Balneotherapy for rheumatic diseases at the Dead Sea area.

The Dead Sea region is the major spa area in Israel for patients with various types of arthritis. The unique climatic conditions in this area, and the balneologic therapy-which is based primarily on mud packs and bathing in sulfur baths and in Dead Sea water-combine to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. Controlled studies conducted over the last 10 years have demonstrated that treatments provided at the Dead Sea have a positive effect on patients with inflammatory arthritides such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, and on non-inflammatory arthritides such as osteoarthritis. In addition, the use of mud packs and Dead Sea salts dissolved in regular bath water outside the Dead Sea region are also effective, although to a lesser degree than when applied at the Dead Sea area itself.