Balneology

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The balneology (via Latin balneum , "Bad", of Greek βαλανεῖον (balaneion) "Bad, Badeanstalt" and -logie ) or balneology is the study of the therapeutic use of natural healing springs , healing gases and peloids in the form of baths, drinking cures and inhalations . To Balneologie include balneotherapy (baths therapy), Balneotechnique that Balneochemie ( hydrochemistry ) and the Balneophysik . The doctrine of the healing springs was called pegology .

history

The Greek doctor Asklepiades von Prusa , who worked in Rome, already appeared in the 1st century BC. Chr. For water applications with cold or warm water for the preventive and therapeutic treatment of various diseases. After the first in the German speaking from about 1500 published writings on the spa industry (for example from the bath Pfäfers virtues of Paracelsus from 1535 and the book of old damage from the 15th century) coined especially the German botanist and physician Tabernaemontanus from 1581 the basics of balneology with his extensive work Neuw Wasserschatz . Emil Osann is considered the founder of scientific balneology . In Austria Johann von Oppolzer was one of the first leading exponents of this teaching.

Balneotherapy

Balneotherapy deals with the therapeutic form of treatment of water from medicinal springs, in particular with a higher content of dissolved substances, e.g. B. of minerals such as carbon dioxide , carbonic acid , hydrogen sulfide and radioactive substances. The difference to applications with tap water such as B. in Kneipp cures and hydrotherapy in general lies in the higher content of substances dissolved in the juvenile water . In addition to medicinal baths, balneotherapy also includes internal applications such as drinking cures and inhalations .
Medicinal waters must contain dissolved substances (inorganic substances and their ions) in a concentration of at least 1 g / kg.

Thalasso therapy is a special form of balneotherapy .

When it comes to baths, a distinction is made between full, hip and partial baths, as well as inhalation baths (steam baths). There are five temperature levels: cold, semi-cold, lukewarm, warm and hot baths. The maximum temperature is 40 degrees Celsius. The healing water works in warm and hot baths through warmth, through physical and chemical influences of the additives from the medicinal product area .

A benefit of the baths: The buoyancy caused by the water is supposed to relieve the muscles and joints considerably, so that movements can be carried out again that are almost impossible for the patient on dry land due to body weight and pain. In addition, warm water generally has a positive effect on the vegetative nervous system and thus also relieves pain in various symptoms. Thermal stimuli are also used to stimulate the metabolism and the immune system .

An alternative to baths are mud packs (such as mud and parafango in peloid therapy ).

Medical baths

Medicinal baths are mainly offered in health resorts in health resorts. However, they are also part of physiotherapy treatments . These baths are usually prescribed by a doctor and are part of a comprehensive treatment plan, for example during a cure . They are used particularly frequently for rheumatic diseases .

The main medicinal baths are:

  • Exercise bath: In the exercise bath, the buoyancy of the water is used to train the muscles and stimulate the circulation . Indications include a. Arthritis , osteoporosis, and postural abnormalities. The water is lukewarm to warm.
  • Mud bath : Mud baths are full or partial baths with bath peat. Since peat releases heat very slowly - in contrast to water - so-called overheating baths are possible with it.
  • Carbonic acid bath: Baths in water containing carbon dioxide promote blood circulation and stimulate the circulation. Lukewarm carbonic acid baths lower blood pressure and relieve the heart.
  • Oxygen bath : Oxygen is added directly to the water during the bath; it is a warm bubble bath that stimulates blood circulation.
  • Brine bath : The brine bath contains up to six percent salts. Salt water is used in rheumatism therapy, but also for various skin diseases, metabolic disorders and gynecological diseases.
  • Sulfur bath: bath in water containing hydrogen sulfide , it is supposed to stimulate blood circulation and have an antibacterial effect. Indications are for example psoriasis , neurodermatitis and chronic eczema .
  • Iodine bath : Bathing in water containing iodide , iodides are absorbed through the skin. Indications are furunculosis , sweat gland abscess, arteriosclerosis .
  • Bran and malt bath : The bran and malt bath can help relieve irritation in itchy skin diseases.
  • Oak bark bath : The tannic acid contained in oak bark improves oozing skin changes.
  • Inhalation bath : In the inhalation bath, essential oils are added to the 37 ° C warm water . Used for respiratory diseases .
  • Spruce needle bath : The aromatic oils from spruce needles relieve nervous disorders and insomnia and support convalescence .
  • Stangerbad : In this special bath, a small electric current of 200–600 mA is generated in the water, which is felt as a slight tingling sensation. This treatment is said to have a positive effect on the muscles and relieve pain in neuralgia and rheumatism .

