Balneoclimatology - where to?

Abstract

The beneficial effects of natural healing factors (mineral or thermal waters, mud, topoclimate and microclimate) have been known ever since antiquity. In our country there are proofs of the presence and effects of mineral/ thermal waters ever since the Dacian period. They used mineral waters for therapeutic purposes or for their healing effects. The first doctor in Dacia Felix was Marcus Valerius Longinus. The use of mineral and thermal waters continued during the Roman period, but also after the departure of the Roman legions from Dacia. In the Middle Ages the use of natural healing factors was in profound decline, but the interest in balneology on our territory was reborn since the 18th century. The beginning of the scientific stage of balneology was marked by studies of mineral waters and coincides with the middle of the 19th century. Most scientific studies appreciated internationally were conducted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Thus, the Society of Medical Hydrology and Climatology was established in 1922. Its activities were carried out from 1922 to 1943, then from 1943 to 1946 it was called the Romanian Balneoclimaterical Society having Professor Sturza as the President. Under the patronage of this society was also printed the magazine of the society called 'Balneoclimaterical Magazine'. In 1924, Professor Teohari organised the Balneology Institute in Bucureşti. He was the founder of the Romanian modern balneology by introducing experimental research whose results were published in the Bulletin of the Balneology Institute. In 1949, the Institute of Balneology became the Institute of Balneology and Physiotherapy. Unfortunately, at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, balneology started to be slightly in decline. However, in recent years there was revival of interest in balneology, materialized through a large number of published studies, restoring spas and inserting them into the spa circuit, increasing spa flows. As we know our balneary past, it is our duty to continue tradition and to use correctly the spa resources that are so numerous and so valuable in our country.