| Sand Baths |
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On the Black Sea coast, in Evpatoria in particular, naturally heated sand baths have been used from ancient times for public medical treatment. Local residents and visitors from various locations came and treated their sick children with the coastal sand heated by the sun - and they quite often found total healing. They spread the word about the healing properties of the
sand.
Research on sand's physical characteristics and uses for medical applications has been nearly exclusively done Crimean physicians. Major work has been carried out on introducing natural sand baths for the treatment of various
diseases.
The more or less methodical allocation of sand baths under medical supervision was established in Evpatoria as early as even 1909 to 1910. At that time, one by one, outpatient clinics, day sanitariums and beaches began to open. The beaches attracted numbers of children drawn to its benefits and treatment was provided for children from individual families and from entire children's colonies, arriving from the north and from other Crimean
cities.
The first 6 to 10 days of a stay in Evpatoria are usually devoted to so-called 'acclimatization', which is particularly important for children with pale, anemic and tender skin, sensitive to even to gentlest sand bath (47.5 to 48.5
Celsius).
To acclimatize it is necessary to:
- pre-condition the skin with a series of solar baths, so it tans and becomes sturdier;
- provide the child's daily life during treatment with a organized schedule:
a) to avoid sun burns (which frequently interfere with beginning treatments);
b) to eat regularly and sparingly (no overeating);
c) to avoid exhausting the nervous system with a chaotic visit to the
seashore;
d) to psychologically condition the child (sand baths only work if the child is calm and has complete trust in the medical personnel as these little patients are often timid and very cautious at
first).
Sand baths also have contraindications.
Sand baths are contraindicated for people suffering from fevers or acute colds of the upper respiratory tract. Furthermore people with even light gastrointestinal disorders or constipation should not take sand baths. Sand baths are absolutely contraindicated with
neurasthenia or general nervousness accompanying insomnia, with non-equilibrate heart disease or with acute
nephritis.
Sand baths are not to be used for children under two years of age. |
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The beach of Evpatoria Bay is covered by a thick layer of sand (along the coastal strip) that allows extensive use for natural sand baths (a powerful stimulant for nerve endings located in the
skin).
On Evpatorian beaches, natural, sun-heated sand baths are used with great success. The best time to take sand baths is in the dry summer months of July to
August.
Evpatoria's beaches are composed of quite large grains of sand (0.25 to 0.50 mm in diameter) with a wide variety in structure, which promotes the formation of air pockets. These air spaces lower the sand thermal
conductivity. The amount of energy needed to heat one gram of sand by 1 Celsius is
low. Because of this fact, the upper layer of Evpatoria's sand is wonderfully warmed by the sun's rays, to a depth of approximately 5
centimeters.
By using a magnet on the sand it's possible to collect 20 to 30 grains of iron. These iron particles are probably ferrous oxide, which appear yellow in the sun under the influence of the oxygen in the
air.
The sun's effect on the sand, the presence of hot salt from sea water and hot grains (the oxides) of iron, may cause a processes of electrolytic disassociation to sweat (acidic) liquid, ionizing it. Combined with the radioactivity of the scorching sun we can find the origin of the electromagnetic current. All these characteristics added together make solar-heated sand baths on the seashore and in the fresh sea air surprisingly useful. Their curative effects greatly surpass those of home sand baths or the artificial sand baths sand baths provided at special institutions (even with the wonderful, up to date equipment and bath-boxes with sand heated by hot steam or
air).
Sand baths are a vigorous medical procedure, designed mainly to cause intense perspiration. In this characteristic, they can be compared to mud, steam or hot air or water
baths.
The sweating starts quickly and flows continuously, binding a layer of damp sand to the body and moderating the effect of the high temperature that the body is subjected to inside the bath - thereby protecting the body from overheating. The patient can breathe free as his head is outside the sand bath, surrounded by cooler, clean air. Sand baths are distinguished by their gentleness and can be given to children, elderly and people with heart diseased. Of all the 'sweat' procedures, this one is the most pleasant and really only electric light baths are call for less
endurance.
Sand baths are a powerful stimulant for the skin. Aside from the high temperature, skin is stimulated by the sand grains themselves, which have irregular forms (quite often with angular edges) and further by the density and mechanical properties such as the sand's (or the salts in the sand) ability to
flow.
There are three periods during the naturally-heated sand
bath.
Upon completion of the sand baths, the dry and wet sand, which covers the body in a layer the thickness of a finger) is removed from the patient. In the sitting position, the patient is covered by a dry bed sheet; he reposes and then after a short period (10 to 15 minutes) receives the moist procedure on a platform - a warm sea bath of 34 to 35 Celsius, rinsing with sea water or bathing in the sea. If it is necessary to prolong perspiration, the patient is carried in
a special room to promote perspiration, where he is enfolded in a warm blanket and for half an hour continues to perspire while drinking hot tea. Just like the sauna
effect!
