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NATURAL
TREATMENT METHODS
 The Word SPA is derived from SALUS PER AQUAM which
means heal from the water.
Use of hot springs and spas on the territories of
our country for purposes of health and treatment is
a tradition going all the way for a thousand years
and still continuing. In reality this tradition
exists in almost all of the civilizations. Today it
maintains its existence and spread in all continents
mainly South, Middle and Eastern Europe, Asia
(Middle East, Japan, China, Turkic Republics) and
South America (Argentina, Mexico, Colombia) and
North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia). However, while the
traditional and empiric quality of spa treatment in
many countries, including our country, remains as it
is; spa treatment in countries such as Germany,
France, Italy, Japan and Israel have advanced to a
high quality standard.
Another characteristic which is particular to our
country is that more than 60% of these patients to
seek to go to spas on their own decisions without
going through a medical check-up. Experience and
tradition based on centuries in this area of our
society is continuing. Spa treatment tradition has
also developed the spa tourism phenomenon. Since
"spa is a place to go". Therefore, spa treatment is
usually simultaneous with change of environment and
travel. In recent years interests of investors and
business administrators gradually inclines towards
this field.
Baths
Baths are classified as cold (hypothermal; under
34șC of water temperatures, sea baths are included
into this classification), warm (isothermal;
indifferent; in 34-35 șC of water temperatures), hot
(thermal; in 36-38 șC and 38-40 șC of water
temperatures). Duration of bathing is usually 20
minutes. While this time is reduced to 10 minutes in
hyper thermal baths it can be extended to 25-30
minutes in isothermal baths. Bathing applications
can be administered in forms of complete baths, half
baths and bathing in sitting position and arm-leg
bathing. Bathing is usually administered for the
period of 2 to 4 weeks either as everyday bathing
(only one day without bathing for week) or once
every other day. Bathing frequency can be readjusted
towards the end of cure by spa physician.
Other than the carbon dioxide baths; patient must be
in a position to be able to move freely especially
in full baths. This condition is especially very
important for patients who are suffering from
rheumatoid arthritis, post traumatic distress or
orthopedic discomfort and peripheral neurological
disorders. In baths with carbon dioxide containing
water; it is recommended for patient to remain
immobile during the time of bathing in order not to
place an additional load onto the heart and artery
system of patient.
Patient gets thoroughly dried after bath and relaxes
and rest about half an hour to an hour inside a room
with a pleasant temperature. After the stage of
relaxation and resting the patient can be given a
massage to or exercise or can attend sporting
activities. In the mean time again a physical
treatment can be applied to patient.
Peloid (therapeutic mud and clay) applications
Healing mud and clay baths are used in forms of
full, half body or arm-leg baths or mostly in forms
of packages. Package form application is the method
often used. In this method packages are applied to
specific areas of the body.
After application the body gets freed of mud with
the assistance of a warm shower (taken under the
water in temperatures of 37-38 șC). Following this
body is freed from mud; patient gets dried of
immediately and rests for half an hour to an hour.
Afterwards patient either takes a light walk or
receives a massage or is taken into a regional
exercise program if necessary. Mud treatment is the
best preparer for exercise since it brings tissues
and muscles into soft and flexible condition.
Drinking Cures
Most often used method after baths with thermo
mineral waters in balneotherapy is "drinking cures
carried out by intake of waters containing natural
minerals for certain period of time during the day
at specific hours and in specific amounts". Direct
effects over the digestive system organs and
functions and indirect effects over the kidneys and
urinary tracts occur in connection to the chemical
compound of mineral water used here. Beside all that
has been stated above a general positive effect
develops over the organism with drinking mineral
waters in specific amount and at specific times in
manner of cure. This effect makes itself noticeable
with series of positive and meditative changes in
physiological and pathological courses.
Inhalations
Inhalation is a method of treatment administered
with the inhalation of drops of mineral water. Goal
in the inhalation applications is for drops of
mineral water inhaled to reach to the desired area
of respiratory system and have direct effect by
means of separating from the gas that carries them
and be dropped off into the environment. Lung
functions are positively affected and blood gas
levels becomes normal with the effects of natural
inhalation solutions.
 Spa Treatment, Spa Cure
Spa treatment is a method of treatment developed
with intuitional use in treatment of various
diseases by mainly the agency of bathing in spas,
which are places where thermal and mineral
("Therapeutic") waters naturally come to surface on
earth, and reached to present by becoming a
tradition. Modern spa cure, especially in European
countries, is in the condition of a complex
treatment opportunity where some other treatment
methods and applications are practiced beside
balneotherapy. Methods such as medical and physical
treatment are among these and they are especially
widespread in Europe.
Supplementary and alternative treatments in spa
treatment on the other hand, more accurately in spa
cure (since it is administered with application of
certain treatment methods, for certain period of
time in a series in form of a cure) are also used in
many countries. Especially exercise and massage
mainly; acupuncture, herbal treatments and aroma
therapies are found among these methods. Finally
series of supporting methods are also allowed in spa
cure programs in some countries again. For example,
health education and social medical preventions are
also being added to spa cure in Germany. Other
support methods such as regulation of diet and daily
living and psychological support may also be used.
 Arrangement of Spa Cure
First of all a spa, which is known to help
discomforts and complaints of patient, is chosen
when decided upon a spa cure. In other words, a spa
that is equipped to provide this type of an
opportunity is determined if a specific mineral
water cure or healing mud treatment has been
prescribed for the disease. Practically, differences
between the climate of the chosen spa's region and
the climate in which the patient continues his/her
daily life and used to must be considered while
arranging a spa cure. Approach here is elimination
of the harmful climatic factor, if any, over the
ailment of person so to keep patient away from these
negative effects for the duration of cure.
Also the climate of chosen spa should not contain
negative agents for that ailment. For example, spas
found located in high humidity areas during summer
months can create harmful affects in blood
circulation disorders.
 Doctor advising patient to receive a spa treatment
sends a report to spa physician citing the history
of the disease, treatments performed and informing
about the recent condition of patient and providing
the latest lab results.
Patient coming to spa rests for certain period of
time. Following that receives a check-up from the
specialist here. Certain additional laboratory
analyses get performed if it is considered necessary
for diagnosis and treatment. Consequently, Spa and
cure medical specialist organizes (prescribes) a
cure program to patient. Balneotherapy and other
treatments in a spa cure are organized and arranged
according to the condition and ailment of patient
and according to the natural treatment resources
unique to that spa and are modified and changed
during cure according to responds they provide to
treatment.
Finally, information on the subject of his/her
treatment and rules to comply by from now on is
given to patient before his/her leave and a report
containing the course of ailment, results of
treatment and suggestions is written to the doctor,
who recommended him/her to seek remedy from a spa.
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