Balneotherapy - what is it? Types of balneotherapeutic procedures, indications and contraindications

Balneotherapy - what is it? The name itself came to us from ancient Greece. In the literal sense it means bathing, bathing, treatment. It is in the bath and consists of the therapeutic effect of balneotherapy. This procedure is prescribed as an additional physiotherapy in the treatment of various diseases, and in rehabilitation activities.

The history of the emergence of

The art of balneotherapy has come to us from ancient times, although it has undergone many changes. Previously, baths with a therapeutic purpose were taken throughout the day. Food and drinks were served directly in the pools, and submerged patients led secular conversations with each other. There was even a procedure called "skin devourer".The essence of it was that due to a prolonged stay in the water, deep and, by the way, painful cracks appeared through the skin, through which the disease "came out".

Now wellness baths are taken for 5-20 minutes, depending on the type of procedure. Yes, and drinks with food, of course, no one is serving. In a procedure called balneotherapy, indications and contraindications are strict enough. Their non-compliance can only hurt.

Balneotherapy. Types of balneotherapeutic procedures, indications

In physiotherapy, a lot of various water procedures. This includes: hydrotherapy, mud therapy and inhalation with washes. All these methods are used in an individual approach to a particular disease and strictly according to the indications. In physiotherapy, a wide application was made of such a procedure as balneotherapy. Indications for the use of this method of treatment are quite extensive and affect the entire body of

. So, hydrotherapy, in another way - balneotherapy, is used as an additional treatment for the following ailments:

• various disorders in the circulatory system;
• of the GI tract;
• pathology of bones and muscle tissue;
• disruption of the central or peripheral nervous system;
• bronchopulmonary diseases;
• breathing problems;
• disorders in the sexual and urinary systems, kidney diseases;
• failure in the endocrine system and metabolism;
• problems with weight;
• skin disease;
• problems with the organs of vision.

  

What does balneotherapy look like? Photo procedures leave only pleasant impressions, and the process itself helps to relax and relax.

Doctors do not recommend

Despite such an extensive list of diseases in which various baths are shown, we assure you that this is not an inoffensive hydroprocedure. Balneotherapy contraindications has the following:

• the presence of various inflammatory processes, especially in the stage of exacerbation;
• pressure problems, in particular, hypertension 3 degrees;
• various heart failure( arrhythmia), pre- and post-infarction;
• obstructed blood flow through the vessels, especially with thrombophlebitis;
• serious foci of inflammation on the skin, for example, furunculosis and fungal formations;
• diabetes mellitus;
• pregnancy, beginning with the 2nd trimester;
• recently suffered stroke and problems with cerebral circulation.

Balneotherapy - baths

The most common and well-known method of balneotherapy is bathing in mineral waters. Such procedures very favorably affect the human body. Many people, especially the elderly, often go to a sanatorium where balneotherapy is conducted.

Kinds of baths:

• General - differ in the effect on the whole organism due to the complete immersion of the body under water.
• Local - used in the treatment of skin diseases.
• Contrasting - excellent help in the violation of blood circulation, which are caused by varicose veins. Such procedures are very useful for raising immunity and for problems with obesity.

Baths are filled with mineral water from natural sources. Sometimes the fluid is produced artificially. The independent creation of mineral water for baths makes it possible to apply them more widely, including for home therapy.

Kinds of mineral baths and their effect on the body

Water for mineral water treatment can be completely different in composition. And the therapeutic effect of balneotherapy in most cases is determined precisely by the chemical composition of the fluid used. Let's consider some of the most common procedures.

• Carbonic mineral baths have a very strong stimulating effect on the central nervous system, which, in turn, has a beneficial effect on the entire bronchopulmonary system: ventilation in the lungs improves, breathing deepens, and bronchial patency increases. Because of this, the body is better supplied with oxygen. In it, all oxidative processes are significantly enhanced.
• Hydrogen sulfide baths on the effect on the body are very similar to carbon dioxide, but have a wider range of effects. They improve skin nutrition, strengthen all metabolic processes in the body, have an extremely beneficial effect on the female genitourinary system.
• Nitrogen baths have a strong relaxing effect. They are used as a sedative, relieve muscle tone, give an analgesic effect, normalize the endocrine system and metabolic processes.

