sea.[4]
Balneotherapy may be recommended for various illnesses, including arthritis,[5] skin conditions and fibromyalgia.[6] Balneotherapy should be discussed in advance with a physician before beginning treatment since several conditions, like heart disease and pregnancy, can result in a serious adverse effect.
Scientific studies into the effectiveness of balneotherapy do not show that balneotherapy is effective for treating rheumatoid arthritis.[7] There is also no evidence indicating a more effective type of bath,[7] or that bathing is more effective than exercise, relaxation therapy, or mudpacks.[7] Most of the studies on balneotherapy have methodological flaws and are not reliable.[8][7] A 2009 review of all published clinical evidence concluded that existing research is not sufficiently strong to draw firm conclusions about the efficacy of balneotherapy.[9]
"Balneophototherapy" combines salt bathing (balneotherapy) and exposure to ultraviolet B-light (UVB) as a potential treatment for severe, chronic plaque psoriasis. A Cochrane review found low-quality evidence that salt bathing combined with UVB may relieve psoriasis severity compared to UVB treatment only.[10]
A 2018 systematic review concluded that "balneotherapy and spa therapy may be considered useful interventions for managing stress conditions".[11]
^Matz, H; Orion, E; Wolf, R (2003). "Balneotherapy in dermatology". Dermatologic Therapy. 16 (2): 132–40. doi:10.1046/j.1529-8019.2003.01622.x. PMID 12919115. S2CID 27602504.
^Sukenik S; Flusser, D; Codish, S; Abu-Shakra, M (1999). "Balneotherapy at the Dead Sea area for knee osteoarthritis". IMAJ. 1 (2): 83–85. PMID 10731301.
^Deniz Evcik; Kizilay, B; Gökçen, E (June 2002). "The effects of balneotherapy on fibromyalgia patients". Rheumatology International. 22 (2): 56–59. doi:10.1007/s00296-002-0189-8. PMID 12070676. S2CID 40868870.
^ abcdVerhagen, Arianne P.; Bierma-Zeinstra, Sita M. A.; Boers, Maarten; Cardoso, Jefferson R.; Lambeck, Johan; de Bie, Rob; de Vet, Henrica C. W. (11 April 2015). "Balneotherapy (or spa therapy) for rheumatoid arthritis". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015 (4): CD000518. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000518.pub2. ISSN 1469-493X. PMC7045434. PMID 25862243.
^Verhagen AP; De Vet, HC; De Bie, RA; Kessels, AG; Boers, M; Knipschild, PG (October 1997). "Taking baths: the efficacy of balneotherapy in patients with arthritis. A systematic review". J Rheumatol. 24 (10): 1964–71. PMID 9330940.
^Falagas ME; et al. (2009). "The therapeutic effect of balneotherapy: Evaluation of the evidence from randomized controlled trials". International Journal of Clinical Practice. 63 (7): 1068–84. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02062.x. PMID 19570124. S2CID 26008531.
^Peinemann F, Harari M, Peternel S, Chan T, Chan D, Labeit AM, Gambichler T. (May 2020). "Indoor salt water baths followed by artificial ultraviolet B light for chronic plaque psoriasis". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2020 (5): CD011941. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011941.pub2. PMC7199317. PMID 32368795.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Antonelli, Michelle; Donelli, David (2018). "Effects of balneotherapy and spa therapy on levels of cortisol as a stress biomarker: a systematic review". International Journal of Biometeorology. 62 (6).
Jane Crebbin-Bailey, John W. Harcup, John Harrington, The Spa Book: The Official Guide to Spa Therapy. Publisher: Cengage Learning EMEA, 2005. ISBN1-86152-917-1
Esti Dvorjetski, Leisure, pleasure, and healing: spa culture and medicine in ancient eastern Mediterranean., E. J. Brill, 2007 (illustrated). ISBN90-04-15681-X
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Balneotherapy Latin balneum bath is a method of treating diseases by bathing a traditional medicine technique usually practiced at spas 1 Since ancient times humans have used hot springs public baths and thermal medicine for therapeutic effects 2 While it is considered distinct from hydrotherapy 3 there are some overlaps in practice and in underlying principles Balneotherapy may involve hot or cold water massage through moving water relaxation or stimulation Many mineral waters at spas are rich in particular minerals such as silica sulfur selenium and radium Medicinal clays are also widely used a practice known as fangotherapy BalneotherapyRoman Baths in Bath Spa England July 2006MeSHD001452 edit on Wikidata Contents 1 Definition and characteristics 2 Presumed effect on diseases 3 See also 4 References 5 Further readingDefinition and characteristics edit nbsp The statue of A man breaking a walking crutch in the spa town Piestany Slovakia an eloquent symbol of balneotherapy Balneotherapy is the practice of immersing a subject in mineral water or mineral laden mud it is part of the traditional medicine of many cultures and originated in hot springs cold water springs or other sources of such