The therapeutic use of mineral waters has a long history..

So, in Greece, archaeologists discovered the ruins of a hydropathic facility built in the 6th century BC..

The ancient Greeks built sanctuaries and altars at healing springs, and with the help of water they performed religious rites of washing, bathing, baptism.

The mythical hero Hercules was considered the patron of natural waters, as they believed that he gained his strength by bathing in the water of the sources of the Caucasus.

Famous doctors of the past Hippocrates, Archigen, Fallopius used mineral waters to treat patients.

The first information about mineral springs in Russia was published in 1627. , and the study and use of mineral waters for medicinal purposes began in the era of Peter I. Having visited European resorts abroad and convinced of the healing value of mineral waters, Peter I ordered to look for mineral springs in Russia.

For a long time the search was unsuccessful. In 1714. Ivan Reboev, a worker at the Konchezersky copper smelter, “who was ill with heartache and could hardly drag his feet,” discovered a spring in a swamp, the water of which, after a three-day intake, brought him relief. Medical officer Blumentrost, who was sent to study these waters, confirmed their healing effect on sick soldiers..

The ferruginous water of the source was called " By decree of Peter I in 1718. the first resort in Russia " In the same year, similar ferruginous waters were discovered in the village of Polyustrovo near St. Petersburg..

The search for mineral water sources was also carried out in the North Caucasus. The descriptions of Dr. Schober mention the hot waters of Pyatigorsk and the " In 1863. at the Caucasian mineral waters by Dr. S. Smirnov organized the first Russian balneological society.

In 1920. in Pyatigorsk, the first balneological institute in our country was created, in the organization of scientific work of which Academician I.. Pavlov. At present, a large network of health resorts operates in Russia, in which mineral water treatment is widely used..

Healing mineral waters are natural waters that contain mineral (rarely organic) components, various gases in high concentrations or have specific physical properties: radioactivity, temperature, active reaction of the environment, due to which they have an effect on the human body that differs from the action of fresh water..

Internal use of mineral waters includes: drinking treatment, gastric lavage, duodenal drainage, oral irrigation, inhalations, enemas, underwater bowel lavage, intestinal douche. The most common and oldest of these methods is the drinking cure..

The main characteristics of mineral waters for drinking treatment.

The therapeutic effect of mineral waters during drinking treatment is determined mainly by the following factors: general mineralization, ionic composition, the presence of active ions, organic substances and gases, temperature, active reaction of the environment and radioactivity.

General mineralization of water.

The total mineralization of water is the sum of all anions, cations and undissociated molecules in grams per 1 liter of water. In the absence of other criteria, water is considered mineral if its total mineralization is more than 2 g/l..

According to the general mineralization, mineral waters are divided into the following groups:.

– low mineralization waters (\u003e 2-5 g/l): Achaluki, Arshan, Darasun, Karachinskaya, Kuka, Kozhanovskaya, Lipetskaya, Narzan, Smirnovskaya,.

- waters of medium mineralization (\u003e 5-15 g / l): Borjomi, Essentuki No. 4, Essentuki No. 17, Zamarag, Kashinskaya, Malkinskaya, Mashuk, etc..

– waters of high mineralization (\u003e 15-35 g/l): “Batalinskaya”, “Novoizhevskaya”, etc..

– brines (\u003e 35-150 g/l); strong brines (\u003e 150-350 g/l); very strong brines (\u003e 350 g/l).

Brine water can be groundwater, water of salt lakes, estuaries and artificial reservoirs..

According to the predominant chemical elements, sodium chloride, sodium-calcium and magnesium-calcium brines are distinguished.. Some of them contain a significant amount of bromine, iodine, iron, hydrogen sulfide. Usually diluted brines are used for baths and drinking cures.. Brine water is used in the Russian resorts Krasnousolsk, Ust-Kut, Ust-Kachka, Usolye, Seregovo, etc..

Schwartz and M. Zagorulko (1990) propose to use another classification of mineral waters according to mineralization:.

• slightly mineralized (\u003e 1-5 g/l);

• low-mineralized (\u003e 5-10 g/l);

• medium mineralized (\u003e 10-15 g/l).

Ionic composition of water.

About 50 different chemical elements have been found in mineral waters, but 6 ions are the most common and mainly determine the healing properties of waters..

Sodium cations play an important role in water-salt metabolism and maintaining osmotic pressure in tissues, contribute to water retention in the body, accelerate glucose absorption, increase the production of intestinal enzymes, and in combination with sulfate and chlorine anions, they have a choleretic and laxative effect..

Calcium cations act as sodium antagonists. They reduce the permeability of cell membranes, reduce bleeding and the severity of exudative reactions, have anti-inflammatory, desensitizing, dehydrating and antispastic effects, weaken intestinal motility, increase myocardial contractility, reduce the increased excitability of the nervous system, affect the growth of bone tissue and the condition of the teeth..

