Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Health resort therapy (spa therapy) in Israel –
State of the art
Sukenik S (1) , Harari M (2)
(1) Faculty of Health Sciences, Bem - gurion University, Beer - Sheva, Israel
(1) DMZ Medical Center at the Dead Sea, Ein Bokek, Israel
ssukenik@bgu.ac.il
Health resort therapy (spa therapy) is not recognized by the scientific council of
Israel Medical Association as a specialty or sub- specialty of rheumatology or
physical therapy. This kind of therapy is not included in the national basket of
medical services and therefore it is not covered by any of the health insurance
companies. There are very few health resort areas in Israel and the most famous and
investigated one is the Dead Sea area. 85 original clinical trials and many more
reviews has been published in the medical literature proving the efficacy of the
Dead Sea region on different diseases such as different skin diseases, inflammatory
and non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases, chronic obstructive lung diseases, coronary
artery diseases, congestive heart failure, uveitis, Crohn's disease and others.
The advantages of this site stems primarily its unique geographic location. It is the
lowest spot on the face of earth about 420 meters below sea level. The unique
climatic conditions derive mainly from its location and include: the highest barometric
pressure in the world, leading also to increased oxygen tension, low relative
humidity, high temperatures, low rainfall, reduced radiation with an high
UVA/UVB ratio, low pollen and high bromide atmosphere. In addition to this
unique geographic location, the salinity of the Dead Sea water is about ten times
higher than any other sea or ocean and the many mineral springs and black mud are
also rich in minerals and trace elements. It is important to stress that health resort
medicine can't cure completely any of the above mentioned diseases but can bring
to a complete remission lasting from a few weeks to 8 months. Its major advantage
over conservative medicine is the absence of serious side effect that are quite common
and sometimes even worth than the disease itself.
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 54
54
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4