Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Mud therapy resources in Bulgaria
Ilieva E (1) , Grozeva A (2) , Stojcheva M (2)
(1) Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Plovdiv Medical University, Bulgaria
(2) Assen Zlatarov University, Burgas, Bulgaria
antoaneta.grozeva@gmail.com
Introduction and Objectives
Bulgaria is rich in natural resources: mineral waters and mud, which has been
used for treatment and recreation since ancient times.
Most important are the deposits of mud in the salt lakes near the Black Sea, peat
mud and mud from thermal springs. Rehabilitation hospitals and balneo hotels are
built nearby these mud deposits, in which mud therapy is applied for the treatment
of msculoskeletal disorders, disease of the peripheral nervous system, gynecological
and dermatological problems.
Materials and Methods
The most important mud resources in Bulgaria are:
Salt lakes mud: Shabla lake ( black,high contents of sulphides, 235 000 t.); Rusalka
(black,medium contents of sulphides, 21 000 t.); Balchic Tuzla
(black,medium level of sulphides, 38 000 t.); Varna lake (black,medium level of
sulphides, 1 300 000 t.); Pomorie lake (black,medium level of sulphides, very good
physical characteristics, 1 480 000 t.); Atanasovo lake (black,medium level of
sulphides, 600 000t.)
Peat mud: Baikal – brown and rich in organic ingredients, which is applied usually
in combination with mineral water in the famous resorts Kiustendil and
Separeva banja.
Mud from thermal sulfated springs: Marikostinivo – 33 900 t. and
Banja,Karlovo -12000t
Results
The application of peloids for treatment is based on their “chemical”and thermal
action. The thermal effects of peloids are non-spesific and depend on their thermal
properties, such as thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity and the consistence
of the peloid solution. We compared the thermal properties of mud from Pomorie
salt lake and peat mud, which is of revelance for their application in clinical practice.
Balnea 400
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4
2012, núm. 6, 400-401