Magnesium cations, like calcium cations, reduce the permeability of cell membranes and, therefore, have an anti-inflammatory effect.. They have a sedative, choleretic and laxative effect (especially in combination with sulfate anions).

Bicarbonate anions give water an alkaline character and most often combine with sodium cations to form sodium bicarbonate.. Bicarbonate-sodium waters increase the alkaline reserve of the blood, have an antacid effect (by reducing the concentration of H + ions), reduce pyloric spasm and accelerate the evacuation of gastric contents, which helps to reduce pain and dyspepsia.

Alkaline waters thin and help remove excess mucus, which is formed during inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, urinary and respiratory tract. In addition, they improve nucleic metabolism, reduce the formation of uric acid and help to remove excess from the body, alkalize bile and increase the excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol and mucus with it..

In diabetes mellitus, these waters reduce hyperglycemia and increase carbohydrate tolerance.. And, finally, in combination with bicarbonate, macro- and microelements, in particular iron, are better absorbed from the intestines..

Sulfate anions are most often combined in water with sodium cations (" Sulphate waters inhibit gastric secretion, increase peristalsis and reduce the absorption of nutrients in the intestines, especially with medium and high mineralization of water, activate the processes of bile formation and bile secretion, thereby preventing the formation of stones, increase the activity of metabolic processes in the body.

Chlorine anions are often combined in mineral waters with sodium cations (sodium chloride or " They enhance the formation of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which in turn stimulates the activity of the pancreas and the secretion of intestinal enzymes, has a laxative and choleretic effect, increases the activity of metabolic processes, especially those associated with tissue growth and regeneration.. In combination with sodium cations, chloride anions contribute to water retention in the body..

active water ions.

The most common trace elements contained in mineral waters are iron, iodine, bromine, arsenic and silicon.. In order to classify water as specific for the presence of one or more trace elements in it, the following criteria are used:.

Ferrous waters must contain at least 20 mg / l of iron: " Useful for iron deficiency anemia. There are 2 main types of ferrous mineral waters - bicarbonate, which contain only ferrous ions (Fe ++) with a concentration of not more than 90 mg / l, and sulfate (“vitriol”), which often have a very high concentration (up to several g / l) of ions.

Iodine waters must contain at least 5 mg / l of iodine: Khadyzhenskaya, Semigorskaya, Tyumenskaya, etc.. According to their chemical composition, as a rule, they are chloride-sodium or bicarbonate-chloride-sodium with a mineralization of 10-15 g / l, contain over 10 mg / l of iodine and a small amount of bromine, for example, Semigorsk springs near Anapa. Iodine water is used for atherosclerosis, thyroid diseases, obesity.

Bromine waters must contain at least 25 mg / l of bromine: Lugela, Talitskaya, Nizhne-Serginskaya, etc.. They are most often sodium chloride with a mineralization of 10 to 300 g / l, contain from 25 to 800 mg / l of bromine and a small amount of iodine (Vologda, Ust-Kachkinsky, Moscow, Krasnokamsky, Lugelsky and other sources). Bromine water is used as a sedative for neurosis.

Iodine-bromine waters, as a rule, are sodium chloride with a mineralization of 10-25 g / l, they contain 25-100 mg / l of bromine and 5-45 mg / l of iodine (Khadyzhensky, Maikopsky, Kudepstinsky, Tyumen and other sources). These waters have an analgesic effect, improve blood circulation, normalize the function of the central nervous system and metabolism..

Arsenic waters must contain at least 0.7 mg/l of arsenic. Sources of arsenic waters are located mainly in Sakhalin, Kamchatka, the Caucasus and Transcarpathia: Molokovka, Karmadon, Chvizhepse, etc.. These waters are used for diseases of the hematopoietic organs, liver, pancreas, and also to increase the body's resistance..

Siliceous waters must contain at least 50 mg / l of silicic acid: Paratunka, Kuldur, Melt, Nachiki, Annensky waters, etc.. These waters are used for uric acid diathesis, gout, diabetes mellitus and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, especially with reduced gastric secretion..

Gas composition of water.

Mineral waters most often contain carbon dioxide, oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, methane and radon..

For drinking treatment, waters containing carbon dioxide or radon are of the greatest importance..

Carbon dioxide stimulates the secretion and motility of the gastrointestinal tract when its concentration in water is more than 1 g / l.

According to the content of carbon dioxide, mineral waters are divided into 3 groups:.

- slightly carbonic (\u003e 0.5-1.4 g / l);

- medium carbonic (\u003e 1.4-2.5 g / l);

– highly carbonic (\u003e 2.5 g/l).

The solubility of gases is inversely proportional to the temperature of the water, so if necessary to degas the water, it should be heated.

organic matter.

