Balneotherapy
Method of treating diseases by bathing
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Through Disease, Traditional medicine and Water
Definition and characteristics
"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.
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Presumed effect on diseases
Balneotherapy may be recommended for various illnesses, including arthritis, skin conditions and fibromyalgia. 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. There is also no evidence indicating a more effective type of bath, or that bathing is more effective than exercise, relaxation therapy, or mudpacks. Most of the studies on balneotherapy have methodological flaws and are not reliable. 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.
"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.
A 2018 systematic review concluded that "balneotherapy and spa therapy may be considered useful interventions for managing stress conditions".
Crenotherapy
The crenotherapy (from the Greek krene, "source") is closely related to the balneotherapy:
- Some sources equate it with balneotherapy, with the term "crenotherapy" most used in France and "balneotherapy" in Germany;
- Some researchers divide hydrotherapy into branches, with balneotherapy applying mineral water externally, and crenotherapy taking it internally.
Generally, crenotherapy is associated with the use of natural mineral waters as a medicine, including the trace levels of substances. Drinking of mineral water is sometimes called hydropinotherapy (from the Greek hydro, "water" and pino, "drink").