Treatment with mineral waters

Water is the cradle of life. About 60% of the body of an adult consists of water, its share in the body of an infant is 75%. Violation of the water balance can cause overwork, fatigue, and the loss of 10% of water threatens human health and life. The daily rate of water consumption depends on many factors and averages 1.5 - 3 liters. It turns out that water can not only quench your thirst, but also improve your health.

The healing properties of mineral water have been known since ancient times and have been used. For example, the name of the famous water Narzan has Abaza roots and means “heroic source”. It was believed that the water from it returns health, youth and beauty. Therefore, local heroes, going to war, always drank from this source in order to gain strength before a difficult campaign.

Modern science has proven the positive effect of mineral water on the body. And numerous balneological health resorts in Russia offer services for the treatment of many diseases with the help of the healing properties of water from sources.

Mineral water spring No. 23 in Kislovodsk

What is mineral water?

Mineral water differs from fresh water by a high content of minerals ranging from 1% to 5%. Water may not contain dry substances, but be mineral due to iodine, bromine, arsenic, lithium and other medicinal components. Waters containing hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and radon have the greatest effect. There is water that does not contain any minerals or other elements in sufficient quantities, but it still belongs to the mineral category. This is due to the fact that both individual elements and water as a whole affect the body.

Classification of mineral waters.

In total, 5 types of mineral waters are distinguished: alkaline, sulfate, nitrate, chloride and combined (mixed). According to the degree of mineralization, they distinguish: low-mineralized water (up to 5 g / l), medium-mineralized (from 5 to 30 g / l) and highly mineralized (over 30 g / l).

There is also a clinical classification, according to which low-mineralized water (up to 1 g/l) is considered to be table water. This means that it can be used as drinking water, bringing only benefits to your body. Water with a mineralization of 1 to 10 g / l is called medical - dining room, it has healing properties, so you should not get too carried away with its use. Medical water is considered to be water with a mineralization of more than 30 g / l. Such water can be drunk only on the recommendation of a doctor.

Useful properties of mineral water.

Treatment with mineral water helps to eliminate or reduce the severity of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (acute gastritis, colitis, peptic ulcer), diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract (cholecystitis, pyelonephritis, cholelithiasis), pancreatitis, hepatitis, diseases of the cardiovascular system and respiratory pathways, as well as gynecological diseases and metabolic disorders. At balneological resorts, the therapeutic effect is achieved not only due to the healing properties of mineral waters, but also due to a special resort regimen, a special diet prescribed by the attending physician, a change of scenery and the absence of stress factors. Thus, the most favorable environment for the positive effect of the treatment is created.

The most important mistake that people make when they want to experience the healing effect of mineral water on themselves is its irrepressible use. In this case, instead of benefit, you can get harm. The first thing to do is to consult a doctor, who must determine which mineral water is better to drink, how many times a day, and in what quantity. In addition, there are contraindications in which the use of mineral water is not only undesirable, but also dangerous, for example, many chronic diseases in the acute stage. Therefore, it is best to undergo treatment with mineral waters in specialized balneological sanatoriums.

Sources of mineral waters.

In Russia and the former CIS countries there are many sources of medicinal mineral waters known throughout the world. The resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters region (Kislovodsk, Zheleznovodsk, Essentuki), as well as Borjomi and Arzni are famous for their carbonic waters. Sources of hydrogen sulfide waters are located in the Sochi region, Ust - Kachinsk (Perm region), radon waters - in Pyatigorsk, and ferruginous - in Truskovets.

Methods of treatment with mineral waters.

Mineral waters in sanatoriums enter the body orally (through the mouth), through the rectum, as well as through irrigation and mineral baths.

Health resort doctors treat drinking mineral water very responsibly. For each disease, a certain type of water and the daily rate of its consumption are suitable.

Drinking cure is the oldest method of benefiting from a mineral spring. For example, the resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters began to gain popularity in the nineteenth century. The main feature of the treatment with mineral waters of that time was the consumption of large amounts of water (up to three liters per day). Then this process became more streamlined, and mineral baths, showers and rain baths were added to it. After some time, mineral waters became available not only in resorts, but also at home, as this medicinal product began to be bottled in large quantities around the world.

In the narzan gallery

Drinking cure.

