Balneo Research Journal DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12680/balneo.2013.1052 Vol.4, No.3, September 2013

SPELEOTHERAPY DEVELOPMENT IN ROMANIA ON THE WORLD CONTEXT AND PERSPECTIVES FOR USE OF SOME SALT MINES AND KARST CAVES FOR SPELEOTHERAPEUTIC AND BALNEOCLIMATIC TOURISM PURPOSES

Iuri SIMIONCA¹, ²

National Institute of Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Balneoclimatology, Bucharest, Romania¹; The Permanent Commission on Speleotherapy (PCS) / Commission permanente de spéléothérapie (CPS) - UIS² Corresponding author: [email protected]

Key words: speleotherapy, speleotherapy status, speleotherapy development

Speleotherapy (ST) is a relatively the last twenty years ST occupies an new method of complementary medicine, important place in salt mines mines and although, as is well known ancient tribes carst caves with different parameters: appreciated isolation in underwater caves, Wieliczka, Poland; Solotvino / Slatina, salt or karst caves, or possessing various Ukraine; Bad Bleiberg, Austria; Klutert ores and was officially recognized in the Hohl, Germany; Zlate Hory and Cisarska years 1950-1960 in Germany Cave, Czech Republic; Bystrianska (K.Spannagel, 1961) and Poland (M. Jaskyna, Slovakia; Tapolca Seehohle, Skulimowski, 1965). Professor Hungary; "Unirea" Salt Mine - Slănic Mieczyslaw Skulimowski has granted of Prahova, Romania and will occupy a speleotherapy in "Wieliczka" Salt Mine, significant place the Turda Salt Mine, the name of subterraneotherapy, soon to be Cacica, Tg. Ocna, and Praid salt mines also called the Skulimowski method. from Romania (Iu.Simionca et al., 2006, Number of speleotherapeutic centers 2009). and speleotherapy symposiums has Is of scientific and practical interest increased considerably (H.Trimmel, 1994). formation in world of new directions in the Speleotherapy in the underground now is treatment of the most common and severe an effective therapeutic method for the allergic diseases - asthma, namely the use treatment of obstructive respiratory tract of underground environmental factors in diseases, especially of patients with order to reduce human outcome of the bronchial asthma (BA), the upward and action of environmental allergy. In this effective practice in Central and Eastern context, the use of salt mines and caves as Europe, but also in the West: Austria, natural therapeutic factors - also known as Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Russia, speleotherapy, is a special scientific Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Hungary etc. interest, a perspective direction in the areas In the World, known about 60 of health and environment. underground salt and other mines, carst Today speleotherapy is known as the caves used for ST or are under therapy of patients with various diseases in experimental study to evaluate the the underground salt mines and caves possibility to be used for speleotherapy, possessing natural therapeutic factors including: Germany, Hungary, Czech (Iu.Simionca et al., 1998, 2005, 2006, Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, 2009). Ukraine, Romania and other countries. In Analysis of the speleotherapy domain salt mines with 9-24 °C temperature status allowed to establish that use saline operating 15 speleotherapy centers, 34 in or cave underground natural environmental karst caves with 9-18 °C, and 4 centers in factors which own curative properties for thermal caves with temperatures higher prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of than 24 C (Iu. Simionca et al., 2005). In patients with certain diseases, often

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Balneo Research Journal DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12680/balneo.2013.1052 Vol.4, No.3, September 2013

