Speleotherapy is one type of salt therapy that takes place inside the natural underground salt mines. The history of speleotherapy goes back to ancient times. Nowadays, this complementary natural, alternative and complete holistic therapy is widely recognized and in use in some European and Asian countries.
Speleotherapy has raised an interest in the medical community as one of the most effective respiratory therapies that involves breathing the mineral-infused air in a salt mine. Certain mine environment factors are used for respiratory, immunological, and dermatological medical conditions treatments.
In the last few decades, experimental and clinical studies have established some particularities of the therapeutic effect of the underground saline environment. Research revealed the efficiency of speleotherapy in salt mines on patients with severe asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis. Scientific studies are allowing more efficient use of the natural therapeutic factors of salt mines for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of various diseases
Eastern Europe is one of most popular destination for health and wellness treatments in salt mines. There is a list of some the most famous speleotherapy health centers by country.
In the last few decades, experimental and clinical studies have established some particularities of the therapeutic effect of the underground saline environment. Research revealed the efficiency of speleotherapy in salt mines on patients with severe asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis. Scientific studies are allowing more efficient use of the natural therapeutic factors of salt mines for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of various diseases
Eastern Europe is one of most popular destination for health and wellness treatments in salt mines. There is a list of some the most famous speleotherapy health centers by country.
Poland
Wieliczka Salt Mine Health Resort
The Wieliczka Salt mine stopped commercial mining in 2007 and now operates exclusively as a health resort and a world-famous tourist attraction. This unique underground health resort is well-known worldwide. The part of its health spa is located at a depth of 135 meters. Wieliczka health resort offers patients great therapeutic benefits due to exceptional bacteriological purity of the air, 60-80 % humidity, constant temperature of 13-14.5 °C, a high level of ionization, and the absence of allergens and pollutants in the area of treatment.
The Wieliczka Salt mine stopped commercial mining in 2007 and now operates exclusively as a health resort and a world-famous tourist attraction. This unique underground health resort is well-known worldwide. The part of its health spa is located at a depth of 135 meters. Wieliczka health resort offers patients great therapeutic benefits due to exceptional bacteriological purity of the air, 60-80 % humidity, constant temperature of 13-14.5 °C, a high level of ionization, and the absence of allergens and pollutants in the area of treatment.
Bochnia Salt Mine Health Resort
Bochnia salt mine is one of the oldest in Europe and has been operating since the 13th century. The Wazyn is the biggest chamber of the Bochnia mine, located 248 m below the surface and is 255 meters long and 7 m high. Specific microclimate has a constant temperature of 14-16 °C and humanity about 70%, high saturation of micro-elements such as magnesium, manganese, and calcium. The chamber is equipped with 300 beds. Another area of the Wazyn chamber has a restaurant, basketball field, and volleyball court. Patients have great opportunity to take curative treatment in a beneficial healing microclimate within a historic mine.
Bochnia salt mine is one of the oldest in Europe and has been operating since the 13th century. The Wazyn is the biggest chamber of the Bochnia mine, located 248 m below the surface and is 255 meters long and 7 m high. Specific microclimate has a constant temperature of 14-16 °C and humanity about 70%, high saturation of micro-elements such as magnesium, manganese, and calcium. The chamber is equipped with 300 beds. Another area of the Wazyn chamber has a restaurant, basketball field, and volleyball court. Patients have great opportunity to take curative treatment in a beneficial healing microclimate within a historic mine.
Azerbaijan
Duzdag Physiotherapy Center
The Nakhchivan Republican Physiotherapy hospital was opened in 1979. Starting with 50 beds, the Duzdag center offers 474 beds today. The underground department of the hospital located at the depth of 110 meters. Air contains a high density of Na, Cl, and Mg ions. Humidity is 24-35%. The salt mine microclimate is a major natural factor in treating respiratory and skin diseases.
