[Important results of about 45 years balneo-medical research in Bad Hall].

It was tried to show the most essential results of a approximately 45 years' research activity on the field of iodine balneology from the Paracelsus Institute and--since 1993--from the Paracelsus-Gesellschaft Bad Hall. The papers were concerned with: basical studies about the chemistry of the iodine waters, generation of special analytic methods and techniques for iodine determinations and for investigations of the iodine metabolism, generation of new therapeutical iodine applications (for example: eye iontophoresis, electro-aerosol; preparation of the iodine water for a mineral water indoor swimming-bath and for special therapy solutions), investigation of the (favourable) iodine effects on the cardiac and circulation system, on blood rheology, thyroid function, lipid metabolism and on the antioxidant defence mechanisms (with special consequences for arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and cataract), also on visual function and eye diseases (retina, color perception, contrast sensitiveness, cataract, dry eye) and respiratory diseases. Comparative studies on patients and on experimental animals as well as model experiments (e.g. on connective tissue: in vitro studies; tissue cultures) have been used to objectify many empirically observed cure effects. Possible side-effects of a cure with iodine brine (e.g. iodism) were mentioned.