water Article Water-Based Therapies of Bhutan: Current Practices and the Recorded Clinical Evidence of Balneotherapy Phurpa Wangchuk 1,*,†, Karma Yeshi 1,2,† , Karma Ugyen 3, Jigme Dorji 3, Karma Wangdi 4, Samten 5, Phurba Tshering 5 and Ari Satia Nugraha 6 1 Centre for Biodiversity and Molecular, Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, Cairns Campus, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia;
[email protected] 2 Sherubtse College, Royal University of Bhutan (RUB), Kanglung, Trashigang 42001, Bhutan 3 National Traditional Medicine Hospital (NTHM), Department of Traditional Medicine Services (DTMS), Ministry of Health, Kawajangsa, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan;
[email protected] (K.U.);
[email protected] (J.D.) 4 Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research (UWICER), Department of Forests and Park Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Lamai Goempa, Bumthang 32001, Bhutan;
[email protected] 5 Menjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals Corporation Ltd., Kawajangsa, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan;
[email protected] (S.);
[email protected] (P.T.) 6 Drug Utilisation and Discovery Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jember, Jember 68121, Indonesia;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected] † Equally contributed as first authors. Abstract: Medical water therapy (also called medical hydrology) is practiced worldwide both for relaxation and treatment of diseases. While this practice is still thriving in Bhutan, there is a lack of