Balneo technology

Balneo technology is the study of the appropriate technical treatment (storage, management, storage, temperature control) of balneological remedies. Balneo technology also includes the technical design of bathtubs, gas baths, drinking water dispensing devices as well as inhalation technology (inhalation treatment) and the production of peloid packs.

Balneochemistry

Balneochemistry (bath chemistry) deals with the chemical composition of medicinal waters and their effect on the organism. As an overview of the effect of the mineral waters, the chemical characteristics of the mineral waters of the mineral baths against the uses in the mineral baths were listed in the German Bath Book published by the Association of Bathing and Climate Knowledge.

research

Until the end of 2006 , the Free State of Saxony maintained the only state research institute for balneology in the Federal Republic of Germany in Bad Elster in the Vogtland for scientific research into the spa and spa system, for clinical tests and studies and for advice for spa facilities . In the institute, which was assigned to the Saxon Ministry of Social Affairs in Dresden, doctors , psychologists , therapists, economists and social professions worked across disciplines.

During the Nazi era , u. a. also held a chair for balneology at the University of Giessen , to which Arthur Weber was appointed in 1943 . The Schlesische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität in Breslau also held a chair for balneology, to which the neurologist Heinricht Vogt was appointed in 1935 .

The Technical University of Munich has had an institute for water chemistry and chemical balneology since 1951 . In addition, there are some small institutes (mainly financed by the municipalities) in health resorts, such as Bad Wildungen and Bad Füssing .

further education

Balneology and Medical Climatology has been recognized as additional training for doctors with the model further training regulations of the German Medical Association from 2018 . Under certain circumstances, the designation spa doctor or spa doctor may be used. The state medical associations are responsible for implementing the further training regulations .

literature

  • Alfred Martin: German bathing in the past few days. In addition to a contribution to the history of German hydrology. Diederichs, Jena 1906. (Reprint: Diederichs, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-424-00959-8 ).
  • Irmgard Probst: The balneology of the 16th century as reflected in the German bathing writing. (= Munster contributions to the history and theory of medicine. Volume 4). Institute for the History of Medicine at the University of Münster, Münster 1971, ISSN  0303-4593 , (also dissertation at the University of Münster 1969).
  • Gerhard Rudolph: Two contributions to the history of balneology: The cultural-historical and medical roots of the spa industry; 100 years of scientific balneology. Meister, Kassel 1982 (= series of publications by the German Baths Association , 45), ISBN 3-922047-02-9 .
  • KL Schmidt (Hrsg.): Compendium of balneology and spa medicine. Steinkopff Dr. Dietrich, Darmstadt 1989, ISBN 3-7985-0794-5 .
  • Otto Gillert, Walther Rulffs: Hydrotherapy and Balneotherapy. Theory and practice. (= Textbook series physiotherapy ). New edition, 11th edition. Pflaum, Munich 1990, ISBN 3-7905-0586-2 .
  • Helmut G. Pratzel, Wolfgang Schnizer: Manual of the medical baths. Indications - Applications - Effects. Haug, Heidelberg 1992, ISBN 3-7760-1228-5 .
  • Heinz Maria Lins: History and stories about water - doctors - baths from ancient times to the Middle Ages. RG Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 1995, ISBN 3-89501-218-1 .
  • Christoph Gutenbrunner, G. Hildebrandt (ed.): Handbook of balneology and medical climatology. Springer, Berlin a. a. 1998, ISBN 3-540-60534-7 .
  • Werner Käß and Hanna Käß: German bath book. Published by the Association for Bath and Air Conditioning. V., Schweizerbart, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 .
  • Markwart Michler : On the history of balneology. In: Würzburg medical history reports. 24, 2005, pp. 180-194.