The Nakhchivan Republican Physiotherapy hospital was opened in 1979. Starting with 50 beds, the Duzdag center offers 474 beds today. The underground department of the hospital located at the depth of 110 meters. Air contains a high density of Na, Cl, and Mg ions. Humidity is 24-35%. The salt mine microclimate is a major natural factor in treating respiratory and skin diseases.
Romania
Salt therapy is widely recognized as an efficient and healing treatment in Romania. Nowadays, speleotherapy is extremely popular in the country. There are various national scientific research on the efficiency of speleotherapy.
Prahova Salt Mine
It is one of the largest salt mines in Europe. At the same time, the mine is a medical center for the treatment of respiratory diseases. All 14 old underground rooms have specific micro-climate parameters: constant temperature above 12 °C, humidity of above 50%, and air with saline aerosols. Prahova Salt Mine is known for its unique therapeutic effect on the human body.
It is one of the largest salt mines in Europe. At the same time, the mine is a medical center for the treatment of respiratory diseases. All 14 old underground rooms have specific micro-climate parameters: constant temperature above 12 °C, humidity of above 50%, and air with saline aerosols. Prahova Salt Mine is known for its unique therapeutic effect on the human body.
Salina Turda Salt Mine
The Balneary Salt mine is one of the Salina Turda mines. This mine was the first mine in Romania used for therapeutic purposes because of its optimal conditions to cure different illnesses. The concentration of the allergen in the air is almost zero, constant temperature 11-12 °C, humidity 73-80%.
The Balneary Salt mine is one of the Salina Turda mines. This mine was the first mine in Romania used for therapeutic purposes because of its optimal conditions to cure different illnesses. The concentration of the allergen in the air is almost zero, constant temperature 11-12 °C, humidity 73-80%.
Praid Salt Mine
The Praid salt mine is one of the most famous salt mines in the country. The Praid Salt Mine has a microclimate with a temperature of 14-16° C, 66-70% humidity, and is rich in ozone, which is similar to Turda’s salt mine air conditions. It is located at a depth of 120 meters.
The Praid salt mine is one of the most famous salt mines in the country. The Praid Salt Mine has a microclimate with a temperature of 14-16° C, 66-70% humidity, and is rich in ozone, which is similar to Turda’s salt mine air conditions. It is located at a depth of 120 meters.
Targu Ocna Salt Mine
Studies of the Targu salt mine microclimate highlighted relative constant temperature
12.8-13.4 ° C, humidity 74-82 %, the total absence of air emissions and the presence of Na, Ca, Mg ions, and aerial microflora measurements indicated a high degree of air purity. Lying at 240 meters deep and covering a surface of 13,000 square meters, mine offers excellent conditions for therapeutic treatment, sport and relaxation.
Studies of the Targu salt mine microclimate highlighted relative constant temperature
12.8-13.4 ° C, humidity 74-82 %, the total absence of air emissions and the presence of Na, Ca, Mg ions, and aerial microflora measurements indicated a high degree of air purity. Lying at 240 meters deep and covering a surface of 13,000 square meters, mine offers excellent conditions for therapeutic treatment, sport and relaxation.
Belarus
National Speleotherapy Clinic
Over 7,000 children and adults are treated in the clinic each year. The underground speleological clinic has two units. The first unit was opened in 1990, and the second one in 2012. The clinic is located at a depth of 427 meters. Patients spend a few hours every day in the underground part of the speleological hospital. The salt mine has a unique microclimate where the air is saturated with aerosol consisting of Na, Ca, and Mg ions. As per the clinic statement, the therapeutic effect is high and not less than 97.0%.
Over 7,000 children and adults are treated in the clinic each year. The underground speleological clinic has two units. The first unit was opened in 1990, and the second one in 2012. The clinic is located at a depth of 427 meters. Patients spend a few hours every day in the underground part of the speleological hospital. The salt mine has a unique microclimate where the air is saturated with aerosol consisting of Na, Ca, and Mg ions. As per the clinic statement, the therapeutic effect is high and not less than 97.0%.
