Uniqueness of balneotherapy for dermatologic diseases in Japan - Internationaler Kongreß für Physikalische Medizin Balneologie und Bioklimatologie und 94. Kongreß der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation Freiburg im Breisgau 12.-14. Oktober 1989

Journal/Book: Z. Phys. Med. Baln. Med. KIim. 18 (1989) 320. 1989;

Abstract: Department of dermatology Iwate Prefectural Central Hospital Ueda 1-4-1 Morioka The treatment of skin diseases in ordinary dermatologic practice in Japan is based on the use of antihistaminics antibiotics and adrenocortical hormones. It is found however that an increasing number of patients visiting the spa to have recourse to balneological cure treatment as the last resort for the control of their skin diseases which were presumably refractory to those drugs in most cases. I could investigate the long-established Japanese style of balneotherapy for various skin diseases in their pure forms in patients who visited the spa station. The approach I took initially to the treatment involved the combined use of an artificial hydrogen sulfide bath without ointments. Results showed considerable benefit from such the approach. Balneotherapy aims at controlling pruritus and pain in the skin by means of a sulfur spring bath while allowing or even atimulating the skin to develop inflammation spontaneously. The underlying concept is similar to that of "jikan-yu"-frequent extremely hot and acidic spring water bathing- at Kusatsu spa. Recent studies have shown that usefulness of balneotherapy using hot spring water containing acidic hydrogen sulfide in psoriasis vulgaris which have gained popularity in Japan. Balneological cure treatment for dermatologic diseases in Japan may characterized by the use of hot springs for training and occasionally protecting the patient's skin so that it can adapt itself more efficiently to changing environments and also by major interest directed to the function rather than appearance of the diseased skin. The indications of balneotherapy for skin diseases in Japan are Dermatitis... hl

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