Halotherapy: From Ethnoscience to Scientific Explanations

Abstract

This article presents the use of salt water springs in the Moldavian Oriental sub-Carpathians for treating certain diseases, based on archaeological discoveries and ethnographical surveys, correlated with known facts from the literature in the field. Nevertheless, what differentiates it from other similar area in Europe is the intense, unexpected continuity of traditional, nonindustrial water supplying coming from salt springs. Among the uses of salt water and halite in the area, they are mentioned numerous traditional halotherapeutic practices. The Greek, Latin and current halotherapeutic practices in the East of Romania are evidence of an authentic ethnoscience acquired by human communities with salt outcrops and salt springs. The analysis of these practices demonstrates their scientific validity from the current biochemical and biophysical perspective (NaCl aerosols and of NaCl nanodispersion). Parts of these practices are taken over by a series of recent halotherapeutic proceedings, with reliable scientific and technological bases.

The Role of Saline Aerosols in the Prevention and Therapy of Cardio-respiratory and Osteo-muscular Afflictions

“…The Subcarpathian area of Moldavia houses over 200 salt springs, with a notable role in the development of the human habitat [1][2][3]. The importance of the salt and of the salt springs was first underlined in the 1950s by the geographer Ion 'andru and chemist Petru Poni from the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, who emphasised the importance of the salt springs from a number of areas of eastern Romania (viz.…”

“…The importance of the salt and of the salt springs was first underlined in the 1950s by the geographer Ion 'andru and chemist Petru Poni from the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, who emphasised the importance of the salt springs from a number of areas of eastern Romania (viz. the Neam, Cacica and, respectively, Targu Ocna -Slanic Moldova depressions) starting with the Eneolithic Precucuteni and Cucuteni cultures [1][2][3]. More than 40 years ago, the Iasi archaeologist Nicolae Ursulescu published the first specialised study in Romania on the archaeological remains discovered in the proximity of salt springs, dating from the Neolithic (the Stareevo-Cris culture) to the Middle Ages [1,4].…”

“…More than 40 years ago, the Iasi archaeologist Nicolae Ursulescu published the first specialised study in Romania on the archaeological remains discovered in the proximity of salt springs, dating from the Neolithic (the Stareevo-Cris culture) to the Middle Ages [1,4]. Following the discovery of a Chalcolithic tell at Poduri, then at Cucuieti and Tolici (the first in Bacau County, the second in Neam County), near salt springs, three groups of archaeologists started a series of researches on the possible relationship between these springs and the habitation in these tells [1,5]. The problematics of salt spring exploitation was later tackled by a series of international research projects [1,[6][7][8][9][10].…”

“…Following the discovery of a Chalcolithic tell at Poduri, then at Cucuieti and Tolici (the first in Bacau County, the second in Neam County), near salt springs, three groups of archaeologists started a series of researches on the possible relationship between these springs and the habitation in these tells [1,5]. The problematics of salt spring exploitation was later tackled by a series of international research projects [1,[6][7][8][9][10].…”

“…The modern dating methods have allowed the confirmation of the archaeologists' suppositions, and currently the oldest exploitation of salt from salt springs in Europe, perhaps in the world, dating from 6050-5500 B.C. (the Starcevo-Cris culture), is considered to be found at Lunca-Poiana Slatinei, Neamt County, Romania [1,11]. The salt springs were also used by the later Chalcolithic communities [1,12].…”