Water-Based Therapies of Bhutan: Current Practices and the Recorded Clinical Evidence of Balneotherapy
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; karmayeshi@live.com 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; jigmedorji707@gmail.com (K.U.); ugyensangay@gmail.com (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; kwangdi@uwice.gov.bt 5 Menjong Sorig Pharmaceuticals Corporation Ltd., Kawajangsa, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan; samteny@yahoo.co.uk (S.); phurbatsher53@gmail.com (P.T.) 6 Drug Utilisation and Discovery Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jember, Jember 68121, Indonesia; arisatia@unej.ac.id * Correspondence: phurpa.wangchuk@jcu.edu.au † 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
[Show full text]