engleski

Balneology in Croatia, past, present and future

Balneology and climatology are linked into unique discipline called balneoclimatology with aim to study the influence of natural remedies, especially thermomineral water, peloids and clime on human body. Recently, Croatia celebrated 300’rd anniversary of balneology service, because there is a rich tradition of using our natural remedies. Today most of research is carried out on School of Public Health “Andrija Štampar” which is the part of University of Zagreb School of Medicine. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health have a division for water and balneoclimatology. Balneological Institute was founded in 1949th and since then was made over 400 balneological analyses and around 300 opinions, also Archive was established. Croatia has over 140 sources of mineral waters and peloids but just few of them are exploited and most isn’t balneologicaly analyzed. There is still need for balneological analysis of natural remedies: thermomineral water, peloids, naphthalene and climate. Priority tasks would be: a) detection and registration of new locality of thermomineral waters and peloids, b) determination of indications and contraindications, c) use of thermomineral waters and peloids in health services, d) making regularly balneological analysis of mineral water and peloids, e) permanent education of people working in balneological service, f) collection and deposit of archive and other material from balneology. Division for Water and Balneoclimatology is planning: a) prepare cadastre of thermomineral waters, b) create a map of all localities of thermomineral waters and peloids, c) based on new results prepare brochure with the list of spas and springs. The use of natural remedies in Croatia has thousands of years old tradition. For three centuries last scientific-research activities, and the 63 years of organized (institutional) balneology. With all this, the use of natural remedies is far from being satisfactory, because there are yet unexplored and unused potential.

balneology; thermomineral water; peloid; balneoclimatology; natural remedies

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