In addition to all-over sand baths, there is wide use in Evpatoria of localized sand baths which allow longer baths or baths at higher temperatures - from 60 Celsius and
higher.
After delivery of solar heated sand bath in Evpatoria, the sand platform is dug-over and locked-up until the following morning. Under the action of sun and wind the sand is completely dried, disinfected and once again fit for
use.
Compared with the number of solar days in Evpatoria, the number sand bath days is almost half a many and varies between 55 to 70 days during the season, with an average of about 18 to 23 sand days for each summer month. However, practically it's not possible to use more than 12 to 15 sand days a month. A series of technical measures are taken with the sand platforms to protect the sand from seasonal winds (the humid southwest wind or the dry and hot southeast winds) as well as from summer thunderstorms. An overwhelming number of sand baths are taken by children. Sand temperature is monitored by a sand thermometer placed not deeper than one centimeter into the sand. Baths are distributed according to the degree of heating in the range of 47.5 to 53.5 Celsius and even up to 55 Celsius. Children eagerly respond to the director's call, as for each of them a peaceful sand bath
awaits.
The main contingent of children using sand bath treatment is made up of children with rickets. They account for about 50% of all delivered sand baths. Results are directly proportional to age. Muscles get considerably stronger, bones noticeably smooth out, the anemic condition and the gastrointestinal disorders that accompany rickets disappear and the children have a healthier appearance and nice, tan skin. By the following summer they are almost unrecognizable. In more severe cases and with older children the usual course of 10 to 12 sand baths (intensified by the effects of sea air, sun and sea bathing) is not quite enough. It's often necessary to repeat treatment for two or three years in a
row.
Sand baths are an irreplaceable method of treating childhood ailments such as rheumatism, gout, obesity or diathesis. At the beginning of treatment for rheumatic phenomena, pain intensifies and the child 'becomes ill' so sometimes it's necessary to prescribe rest. By the end of treatments, usually consisting of 12 to 15 sand baths, combined with hot sea or Rapa baths, the picture has sharply changed as pains cease, motion become more free and the child is energized and cheerful. As with childhood gout, obesity or diathesis, sand bath treatment is accompanied by a significant improvement in the general state of health from the very beginning. Children not only don't get fatigued from the sand baths, but they easily endure them and request frequent appointments. Usually overweight and lethargic, they become increasingly mobile and begin to participate more in the life of their
peers.
With childhood organic nervous system disease (childhood cerebral palsy, spastic palsy and others) you usually do not see sharp
improvement.
Treatment with hot sand has special success for adults, considering the fine state of health and pleasing sensations experienced during a bath in hot sand. They happily remain in a sand bath for 20 minutes or more for kidney problems, for rheumatism of the joints and muscles and, particularly, with neuralgias of the sciatic nerve or with gouty
diathesis.
As for localized sand baths, there is more positive evidence for these than for general baths for both children and adults. Using them is mainly useful after mud treatment. Most often they are used for traumatic arthritis, tights joints, bone calluses on fracture points, etc. Evidence shows that the combination of localized sand baths with a subsequent massage provides wonderful
results.
You can make your own sand baths. In this case, do as follows: select a place and early in the morning make a sand pile of 30 to 35 cm in height. By 12 noon, the sand warms up to 45 to 55 Celsius and it's possible to take the bath. It is necessary to cover the ailing area with sand and to cover the stomach and thorax with a fine layer of sand. You can cover the limbs and joints with as much sand as you wish. The area around the heart must be left
uncovered.
The duration for independent sand baths for adults is usually 20 to 30 minutes, while for children it's 10 to 15 minutes. The sign that its time to end the sand bath is a weightiness to the head or a rapid heartbeat or
pulse.
After a 10 to 15 minute break, wash with sea water, warm yourself in the sun up to 35 to 37 Celsius, wipe dry and rest in the shade for an hour and a
half.
The treatment should consist of 12 to 20 procedures, daily or every other day. On days of sand baths, you should not have Rapa or mud therapy.
In conclusion, it is necessary to note the following medical factors of sand baths: the great medical value of natural sand baths, their irreplaceability in the field of children's seaside (Talasso) therapy and the amazing results in some cases of Talassotherapy for adults. With the three periods of the sand baths effect on the body, it is necessary to use the medical purpose of the first two and avoid the negative influence of the third period (the secondary feeling of heat or secondary shivering with water procedures). Dry and sweat sand baths share some qualities. This is particularly evident for children, who receive the most effect when it's necessary to stimulate the circulatory system organs, metabolism or growth.
Mud and Rapa therapy takes first place when it comes to the power of the effect for treatment of rheumatic diseases and neuralgia. However, because of their pleasant promotion of free perspiration, sweat sand baths can replace mud therapy for people suffering from diseases of the heart, circulatory system and kidneys, as well as for the elderly. | |
