Treatment of
Rheumatism at Healing Centers
Professor Shaul Sukenik, Head of Internal
Department D of Soroka Medical Center
Water has always
been attributed with the magical powers of healing various illnesses and
relieving pain. The height of this phenomenon came with the development of
hydrotherapy in Roman culture, which largely revolved around baths and healing
springs. The Romans were also among the first to believe in other treatments
such as gymnastics, cold and hot baths and massages. By the Middle Ages,
however, the Church gained control of the baths and their popularity waned.
Treatments at healing centers
fall into three categories:
In addition to these main
treatments, healing centers offer other forms of treatment, including various
types of physiotherapy using electrical equipment, different types of massages,
gymnastics exercises and instruction regarding proper nutrition.
It is customary to categorize the water according to one or, at most, two of the dominant or active ions. This makes it possible to distinguish between 9 types of water, including chlorine water (in which the chlorine ion is dominant), sulfur water, sulfate water, acidic water (with pH less than 7), basic water (with pH greater than 8), calcium water, etc.
In general, mineral water contains more than one gram of dissolved solids per liter, or has a higher concentration of elements than what is considered to be regular water.
This type of therapy makes use of substances that have been mixed into water throughout long biological and geological processes. The mud contains both organic and inorganic materials and can be used by applying on the body or taking a mud bath.
Many important physiological changes occur during mineral baths. Mineral baths bring about excessive urination which leads to a loss of salts, significant increase in heart production (the amount of blood that the heart pumps out with each beat), dilution of blood and increased secretion of various hormones, including growth hormone, cortisone, and morphine-like substances that are secreted by the brain and may decrease pain.
The active mechanisms of Balneological treatment have not been sufficiently clarified. Three main mechanisms are usually distinguished:
Mechanical Mechanisms:
The combined anti-gravity effect of bathing in the water and its unique properties of the mineral water allow the muscles to heal and improve the range of motion of the joints.
Thermal Mechanisms:
In itself, heat reduces pain by causing increased secretion of cortisone and morphine-like substances that ease pain and minimize infection.
Hot mineral water or heated mud wraps can reduce secretion of various substances such as prostaglandin that modulate inflammation processes.
Heat also has a positive effect on the activity of various immune system cells. It has been proven that heat increases the elasticity of tissues, including tendons and elbow tissues, and thus improves the movement of joints.
Chemical Mechanisms:
Mineral water, not mud, contains salts and numerous chemical elements, including trace elements. These elements, such as zinc, copper, selenium and others, influence the activity of important enzymes and promote a healthy immune system. A number of rheumatic ailments involve a deficiency of one or more of these elements. There is still debate about whether all or some of these elements can be absorbed by the body through the skin during a mineral bath or after applying mud.
Of course, there are other factors that are important and have a beneficial effect, including certain climatic factors, particularly low humidity, consistently high temperatures and high barometric pressure. These climatic conditions are known to improve the state of people suffering from rheumatic ailments.
The effect of resting and vacationing at a holiday resort, far from day-to-day and financial worries are positive influences in themselves. It has been proven that reducing stress improves the functioning of the immune system and, therefore, reduces the inflammation of joints.
Balneological treatments are effective for a wide range of inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint conditions. These treatments are not meant to replace, rather to complement various other treatments.
Sometimes, after treatment, the need for painkillers decreases. It is important to remember that treatment usually does not bring about complete recovery, rather temporary relief that can last from a few weeks up to several months.
The duration of treatment necessary varies between two and four weeks, even though shorter treatments are also effective to smaller degrees.
One of the main benefits of spa therapy is that there are few side effects. There are relatively few restrictions to benefiting from these treatments, mostly in cases of loss of balance or consciousness, such as epilepsy, arrhythmia, etc. In such cases, there is a danger of drowning and swallowing water with relatively high concentrations of salts that can cause serious problems.
In the past, people with various fatal illnesses were prevented from receiving these treatments, however, today this prohibition is considered unjustified. Even people suffering from diabetes and heart diseases may receive these treatments as long as their conditions are not exceptionally serious. People who suffer from high blood pressure may also receive these treatments, despite contradicting opinions held in the past.
Treatments at healing centers can bring significant relief to people suffering from rheumatism and temporarily halt the progress of their ailments. Usually, they complement other conventional treatments and do not replace them. The small number of side effects makes them particularly attractive, especially in light of today’s flourishing interest in alternative medicine.
These treatments are costly, therefore, they are not subsidized by the
various health service providers and are not part of the healthcare plan. The high
cost of the treatments stems mostly from the need to travel to the health
center and the prolonged stays in hotels and not necessarily from the
treatments themselves.