chronic and severe (asthma, post burn Significant experience in treating complications) represents a potential patients, especially children, is obtained in solution to optimize health services and karst caves of Czech Republic and increase quality of life. Slovakia. The most significant center in the In order to evaluate speleotherapy Czech Republic is the resort “Golden centers and the development of Mountain”, where 2,000 patients are speleotherapy in Central and Eastern treated annually. The health resort is Europe, in the years 2010 - 2012 by board comfortable for accommodation and members of international Permanent treatment of patients. It has a stable and Commission on Speleothjerapy (PCS) favorable microclimate in the mine, where were vizited: gold and other polymetals mined. • Moravia Children's Specialized In recent years another important Health Care Center, Children's Sanatorium center in the Czech Republic - Children’s with Speleotherapy, Ostrov u Macochy, Health Center - “Island in Macocha” loses Czech Republic; its importance . It has all the possibilities • Sanatorium Edel, Children's of accommodation, treatment of children, Sanatorium with Speleotherapy, Zlate but due to organizational problems this Hory , Czech Republic; treatment facility is not working at full • Regional Allergic Hospital with capacity, which causes considerable underground section of speleotherapy in concern in the medical community. Salt Mine N8, Solotvino, Ukraine; Another speleotherapy center is in • Republikan (Ukrainian) Slovakia - Bistra cave near Banska Allergologic Hospital, with underground Bystrica. section of speleotherapy in Salt Mine N8, In Poland is the oldest in Europe Solotvino, Ukraine; speleotherapy center in salt mines - • Scientific-Medical Centre and Wieliczka. Clinic "Rehabilitation" (Halotherapy Speleotherapy (subteranneotherapy) Centre) Health Ministry of Ukraine, center in Wieliczka is the main medical Uzhgorod, Ukraine; center in Europe in terms of • Speleotherapy Center in Bistra cave accommodation, the effectiveness of near Banska Bystrica, Slovakia; treatment and the number of treated patients. Wieliczka experience should • Turda Salt Mine Complex with Salt transferred to another salt mine in Poland - mines Ghizela, Rudolf, Terezia and Bohnya, which also has room for underground sections destinated for development of speleotherapy. speleotherapy, Cluj county, Romania; Good development of speleotherapy • Praid salt Mine with underground is obtained in Belarus, where thanks to the sections for agrement and tourism, government in Solihorsk, where a new Harghita county, Romania; underground department at the potash • Respublikanskaia bolnitsa mines has been built recently and a new speleolecheniya in Solegorsk Salt mine building of Republican speleotherapeutic Complex with two underground clinic was built which enables to increase speleotherapeutic sections, Solegorsk, the number of treated patients in two times. Belarus Republik. Significant losses in 2009-2010 in The results were presented at the speleotherapy was flooded salt mines in XIVth International Symposium of Solotvino (Ukraine), where there was the Speleotherapy-UIS, 2012, Turda, Romania world’s largest underground mine (Jaroslav Chonka, Iuri Simionca, Pavel department number 9 where 4-5 thousand Slavik, 2012). To mention the following patients were treated annually. results:

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Balneo Research Journal DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12680/balneo.2013.1052 Vol.4, No.3, September 2013

Although at the availability of funds human patients with bronchial asthma, and desire the work of Solotvino salt mines chronic bronchitis and other pathology, for and speleotherapy can be resumed. organizing with Romanian Salt Company a However, the most promising system of speleotherapeutic centers in salt development of speleotherapy in salt mines mines (“Unirea”- Slanic Prahova, Turda, is Romania, which is located at 3 centers, Cacica, Dej, Praid, Tg.Ocna, Rm. Valcea which can perform speleotherapy in classic salt mines). form. The results of the bioclimatic The new directions is speleotherapy studies, the pollution evaluation, studies on in carst caves which possess curative the microorganisms in the salt mines from properties. Are of use interest in the Cacica, Slănic Prahova, Praid, Tg. Ocna speleotherapeutic purposes the Carst Cave and Turda in the years 1970-2004 revealed Fundata – Rasnov, Brasov, where results that some of these mines could be used for of the first studies are promising (Iu. medical purposes and tourism. Were Simionca et al., 2012) proposed the solutions for reduction of the anthropic pollution effect (Grant CNCSIS, 2004). For the moment, in Romania the speleotherapy is used for asthma patients, chronic bronchitis and correction effect whose immunopathological changes – the new perspective for speleotherapy, in Slănic Prahova „Unirea” Salt Mine - the subject of a multidisciplinary medical and environmental study (VIASAN Project No. 441, Life and Health – 2004-2006). Another realized RDI project Figure 1. Foto 1 - 4. Recreational and (Nr.2550, FC:42120/2008-2011) is treatment area in Salt Mina « Unirea », „Complex of medical-biological study of Slănic Prahova, Romania (Proiect No. 441 potential therapeutic factors related to salt VIASAN Romania, 2004 – 2007) mines and karst environments for effective use in health and balneo-turism; development and modelling solutions of these factors". A particular interest represents new location of Cacica Salt Mine and Ocna Dej Salt Mine. One promising for medical use is Turda Salt Mine, adapted for tourists and for sick people (PHARE Project, finalized in 2009). Studies results (Proiects / Financing Contract 310/2010 and 600/2011 – 2012) indicated the specific speleotherapeutic effect. Now in Romania, in the various national scientific research projects, coordinated by MSR II, Dr. Iuri Figure 2. Photo 5-8. Photo by C. Zup. Simionca, an intensive examination of "Procedure of speleotherapy in these salt mines speleotherapeutic „Underground experimental speleo- potential, inclusive the influence of therapeutic sections" in Gallery 1 designed underground microclimate on laboratory for speleotherapy and recreation, Cacica animals with induced pathology and on salt Mine ("Old salt Mine"), Suceava