Organic substances of mineral waters are derivatives of oil or peat and are 80-90% represented by humins and bitumens, naphthenic acids and phenols are less common.. Organic matter is usually found in surface, cold, low-mineralized waters..

They contribute to the development of microorganisms in the water that produce antibacterial, hormone-like and biologically active substances.. However, with a total content of more than 40 mg/l of organic substances in water, their toxic effect is manifested.. The mineral water "

Waters with a high content of organic substances have a pronounced diuretic, choleretic and bile secretory effect, disinfect the urinary and biliary tract, and stimulate the secretory function of the stomach..

Active reaction of the mineral water environment.

According to the reaction of the environment, the water used for drinking treatment is divided into three groups:.

- slightly acidic (pH \u003c 5.5-6.8);

– neutral (pH \u003c 6.8-7.2);

- slightly alkaline (pH \u003c 7.2-8.5).

Mineral waters with a pH of less than 5.5 and more than 8.5 are not consumed internally due to the possibility of sudden changes in the acid-base state of the body, they are suitable only for external use..

Water temperature.

The deeper the zone of water formation, the higher its temperature.

Mineral waters are divided into 4 groups according to temperature:.

- cold (up to 20 ° C);

- warm or subthermal (\u003c20-35 °С);

- hot or thermal (\u003c35-42 ° С);

- very hot (\u003c 42 °C).

For drinking treatment use cool (25-30 °C), warm (35-37 °C) and hot (40-45 °C) water.. Most of the mineral water sources in Russia are cold, so most often the water has to be heated to the desired temperature.. Cold water enhances the motility of the gastrointestinal tract, can cause spasms of smooth muscles, including sphincters.

Hot water causes hyperemia and swelling of the gastric mucosa, reduces spasms of smooth muscles, and inhibits intestinal motility..

Radioactivity of mineral waters.

Due to the content of radioactive gas radon. According to the content of radon, waters are distinguished:.

weakly radon - 185-1480 Bq / l, or 5-40 nCi / l, or 14-110 units. Mahe; medium radon - 1480-7400 Bq / l, or 40-200 nCi / l, or 110-550 units. Mahe; high radon - above 7400 Bq / l, or above 200 nCi / l, or above 550 units. Mahe;

Natural radon waters are distributed mainly in granite rocks containing uranium and radium. There are carbonic radon waters (resorts Molokovka, Urchugan, Khmilnik), radon waters with a high nitrogen content (Belokurikha), cold sodium chloride radon brines (Krasnousolsk, Ust-Kut). However, most radon waters are classified as low-mineralized (up to 2 g/l), cold (up to 20 °C). Thermal radon waters are available in the resorts of Belokurikha, Tskhaltubo and Jety-Oguz.

For drinking treatment, high-radon waters with radioactivity from 100 to 13,000 nCi/l are used.. Such waters enhance the secretion and motility of the stomach, increase the activity of redox processes in the liver, reduce the intensity of basal metabolism, inhibiting the function of the thyroid gland, reduce the permeability of cell membranes and thereby have anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects, reduce pain in diseases of the joints and peripheral nervous system..

The formula of the chemical composition of mineral water.

For the physico-chemical characteristics of mineral waters M. Kurlov proposed a balneological formula, which reflects the gas composition, general mineralization, the presence of biologically active components, ionic composition, radioactivity, temperature, pH value and flow rate of the source.

To build this formula, you need:.

- set the content of anions and cations in milligrams in 1 liter of water;

- find the equivalent mass of each ion contained in 1 liter of water, for which the number of milligrams of an ion is divided by the equivalent of a given ion (the equivalent is equal to the molecular mass of the ion divided by its valency);

- express the content of ions as a percentage of the sum of equivalent masses of ions. To do this, the sum of the equivalent masses of anions and cations separately is taken as 100% and the percentage of each anion and cation is calculated.

At the beginning of the formula, a gas or a biologically active component is indicated (for example, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, iodine, bromine, etc.. The letter M (mineralization) and the numbers associated with it indicate the amount of solids dissolved in 1 liter of water. Anions are written in the numerator of fractions, and cations are written in the denominator (as a percentage of the equivalent mass). At the end of the formula, indicate the temperature of the source, the active reaction of the medium (pH) and the flow rate, that is, the number of liters of water received from the source per day.

Depending on the number of ions contained, mineral waters are divided into simple (2-3 ions) and complex (4-5 ions or more).

Ions that are contained in water in an amount less than 20% by equivalent mass are not defined by the class of water and are enclosed in square brackets in the formula.

In recent years, the balneological formula has undergone some changes.. For example, the content of biologically active components is indicated after the fraction, and the flow rate of the source is not indicated at all, since it does not characterize the composition of water and is a variable value.

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