Cave climate, medical caves
Medical caves have special therapeutic effects and they represent unique possibilities in medical tourism. The germ-free air of these natural and artificial underground pits are beneficial for patients who suffer from respiratory and locomotor diseases.
These caves can be found in karstic areas. They were formed underground from the dissolution of soluble rocks by aerated water, which had filtered through slits and sinkholes. The slits and passages were then widened by the grinding effect of sand and debris, which were washed underground from the surface by subterranean streams. (Bona I. 1988).
The therapeutic utilization of caves (speleotherapy) goes back to ancient times. Before the Middle Ages their healing effect was considered a miracle and this is why many of them became places for pilgrimages. But it was only in the 20th century that the beneficial effect of cave air on the respiratory system was scientifically investigated and analyzed.
Actually it was only by chance that caves got into the centre of attention of researchers. In the middle of the 19th century a physician, working in the salt mine of Wieliczka (Poland) noticed, that there was no occurrence of lungs disease in the group of miners working there. During the second world war the salt mine was used as shelter and during this time many people who had been hiding there for months recovered from their asthma. (alternativgyogymodok.hu). The cave Klutter in Westfalia also served as a shelter during the second world war. Those people who had been hiding there and at the same time they were sufferers from trachitis after a time could experience that their health had significantly improved. (met.hu).
Each cave has a different and unique microclimate. The tempreature in these caves is permanent and it is usually identical with the annual mean temperature, but it may depend on the depth, ventilation, the temperature and quantity of its waters as well. The annual mean fluctuation in temperature is usually low, less than 1°C. In warm caves, where the mean temperature is higher than 20°C mostly patients with locomotor diseases are treated, while the colder caves with a mean temperature of 10-13°C are beneficial for patients suffering from respiratory diseases. (egeszsegturizmus.itthon.hu).
The therapeutic effect of cave air depends on its geological features, strength of ventilation, and the chemical composition of its waters and air. Cave air is usually characterized by cleanliness, (free of dust, germs and allergens), relatively high humidity (often 100%), beneficial chemical composition of vapour (e.g. anti-inflammatory effect, rich in Ca, Mg, ions), beneficial chemical composition of air (e.g. high CO2 level that stimulates the activity of the respiratory system.), permanent temperature. Due to the dominance of negative ions cave air also has a considerable self-cleaning effect.
For further deatils see: http://www.met.hu/eghajlat/magyarorszag_eghajlata/bioklimatologia/barlang_klima/
There are places, too, (e.g. Béke cave) where the antibiotics, produced by the spores of the mould fungi in the air has a multiplication effect in the treatment of patients suffering from asthma and bronchitis. In other caves there is a low-level radioactivity which may speed up cellular metabolism and strengthen the immune system. Deserted salt mines are used to practice halotherapy (treatment with salty air).
Staying in the undeground ’sanatoria’ of natural caves or deserted salt mines is beneficial in itself, but when combined with other types of therapies (breathing therapy, exercising, relaxing, meditating, Kneipp cure, psychotherapy, dietetic therapy), it can be extremely good for health. Usually referrals are needed to get treatments. The most effective treatments last three weeks, but usually there is a considerable improvement after the 1st week of therapy. On a daily basis 3-5 hours of stay is needed for maximum benefit.
The counter indications of warm caves are identical with the counter indications of balneotherapy. (heart diseases, malignant tumors, acute inflammation, pregancy). In cold caves counter indications include emphysema, pulmonary congestion, heart failure and rheumatic problems. (Hojcska Á.– Szabó Z. 2010).
The most famous medical caves in Europe are as follows: Parajd (Transylvania), Aknaszlatina (Sub-Carpathia), Wieliczka (Poland), Berchtesgaden (Germany), Bad-Gastein (Austria).
In Hungary – despite the fact that there are many caves – for the time being only five qualify as medical caves. These are Abaligeti, Béke-, Tapolcai, Szemlőhegyi- and Szent-István-cave. For further details see: http://www.met.hu/eghajlat/magyarorszag_eghajlata/bioklimatologia/gyogybarlangok/