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Balneo Research Journal DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12680/balneo.2013.1052 Vol.4, No.3, September 2013

At the conference was attended various experts in speleotherapy, pulmonology and alergology, salt mines activity and caves tourism, including 12 participants from Ukraine and Czech Republic - representatives of speleotherapy centers among which Former President PCS/CPS-UIS Dr., MUDr. Pavel Slavik and Vice President PCS/CPS-UIS Dr., M.D. Jarosla Chonka. Conference summaries are published in the abstract book, printed in Publishing House “Casa cartii de stiinta”, Cluj- Figure 3. Photo 9-12. „Underground Napoca – recognized by National Council speleotherapeutic sections" and sections of Scientific Research in Higher Education for recreation in salt mines Ghizela, Rudolf and with title and description CIP of a-b and Therezia – Salt Mine Complex National Library , Romania (Iu.Simionca Turda, Cluj County, Romania et al., 2012) In the last 12 years occurred various In 2011, October 06 – 08, in Turda scientific meetings in the field, including: city, Cluj county, Romania, was organized The XI International Symposium of “The First Romanian Conference on Speleotherapy, Zlate Hory, EDEL - Czech Speleotherapy” (with international Republic, 1999; The National Congress of participation), dedicated to the project Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, entitled Complex medico – biological Techirghiol, Romania, 2001, with section study for innovative use of potential of speleotherapy and other National therapeutic salt mines and cave Congress of Physical and Rehabilitation environmental factors in health resorts and Medicine, Romania, during 2001 – 2010 balneoclimatic tourism; their modeling years; The 14 th International Congress of solutions” (National RDI-2 Plan, Project Speleology, UIS, Athens, Kalamos, 2005 42120/2008-2011, Project Manager – MSR with section of speleotherapy; International II, Dr. Iuri Simionca) and for development Symposium of allergologists - "30 years of of Speleotherapy in Romania Speleotherapy in Ukrainian Allergological (National Institute for Rehabilitation Hospital" Solotvino - Ukraine, 2006; Physical Medicine and Balneoclimatology, National Conference of Balneology with from Bucharest). The conference was section of speleotherapy, Sovata, Romania, organized under the aegis of: 2009 - 2012 (being promoted and sustained Executive Unit for Financing the results of multidisciplinary scientific Higher Education, the Research, and exploratory research from Romania in Development and Innovation the field - studies, experiments and (UEFISCDI) under the authority of research projects. Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sports; The Permanent Commission on Spe leotherapy (PCS/CPS) –UIS; Academy of Medical Sciences of Romania, Bucharest.

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Balneo Research Journal DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12680/balneo.2013.1052 Vol.4, No.3, September 2013

