B A L N E O L O G Y – A short Synopsis.
The ” science of bathing”, translated ad verbum , BALNEOLOGY has its historical roots in the immemorial times of ancient Egyptians, following with the Greek school of healing and all the way into the Roman golden age of water utilization on all levels of communities’ developments.
The modern and contemporary BALNEOLOGY can be characterized as the traditional medicine of the Western Civilization.
Before the ” antibiotics era ” the natural medicine was the only healing science or art and its entire philosophy was based on the full utilization of all possible resources offered by nature alone: herbs, roots, animal products ( such as bee honey) , mineral waters, clay and mud and any extracts the pre- industrial chemistry could provide.
The Romans however are the ones, employing the water as the ultimate mark of Western Civilization with public bath complexes , aqueducts, running domestic water , subterranean drainage and social bathing activities as a daily routine for all , with the consequence of a more elevated public health than anywhere else in the ancient world.
However, the most significant Roman contribution to BALNEOLOGY was the establishment of spa towns all over the Roman Empire where mineral waters were discovered or known by the locals for their healing qualities. The Romans were also the first to go periodically to such ” cure locations ” in search of medical help for chronic afflictions, for social and recreational reasons and general wellness and fitness.
The classical example of mineral water utilization in the ” dark ages ” was the Roman bath in Aachen / Germany , the capital of the Emperor Karl -The -Great or Carolus Magnus , as well as many other such centers from the Roman times.
The Golden Age of BALNEOLOGY could be considered as the 19th and the 20th centuries, when old centers of healing such as Baden -Baden in Germany, Vichy in France , Bath in England, Palermo in Italy and innumerable other less international locations have developed into high reputation destinations for all social classes in Europe.
Today BALNEOLOGY and BALNEO-MEDICINE represents the most sophisticated and scientifically based traditional Western Medicine, exploring all natural resources , classical and updated technologies, geographic specifics such as ALPINE BALNEOLOGY and MEDITERRANEAN THALASSOMEDICINE, high altitude and caves’ Radon environments and all other health- stimulating and improving possibilities.
The classical medical domain of Balneology today represents the treatment of chronic diseases, subchronic disorders but also health maintenance and wellness.
BALNEOLOGY, in its contemporary form, represents de facto the indispensable and collateral science to modern PHARMA – MEDICINE and the Post-Covid era clearly and indisputably has demonstrated this medical fact in the largest medical study ever performed on the planet : the CORONA PANDEMIC itself.
Presently at the end of 2024 , with the controversy over the past Covid pandemic management intensifying in very high scientific circles, the role of BALNEOLOGY as the ” keeper ” and ultimate supporter of the human IMMUNE SYSTEM and its OPTIMIZATION, is now self – evident with the present statement of top medical officials in the US :
” NATURAL IMMUNITY IS SUPERIOR TO VACCINES “
Dr.F.Braich DDS.,PhD.
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