Health aspects of thermal waters in Turkey Dr. Mine Karag端lle Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Medical Ecology & Hydroclimatology 16.Espa Congress 24-27 May 2011 Ela Quality Resort Hotel, Belek-Turkey
Turkey lies between the northern 36-42 latitudes and the eastern 26-45 longitude
Healing with water • In the ancient world, the use of water for treatment in spas (watering places or health resorts) became very popular when large quantities of warm water for bathing and immersion was rarely available.
The use of spring and thermal water for health also dates back to ancient times in the main land of Turkey i.e. Anatolia (Asia Minor). The tradition of Turkish bath (hamam) and thermal spa bath (kapl覺ca) can be traced back to when the Turks arrived in Anatolia where they were confronted with the existing bathing traditions of the Romans.
The Ottomans built a special kind of Turkish bath“kaplıca” or “spa hamam” in those areas where thermal and mineral waters emerge and can be found in great abundance. Turkish “kaplıca” was built directly over or nearby hot water springs.
The Ottomans not only built baths in the capital of Istanbul but also constructed countless baths across the wide sweep of their empire.
Bursa Yeni Kapl覺ca, Kanuni Sultan S羹leyman, 1552
Turkish Kapl覺cas-Spa Baths
Thermal and Mineral Water Springs of Turkey
• The tradition of healing with water at kaplıca hamams (spas) is still vivid and widely used in the treatment of chronic disorders especially rheumatic diseases through Turkey. • This widespread tradition is mainly empiric and intuitive in character • It is only recently that attempts were being placed increasingly in the study of water on a scientific basis.
• A total of 15 published studies have been found and analyzed. • The investigations have been carried out in 8 different spa resorts in Turkey.
Balneotherapy and Spa Therapy of Rheumatic Diseases in Turkey: A Systematic Review M.Z. Karagülle, M. Karagülle Research in Complementary and Classical Natural Medicine 2004;11:33-41
• In these studies the effectiveness and efficacy of different balneological and spa therapies on a variety of rheumatic diseases such as – Osteoarthritis – Rheumatoid arthritis – Fibromyalgia – Ankylosing spondylitis and – Low back pain could be shown
Balneotherapy and Spa Therapy of Rheumatic Diseases in Turkey: A Systematic Review M.Z. Karagülle, M. Karagülle Research in Complementary and Classical Natural Medicine 2004;11:33-41
• It could be concluded that nearly all forms of spa therapy and balneotherapy used for the treatment of rheumatic diseases in Turkey are effective.
Balneotherapy and Spa Therapy of Rheumatic Diseases in Turkey: A Systematic Review M.Z. Karag端lle, M. Karag端lle Research in Complementary and Classical Natural Medicine 2004;11:33-41
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Turkish Spas, Scientific Evidence
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