water like the Dead Sea 4 Presumed effect on diseases edit nbsp Treatment bath at a spa in Hot Springs Arkansas United StatesBalneotherapy may be recommended for various illnesses including arthritis 5 skin conditions and fibromyalgia 6 Balneotherapy should be discussed in advance with a physician before beginning treatment since several conditions like heart disease and pregnancy can result in a serious adverse effect Scientific studies into the effectiveness of balneotherapy do not show that balneotherapy is effective for treating rheumatoid arthritis 7 There is also no evidence indicating a more effective type of bath 7 or that bathing is more effective than exercise relaxation therapy or mudpacks 7 Most of the studies on balneotherapy have methodological flaws and are not reliable 8 7 A 2009 review of all published clinical evidence concluded that existing research is not sufficiently strong to draw firm conclusions about the efficacy of balneotherapy 9 Balneophototherapy combines salt bathing balneotherapy and exposure to ultraviolet B light UVB as a potential treatment for severe chronic plaque psoriasis A Cochrane review found low quality evidence that salt bathing combined with UVB may relieve psoriasis severity compared to UVB treatment only 10 A 2018 systematic review concluded that balneotherapy and spa therapy may be considered useful interventions for managing stress conditions 11 See also editBoleslav Vladimirovich Likhterman Enoch Heinrich Kisch Destination spa Hot spring Hydrotherapy Mineral spa Onsen Peloid ThalassotherapyReferences edit Angus Stevenson ed 2007 Definition of balneo therapy Shorter Oxford English Dictionary Vol 1 A M 6th ed Oxford Oxford University Press p 180 ISBN 978 0 19 920687 2 Melillo L 1995 Thermalism in the ancient world Med Secoli 7 3 461 483 PMID 11623481 Retrieved 15 June 2022 Chisholm 1911 Matz H Orion E Wolf R 2003 Balneotherapy in dermatology Dermatologic Therapy 16 2 132 40 doi 10 1046 j 1529 8019 2003 01622 x PMID 12919115 S2CID 27602504 Sukenik S Flusser D Codish S Abu Shakra M 1999 Balneotherapy at the Dead Sea area for knee osteoarthritis IMAJ 1 2 83 85 PMID 10731301 Deniz Evcik Kizilay B Gokcen E June 2002 The effects of balneotherapy on fibromyalgia patients Rheumatology International 22 2 56 59 doi 10 1007 s00296 002 0189 8 PMID 12070676 S2CID 40868870 a b c d Verhagen Arianne P Bierma Zeinstra Sita M A Boers Maarten Cardoso Jefferson R Lambeck Johan de Bie Rob de Vet Henrica C W 11 April 2015 Balneotherapy or spa therapy for rheumatoid arthritis The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015 4 CD000518 doi 10 1002 14651858 CD000518 pub2 ISSN 1469 493X PMC 7045434 PMID 25862243 Verhagen AP De Vet HC De Bie RA Kessels AG Boers M Knipschild PG October 1997 Taking baths the efficacy of balneotherapy in patients with arthritis A systematic review J Rheumatol 24 10 1964 71 PMID 9330940 Falagas ME et al 2009 The therapeutic effect of balneotherapy Evaluation of the evidence from randomized controlled trials International Journal of Clinical Practice 63 7 1068 84 doi 10 1111 j 1742 1241 2009 02062 x PMID 19570124 S2CID 26008531 Peinemann F Harari M Peternel S Chan T Chan D Labeit AM Gambichler T May 2020 Indoor salt water baths followed by artificial ultraviolet B light for chronic plaque psoriasis The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020 5 CD011941 doi 10 1002 14651858 CD011941 pub2 PMC 7199317 PMID 32368795 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Antonelli Michelle Donelli David 2018 Effects of balneotherapy and spa therapy on levels of cortisol as a stress biomarker a systematic review International Journal of Biometeorology 62 6 Further reading editNathaniel Altman Healing springs the ultimate guide to taking the waters from hidden springs to the world s greatest spas Inner Traditions Bear amp Company 2000 ISBN 0 89281 836 0 James Crook The Mineral Waters of the United States and their Therapeutic Uses Lea Brothers amp Co New York and Philadelphia 1899 Dian Dincin Buchman The complete book of water healing 2nd ed McGraw Hill Professional 2001 ISBN 0 658 01378 5 Jane Crebbin Bailey John W Harcup John Harrington The Spa Book The Official Guide to Spa Therapy Publisher Cengage Learning EMEA 2005 ISBN 1 86152 917 1 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Balneotherapeutics Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 3 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 284 285 Esti Dvorjetski Leisure pleasure and healing spa culture and medicine in ancient eastern Mediterranean E J Brill 2007 illustrated ISBN 90 04 15681 X Carola Koenig Specialized Hydro Balneo and Medicinal Bath Therapy Publisher iUniverse 2005 ISBN 0 595 36508 6 Anne Williams Spa bodywork a guide for massage therapists Lippincott Williams amp Wilkins 2006 ISBN 0 7817 5578 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Balneotherapy amp oldid 1179223187, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
