1.Effects of Sand Bathing on some Physiological Parameters with Special Reference to Its Use in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Yakefu DILIXAT ; Simayil AYTULUN ; Reyim IBADET ; Sadir ARKIN ; Sakim MAYIRAM ; Michikazu SEKINE ; Sadanobu KAGAMIMORI
The Journal of The Japanese Society of Balneology, Climatology and Physical Medicine 2002;65(2):107-113
Sand bathing is a method of Uighur medical treatment that use natural conditions to treat diseases at Turpan, China. Its effects on heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, body weight and rheumatoid arthritis were discussed in various patients. The heart rate (absolute increase 16.33±7.5/m), systolic blood pressure (absolute increase 4.05±16.6mmHg) and body temperature (absolute increase 1.02±0.2°C) increased gradually after 10 minute sand bathing and decreased gradually in 10 minutes after the sand bathing in 91 patients. Since heart rate and blood pressure could not recovery after completing the sand bathing in a small part of patients, we considered that hypertensive patients should pay attention to taking the sand bathing. Reduction in body weight (absolute increase 1.46±3.8kg) was observed one hour after completing at 50-60°C sand bathing. For 21 (70.0%) of 30 rheumatoid arthritis patients treated by serial sand bathing for 15 days, though joint pain was relieved significantly. However, for 5 patients (16.7%) treated by the serial sand bathing, joint pain was not changed. For 4 (13.3%) treated by the sand bathing joint pain was worsened. From the above results it was considered that sand bathing may exert rather beneficial effects on rheumatoid arthritis patients.