Historical sources

Web links

Wiktionary: Spa treatment  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ GEMOLL : Greek-German school and manual dictionary.
  2. ↑ a b Balneology definition ( Memento of the original from September 21, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. after the Institute for Balneology and Medical Climatology, Christoph Gutenbrunner.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www99.mh-hannover.de
  3. ↑ Bernhard Maximilian Lersch: History of balneology, hydroposy and pegology, or the use of water for religious, dietetic and medicinal purposes. A contribution to the history of cult and medicine. Wuerzburg 1863.
  4. ↑ Irmtraud Sahmland: Balneologie. In: Werner E. Gerabek , Bernhard D. Haage, Gundolf Keil , Wolfgang Wegner (eds.): Enzyklopädie Medizingeschichte. De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2005, ISBN 3-11-015714-4 , p. 135.
  5. ↑ Frank Fürbeth : Bibliography of the German or in the German area published baths of the 15th and 16th centuries. In: Würzburg medical history reports. Volume 13, 1995, pp. 217-252.
  6. ↑ Gundolf Keil: Balneotherapy in the 'Book of Old Damage', the oldest specialty publication in balneology in the West. In: Eduard Hlawitschka : Research contributions of the humanities class. Munich 2012 (= Writings of the Sudeten German Academy of Sciences and Arts. Volume 32), pp. 97-101.
  7. ↑ Gert Michel: Scientific definitions of natural localized remedies. In: Werner Käß and Hanna Käß: German bath book. Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 , pp. 41-44.
  8. ↑ Angela Schuh: Thalassotherapy. In: Werner Käß and Hanna Käß: German bath book. Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 , pp. 111-113.
  9. ↑ Bernd Hartmann, Margarete Hartmann: The thermal bath: factors, effects, effectiveness. In: Werner Käß and Hanna Käß: German bath book. Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 , pp. 84-91.
  10. ^ Albrecht Falkenbach: Physical therapy at the health resort. In: Werner Käß, Hanna Käß: German bath book. Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 , pp. 30-33.
  11. ↑ Bernd Hartmann, Margarete Hartmann: Pharmacological effects of bathing in medicinal waters. In: Werner Käß, Hanna Käß: German bath book. Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 , pp. 92-95.
  12. ↑ Gerd Lüttig: What are peloids? In: Werner Käß, Hanna Käß: German bath book. Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 , pp. 160-173.
  13. ↑ Bernd Hartmann: Carboniferous waters and Mofetten: Evidente Kur- und Heilmittel. In: Werner Käß, Hanna Käß: German bath book. Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 , pp. 146-151.
  14. ↑ Gert Michel: Balneogeology. In: Werner Käß, Hanna Käß: German bath book. Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 , pp. 21-22.
  15. ^ Balneotechnik - Medizinlexikon Elsevier, Munich; Page access from July 17, 2011.
  16. ↑ Werner Käß: Analytics, documentation and presentation of the properties of medicinal waters. In: Werner Käß and Hanna Käß: German bath book. Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 , pp. 52-54.
  17. ↑ Lorenz Eichinger, Gesine Lorenz: Isotope methods for the characterization of medicinal waters. In: Werner Käß and Hanna Käß: German bath book. Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 , pp. 61-67.
  18. ↑ Remigius E. Fresenius, Werner Käß : Trace elements. In: Werner Käß and Hanna Käß: German bath book. Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 , pp. 55-60.
  19. ^ Association for swimming pools and climate science eV: German swimming pool book, ISBN 978-3-510-65241-9 .
  20. ↑ Staff news . Appointments. 1943. Research and progress . Volume 19, 23/24, p. 252.
  21. ↑ TU Munich - Chair for Analytical Chemistry (English) .
  22. ↑ Annual report 1999 ( Memento of the original from September 19, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 863 kB) of the Institute for Water Chemistry and Chemical Balneology at the Technical University of Munich - Chair for Hydrogeology, Hydrochemistry and Environmental Analysis, PDF, 4 pages. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ws.chemie.tu-muenchen.de
  23. ↑ (sample) further training regulations 2018 November 2018, section C, additional further training in balneology and medical climatology, p. 304; Document server of the German Medical Association . Retrieved December 2, 2019.