• Radon baths due to radioactive substances in its composition have a moderate vasoconstrictive effect. These procedures are the weakest, because they are prescribed for severe pathological diseases of the heart and blood vessels. They soothe and relieve pain in the joints.
• Salt baths stimulate metabolism, affect metabolic processes and are used to reduce pain. Such procedures relieve muscle tension and provide anti-inflammatory effect.

We have considered only the 5 most common and almost universal baths in use, but there are a lot of them. Each of these procedures by its action will differ from the others and have its own narrow specialization. What kind of bath you should take, the doctor should decide.

Shower

Shower balneotherapy - what is it. Along with the baths, other procedures are very common. They have found wide application in physiotherapy, as they contribute to the effective elimination of symptoms of many unpleasant diseases. Types of therapeutic showers:

• Local is used point-like, for example, on the head with dandruff.
• Ascending is prescribed for diseases of the genitals.
• Massage is used for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and problems with weight.

Rules for the implementation of procedures

Although the methods of balneotherapy may differ greatly from one another in both the technique of taking and the result, there are certain general rules that must be observed. All water procedures have a strong influence on the body, and with negligent attitude towards them, they can cause significant damage to health.

Rules for balneotherapy:

• Follow the doctor's instructions carefully for the temperature regime of the water and the time for hydrotherapy.
• Control any changes in your health after the procedure - you should not feel tired.
• Follow the schedule for taking baths or a therapeutic shower. Do not skip the procedure, as balneotherapy has a cumulative character. With regular passes of the desired health effect you simply will not reach.
• Women should not take baths on critical days. Bleeding is a direct contraindication.
• Do not swim on a full stomach, wait a couple of hours.
• This also applies to strong physical activity - wait until your body comes back to normal, and only then proceed to therapy.
• The temperature in the room where the balneotherapy is performed should be around 22 degrees.
• The duration of the procedure should not exceed 20 minutes, it is calculated depending on the degree of exposure to the body.
• The temperature regime of the water is set in accordance with the recommendations of the doctor and taking into account the specific disease.
• The course of balneotherapy lasts 8-12 procedures.

Mechanism of exposure

Balneotherapy - what is it in a nutshell? This is the therapeutic effect of mineral waters on the body. It has three components:

• Mechanical effects. Everyone knows that in water the body is much lighter. This is due to the reduction in gravity due to increased density of the environment. As a result, all our muscles relax, including the tissues surrounding the internal organs, their blood supply rises. If there are gas bubbles in the water, the relaxing effect of the procedure becomes even greater.
• Thermal action. Warm water along with the relaxing effect speeds up the flow of blood through the vessels and, accordingly, triggers metabolic processes in the body. At this time our body strenuously allocates energy, gets rid of toxins and excess calories.
• Chemical exposure. In the mineral water there is a huge amount of microelements, which are extremely useful for our body. Through the skin, they penetrate into the general flow of blood and have an indelible influence on us, improving the nutrition of all tissues in the body.

Drinking mineral water

Drinking balneotherapy - what is it? Mineral water can not be consumed just when you want. This is the same physiotherapy as taking baths or irrigation. The intake of water is prescribed by a doctor and requires strict adherence to the rules. Such products also have a difference in their chemical composition and are used as a medicine.

Natural mineral water is bottled. The peculiarity of their positive properties comes from the combination of thermal and chemical components. Treatment of the whole body begins through the digestive tract and excretory system. You should carefully monitor any changes in your health, so that in case of any worsening( for example, pain in the stomach, pancreas and kidneys) immediately stop treatment and consult a doctor.

Balneoreaction

The balneological response is the body's response to water procedures. It can manifest as an exacerbation of the existing disease.

There are several degrees of balneoreaction:

• Mild exacerbation is characterized by general poor health, emotional instability, increased pain of various genesis and increased pressure. Means further control over well-being.
• A pronounced exacerbation of the disease. Has the same clinical symptoms. Pain increases. Balneotherapy continues under strict control, the level of the impact of the procedure is reviewed.
• Extreme degree of unwanted reaction. There are violations of the functions of certain organs and systems of the body. The inflammatory process begins. The temperature can rise to 39 ° C.With this reaction, balneotherapy is immediately stopped and desensitizing treatment begins.

Of course, any balneoreaction is not desirable. Each case is considered individually, and the termination of such procedures is possible at any stage. That's why you should not self-medicate without a doctor's supervision.