Since 1969 year were achieved 13 At the closing session of the XIV th editions of "The International Symposium International Symposium on of Speleotherapy" and other editions of Speleotherapy, 2012 (Turda, Romania) seminars and conferences in the field, noted that lectures and communications organized of Permanent Commission of (including poster) had a high scientific Speleotherapy – UIS in Austria, Germany, level, bringing the current results of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, latest research in speleo and halotherapy Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Italy and other field (from studies of underground karst countries, including „The XIII th and salt mine environment, of engineering International Symposium on protection and biomedical experimental Speleotherapy, Czech Republic, Blansko, studies on laboratory animals and to 2008”. clinical, cellular and molecular The XIV International Symposium of immunology, hematology, biochemistry, Speleotherapy (XIV ISS-UIS), organized physiology and others) made in various by the Permanent Commission on countries, including Romania. Speleotherapy (PCS) / Commission Were discussed problems and permanente de spéléothérapie (CPS) - potential development priorities in the Department of Research / Département de field. la recherché scientifique - UIS, in the The participants of the XIV th town of Turda, Cluj County, International Symposium on Speleotherapy Transylvania, Romania, in 4 to 6 October of the PCS / CPS-UIS, they are 2012 (Decision of the Permanent representatives of the Academy of Commission on Speleotherapy - UIS, Scientists from Romania and the Academy Working Committee Meeting, 27 – 28 of Medical Sciences of Romania, March 2012, Ostrov u Macochy, Brno, professors, associate professors and Czech Republic - Wieliczka, Krakow, university lecturers from different Poland). countries, including Romania; directors of research institutes in the public and private

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sectors, researchers of different degrees, mine tourism and medical balneoclimatic doctors in sciences (doctors, biologists, tourism or speleotherapy (after human chemists, engineers, speleologists, impact); geologists and other specialists) both from adequate measures for preserving / Romania and from other countries; restoring the specific underground representatives of some state institutions environmental factors; from Romania, business and industry from the necessity of approaching and different countries and of Romania, launching at national level of researches on discussed the current status of methodologies regarding speleotherapy, speleotherapy in caves and mines, as well related to the presence and the quality of as halotherapy - descending method of underground therapeutic factors and to the speleotherapy in salt mines. medical history of the patients (age, The analysis of the current status in disease status, previous medication, the field (Iu. Simionca et al., 2005, 2006, especially the hormonal therapy). 2009, J.Chonka, Iu. Simionca, P. Slavik, These issues could build up a 2012) showed the existence of a series of development program of speleotherapy and fundamental issues – potential descending methods used in medical development priorities in the field of purposes, for balneoclimatic tourism, caves speleotherapy in caves or mines and of or salt minestourism over a period of halotherapy: several years, which would involve the enhanced interest of a large increasing the quality of human life. category of persons in different countries (preponderant in Europe) for medical and References: touristic services in original and specific 1. Chonka J., Simionca Iu., locations with therapeutic natural factors, Slavik P. The development of such as those from some caves or salt speleotherapy in Eastern Europe (2012). mines and chambers with artificial INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF underground salt mine environment or SPELEOTHERAPY. International microclimate (halotherapy method Symposium (14; 2012; Turda). The XIVth descending from speleotherapy in salt International Symposium of Speleotherapy mines); : Abstracts : ed. A XIV-a, Turda, 2012. – lack of technical and medical Cluj-Napoca : Casa Cartii de Stiinta, 2012, standards for use in medical / 74 p (p.13-14) speleotherapeutic and of balneoclimatic 2. Iu. Simionca, M.Hoteteu, tourism some caves and mines (mainly - O.Mera, N.Grudnicki, C.Munteanu, H. salt mines, and other mines) and for Lazarescu, L.Enache, D.Cinteza, R.Calin., halotherapy - the surface rooms with salt D.Ciotaru, G.Stoian, G.Maiorescu - mine underground artificial environment or CONFERINTA NATIONALA DE underground salt mine microclimate; SPELEOTERAPIE CU PARTICIPARE need for monitoring standards of INTERNATIONALA – REZUMATELE geomechanical stability of the underground COMUNICARILOR STIINTIFICE. spaces in caves and mines which possesses Studiu complex medico-biologic in speleotherapeutic factors and used for vederea utilizarii innovative a factorilor medical purposes. balneoclimatic tourism terapeutici de mediu din saline si pestera in or speleo- and salt mine tourism; sanatate si turism balneoclimatic, solutii de lack of monitoring standards for modelare a acestora : conferinta nationala : curative properties of some caves and Turda, octombrie 2011 / coord.: cercetator mines (including salt mines), assessing stiintific principal II, Dr. Iuri Simionca.- their stability and therapeutic effectiveness, Cluj-Napoca : Casa Cartii de Stiinta, 2012, particularly after using for cave or salt 73 p. ISBN 978-606-17-0091-2

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