Health tourism has grown considerably
throughout the world and in Egypt in
particular. One of the important health tourist
resorts is Al-Ghardaqa the largest city on the
western coast of the Red Sea, south of Suez.
It is famous for its natural resources, with
sands rich in therapeutic minerals. There are
many resorts, such as the Anna Aslan Centre
(named after the Romanian scientist Anna
Aslan) which became famous for treatment
of age-related illnesses and organ function
deterioration associated with old age,
depression, osteoarthritis, Parkinson
disease, symptoms of menopause and
atherosclerosis. There is also Safaga, south
of Al-Ghardaqa considered the number one
health tourism resort in Egypt, especially for
rheumatic diseases and psoriasis.
The School of Psoriasis
Treatment
The discovery of the treatment for psoriasis
happened accidentally, Dr. Hani Al-Nadher,
Professor of Dermatology and head of the
National Centre for Research told Islamic
Tourism. In the late eighties officials in the
Red Sea region noticed an amazing
phenomenon: tourists who came to the Gulf
of Safaga to enjoy diving and were sufferers
of psoriasis recovered completely after
spending two to three weeks in this region.
This observation was then conveyed to the
Ministry of Scientific Research for study. A
team of specialised doctors from the
National Research Centre started the study
of this amazing phenomenon in the early
nineties, and concluded that among the
population in this region (some 45,000),
there was no single case of psoriasis.
Dr. Al-Nadher explained that environmental
treatment means the use of natural products
to treat a given disease without the use of
any chemicals. That is why the treatment
consists of swimming in the Gulf of Safaga
where the water has a high density of salt
and exposure to ultraviolet rays of sun light in
the early morning or at sunset.
Why Safaga?
Dr. Al-Nadher has the answer. Safaga, he
says, is situated on a Gulf with few islands
and corral reefs which reduces the speed of
the current, raising the concentration of salt
and minerals. Due to this increase, there is a
reduction in the earth’s gravity which leads to the activation of blood circulation
and the rush of blood towards the skin. This
results in a balance between the
concentration of salt between the cells and
tissues and the external environment and has
a great influence in the treatment of psoriasis.
The second factor is the high concentration
of ultraviolet rays in this region.
From 1995 hundreds of patients from Egypt
and abroad started coming to Safaga
where around 2,000 people are now
treated annually. The city has developed
extensively: it has been provided with all
the services and facilities required for
tourism and existing facilities were
renovated to cope with the increased
interest in health tourism.
Laboratory tests have proven that the
sands of Safaga contain a high, safe
percentage of radioactive material, such as
uranium, thorium and potassium, as well as
most other minerals. It has also been
proven that the sand has a high percentage
of gold salt used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, joint
effusion and skin inflammations.
Spas with therapeutic
properties
Many hot spas are located in the province of
south Sinai, between the Suez and the Gulf
of Aqaba, such as The Pharaoh Baths and
Moses Baths. The water is therapeutic
because of its sulphur content. A chemical
and bacteriological analysis of this water,
has established that it is effective in treating
a number of diseases prompting investors to
fund a tourist health resort, which has
become a magnet for visitors from all over
the world. It includes a tourist village and a
centre for environmental therapy.
Halwan has spas with mineral and sulphur
content not found any where else. The water
is also distinguished by its purity and is
useful in treating several diseases. Halwan
has a sulphur centre for natural treatment
and for the treatment of rheumatic diseases
and pains. The centre also treats skin
disorders, osteoarthritis, joint stiffness and
fractures with malunion, chronic circulatory
insufficiency of limb arteries, ovophoritis and
severe obesity.
The Oases
Passing Geza, you come to the Sea Oases
which has developed rapidly to become a
tourist expansion of greater Cairo – an area
full of spas and places for health tourism. It
could become one of the largest health
resorts in the world, due to its dry climate,
and sunshine throughout the year, especially
in the area of "Halfa Spas".
Siuah, in the west of the country, takes a
prominent place among health tourism
resorts. In addition to its pure environment
and good weather, it has sand hills that
made it the pearl of the western desert.
To the south east of Siuah, lies "Dacro
Mountain". The locals swear by its therapeutic
powers. It is known to cure rheumatic
diseases, joint pains and organ deterioration.
People who suffer from these diseases go to
the locals who bury them in the sand – hence
the name for the treatment: "burial in the
sand", for about fifteen to thirty minutes every
day for two weeks during summer. This
treatment became a big hit with tourists.
A number of health treatments are available
in Wadi al-Jadid province which makes up
about 67 percent of the western desert of
Egypt. The area is well known for its dry
climate, temperatures of up to 43 degrees
centigrade, fine sands, therapeutic plants
and spas which contain sulphur, calcium,
magnesium and iron. Plants are used to treat
diseases such as, colic and diseases of the
digestive system, diabetes mellitus and
some rheumatic pains.
The Outer Oases are famous for their deep
wells, with water gushing at about 100 m and
heat reaching 28 degree centigrade. Among
the wells are "The Bulaq Wells" and the
collection of "Naser Wells" 18 km to the south
of Kharigah city. The water here can be used
to treat chronic pains, rheumatic diseases,
skin disorders, kidney stones and pains and
respiration problems.
Similar features are found in the Interior
Oases and in Aswan province which is
called "The Rose of the South". With the
islands of Elfinten and Isis, it is one of the
best winter health resorts in the world.
Egypt has some of the finest health tourism
resorts. Spas with healing properties
attract visitors from all corners of the globe
and the health tourism continues to expand
and develop.
by Mushera El-Fishawy - Islamic Tourism
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