Health treatements and therapies

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The Dead Sea area has become a major center for health research and treatment for several reasons. The mineral content of the water, the very low content of pollens and other allergens in the atmosphere, the reduced ultraviolet component of solar radiation, and the higher atmospheric pressure at this great depth each have specific health effects. For example, persons suffering reduced respiratory function from diseases such as cystic fibrosis seem to benefit from the increased atmospheric pressure.

Sufferers of the skin disorder psoriasis also benefit from the ability to sunbathe for long periods in the area due to its position below sea level and subsequent result that many of the sun's harmful UV rays are reduced.

Thus, the region's climate and low elevation have made it a popular center for several types of therapies:

• Climatotherapy: Treatment which exploits local climatic features such as temperature, humidity, sunshine, barometric pressure and special atmospheric constituents
• Heliotherapy: Treatment that exploits the biological effects of the sun's radiation
• Thalassotherapy: Treatment that exploits bathing in Dead Sea water

The clinical studies are briefly summerized in the following summary:

1- Dead Sea therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in Jordan: 342 patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis were randomly divided into 2 groups of 171 patients for each group. A statistically significant improvement was observed in the group who used the Dead Sea mud.
2- Clinical efficacy of the Dead Sea salts in hypertension (64 patients were involved in the study).
3- Effect of the Dead Sea salts on foot blister incidents while hiking (120 participants).
4- Dead Sea mud in the treatment of acne vulgaris (81 patients).
5- Dead Sea mud in the treatment of psoriasis (114 patients were involved).
6- Dead Sea mud cosmetics: 4 month study was made to test the effect of the use of mud in the treatment of aged skin (32 patients).
7- Dead Sea mud therapy of eczema (220 patients).
8- Dead Sea mud effect on the skin mechanical properties (16 patents).
9- Naturel secrets of the Dead Sea in cosmetics and medical therapeutics (Review article).