Most often, mineral water is consumed in its pure form, with the exception of highly concentrated, which is diluted with plain water so as not to irritate the walls of the stomach. During treatment in sanatoriums that have their own mineral springs, water is usually drunk directly from there. It has been established that during long-term storage of such water in an open container, denaturation occurs in its composition, it loses its temperature and gases, salts settle in it, the water becomes cloudy and loses its taste, as well as many medicinal properties.

Water temperature is an important factor that should also be taken into account during treatment. If it exceeds 55 degrees - the water should be cooled, if it is below 10 degrees - heated. In large resorts, many springs where water is dispensed have mechanical systems for heating water by steam or mechanical heating. Usually, water with a temperature of 10 to 50 degrees is used for treatment.

The dosage of mineral water is prescribed by the attending physician. It depends on the nature and severity of the disease, on the type of mineral water and its properties, on the condition of the patient. To achieve the greatest healing effect, it is necessary to accurately determine the daily dose and the number of doses per day, as well as the duration of the course. The dosage can vary from 1 tablespoon to 1-2 glasses. You should be very careful when prescribing mineral waters with a pronounced degree of action on the body. For example, one of the Georgian springs contains a large amount of arsenic, there are waters with high mineralization or a high content of elements such as chlorine and calcium.

Low- and medium-mineralized water is usually prescribed for the prevention of 200-250 ml., In two doses with an interval of 10-15 minutes. In general, the dosage, frequency and time of administration directly depends on the individual characteristics of the person and his disease.

For example, for maximum impact on kidney function and metabolism, water is best taken in the morning on an empty stomach. So it enters the intestines faster and in a less altered form than on a full stomach.

In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the use of water is associated with meals. It is usually prescribed to be taken three times a day before meals. With reduced secretion of the stomach, water should be taken 15-30 minutes before meals; with normal - 45-50 minutes, and with increased secretion - 1.5 hours before meals. Moreover, people with reduced secretion are advised to drink water slowly, in small sips, in order to increase the time of its action on the gastric mucosa and increase its secretion. And with increased secretion and acidity of the stomach, on the contrary, it is necessary to drink mineral water in one gulp so that it quickly enters the intestines, and from there it inhibits the production of gastric juice.

For constipation, a small amount of laxative water (Batalinsky) or sodium sulfate or potassium (1-2 teaspoons per glass of water) is added to low-mineralized water. Laxative waters should be drunk quickly so that they quickly enter the intestines. If you drink slowly, the water can cool down, and if the temperature is not high enough, then the effect of it can be reduced.

For the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, alkaline or saline-alkaline waters mixed with warm milk are prescribed. Usually treatment takes place at home using bottled mineral water. When using such water, you should take care of its proper storage so as not to lose the therapeutic effect. It should be stored in a cool place, tightly closed, and preferably in a horizontal position.

With increased acidity of the stomach and flatulence, mineral water should first be freed from gases. To do this, it can be heated or blown through a straw.

Baths, irrigation and other mineral water treatments.

Along with drinking treatment, according to special indications, mineral enemas, washing and irrigation of the stomach, mineral baths and other procedures are used.

The use of baths and showers with salt water (sodium chloride) relieve pain, reduce inflammation, strengthen the nervous system and improve skin tone.

Baths with mineral water containing nitrogen lower blood pressure and help normalize the body's hematopoietic functions. This is achieved due to the large number of nitrogen bubbles in the water.

Showers, irrigations and baths with hydrogen sulfide water treat nervous disorders, increase immunity, and also restore the functioning of the thyroid and sex glands.

Procedures using carbonic water are usually prescribed for people who have severe illnesses. Such water helps to normalize blood circulation, restore respiratory functions and speed up metabolism. Thanks to special equipment, a kind of "cocktail" of oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor is created.

In the process of such procedures, not only mineral water and its chemical elements affect the body, but also a massage effect, which contributes to the saturation of tissues with oxygen, improves blood circulation and improves skin tone.

Thus, the use of mineral water has its own characteristics. So, some species are indicated for some diseases, but have contraindications for taking in other diseases. Therefore, before starting treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor, preferably a specialist in the field of balneology, which is available in every sanatorium-resort type institution specializing in the treatment of mineral waters.