Abstract
The use of peloids as heat-providing therapeutic systems dates back to antiquity. Such systems consist of a liquid phase and an organic or inorganic solid phase. The latter facilitates the handling, preparation and stability of the solid–liquid system, modifying its organoleptic and phy-sicochemical properties, and improves its efficacy and tolerance. Peloids enable the application of heat to very specific zones and the release of heat at a given rate. The aims of this work are to study 16 reference peloids used in medical spa centers as thermo-therapeutic agents as well as to propose nine raw materials as a solid phase for the preparation of peloids. The physical properties studied are the centesimal composition, the instrumental texture and the thermal parameters. In conclusion, the peloids of the medical spas studied are used as thermotherapeutic agents in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, especially in knee osteoarthritis and to a lesser extent in back pain and psoriatic arthropathy. The clinical experience in these centers shows that the main effects of the application of their peloids are the reduction of pain, an increase in the joint’s functional capacity and an improvement in the quality of life. As thermotherapeutic agents, all the peloids of the me-dical spas studied and the pastes (raw materials with distilled water) examined showed a heat flow rate of up to four times lower than that shown by the same amount of water. The raw materials studied can be used as solid phases for the preparation of peloids with mineral waters.
Highlights
Since ancient times, peloids have been used as heat-providing healing systems [1].Currently, peloid therapy is used in health resort medicine in the form of both balneotherapy and thalassotherapy.Since the middle of the last century, this technique has been referred to as mud or pelotherapy
The medical spas (MSs) studied correspond to world-renowned health resort medicine located in nine countries where they are applied as thermotherapeutic agents to more than one hundred thousand patients a year
The main effects of the application of the studied are the of pain, increase in the functional capacity of the joint and an improvement in the quality increase in the functional capacity of the joint and an improvement in the quality of life.of life
Summary
Peloids have been used as heat-providing healing systems [1].Currently, peloid therapy is used in health resort medicine in the form of both balneotherapy and thalassotherapy.Since the middle of the last century, this technique has been referred to as mud or pelotherapy. Peloids have been used as heat-providing healing systems [1]. Peloid therapy is used in health resort medicine in the form of both balneotherapy and thalassotherapy. A peloid is defined as “a mature mud or mud suspension or dispersion with curative or cosmetic properties, consisting of a complex mixture of fine grained materials of geological and/or biological origin, mineral or sea water, and organic compounds commonly arising from some biological metabolic activity” [2]. Peloids may be considered heterogeneous systems with a solid phase comprised of a mixture of organic and/or inorganic solids, suspended or humidified, with a liquid phase consisting of a solution of ions and molecules of inorganic.
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