Ukraine
Salt Symphony
The health center “Salt Symphony” provide treatments in the salt mine at the depth of 288 m below sea level. The geological age of the deposit is 230 million years. The chemical composition of salt is unique and doesn’t have other analogs in the world due to the consistency of 98-99% of NaCl and only 1-2 % of trace elements. The concentration of microparticles in one cube meter is up to fifteen milligrams, humidity 60%, and temperature of 15 °C all year round.
The Salt Symphony offers curative treatments for children and adults. Medical specialists develop an individual program for each person that lasts 80-220 hrs. According to Health Centre statistics, the recovery index is 70-85%.
The health center “Salt Symphony” provide treatments in the salt mine at the depth of 288 m below sea level. The geological age of the deposit is 230 million years. The chemical composition of salt is unique and doesn’t have other analogs in the world due to the consistency of 98-99% of NaCl and only 1-2 % of trace elements. The concentration of microparticles in one cube meter is up to fifteen milligrams, humidity 60%, and temperature of 15 °C all year round.
The Salt Symphony offers curative treatments for children and adults. Medical specialists develop an individual program for each person that lasts 80-220 hrs. According to Health Centre statistics, the recovery index is 70-85%.
Kyrgyzstan
Tuzluca Salt Therapy Center
The Tuzluca salt mine has a history of about a thousand years. The reserve of salt is estimated at 613 million tons. This salt mine has become a center for lung diseases and asthma treatments since the time of Soviet Union.
Tuzluca rock salt deposit has 91.4% NaCl grade, high natural ionization, and low bacterial contamination in the air. The underground air temperature is 8-10 ° C year around. Atmospheric pressure 600 mm and humidity 45-65%.
The Tuzluca salt mine has a history of about a thousand years. The reserve of salt is estimated at 613 million tons. This salt mine has become a center for lung diseases and asthma treatments since the time of Soviet Union.
Tuzluca rock salt deposit has 91.4% NaCl grade, high natural ionization, and low bacterial contamination in the air. The underground air temperature is 8-10 ° C year around. Atmospheric pressure 600 mm and humidity 45-65%.
References
1. K. Taghavi, A. Eslaminejad, M. Zohal, M. Kialashski. Speleotherapy as an effective treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Research Gate. December 2017
2. Sylwia Mętel, Magdalena Kostrzon, Justyna Adamiak, Halina Gattner, Dominika Kościelecka, Angelika Sosulska, Elżbieta Szczygieł and Joanna Golec "The influence of speleotherapy combined with pulmonary rehabilitation on functional fitness in older adults - preliminary report". Sage Journal. Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease. 2020
3. N. Bilha, I. Simionca. General remodeling in the rehabilitation process through salt mine speleotherapy. European Respiratory Journal 2013 42: P2226
4. L. Allahverdieva, A. Khalilova, N. Efendiyeva, V. Samedi. Role of speleotherapy in complex treatment of pediatric asthma: single centre experience. The journal of allergy and clinical immulogy. Volume 143. Issue 2. February 1, 2012
1. K. Taghavi, A. Eslaminejad, M. Zohal, M. Kialashski. Speleotherapy as an effective treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Research Gate. December 2017
2. Sylwia Mętel, Magdalena Kostrzon, Justyna Adamiak, Halina Gattner, Dominika Kościelecka, Angelika Sosulska, Elżbieta Szczygieł and Joanna Golec "The influence of speleotherapy combined with pulmonary rehabilitation on functional fitness in older adults - preliminary report". Sage Journal. Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory Disease. 2020
3. N. Bilha, I. Simionca. General remodeling in the rehabilitation process through salt mine speleotherapy. European Respiratory Journal 2013 42: P2226
4. L. Allahverdieva, A. Khalilova, N. Efendiyeva, V. Samedi. Role of speleotherapy in complex treatment of pediatric asthma: single centre experience. The journal of allergy and clinical immulogy. Volume 143. Issue 2. February 1, 2012
 |
