Written by: Menna Ali El-Nakib
The Great Pyramids of Egypt in Giza.
Egypt has always been the land of peace. It is famous for its historical monuments and unique culture. Tourists used to visit famous cities only for their well-known monuments. But nowadays, with the awareness of therapeutic tourism, Egypt started to occupy a distinguished location on the chart of therapeutic tourism and has become a popular destination for those who want to get treatment all over the world.
The tourists come to enjoy the healthy climate and medical treatment under the sponsorships of medical specialists in all branches and modern hospitals, which include advanced equipment ran by specialists in exercises and physiotherapy in addition to a tour package to visit Egypt’s unique landmarks.
Mosques in Old Cairo.
Not only that, but according to Dr. Mervat Hussein, a PhD researcher on medical and therapeutic tourism, Egypt has been one of the first countries to have natural places suitable for therapeutic tourism which helps in relaxation and healing physically and mentally as Egypt has 16 islands and coastal locations where natural treatments of many diseases are available such as Helwan, Siwa, Luxor, Aswan, Matrouh, Safaga, Hurghada, Sinai and more cities all over Egypt, she mentioned.
Egypt has sulfurous and mineral springs, which have unique chemical compound that exceeds the rate of all sulfurous and mineral springs in the world in terms of depth, capacity and temperature between 30-73 Celsius degree. Also, there is clay in these sulfurous springs to cure many bone diseases, digestive and respiratory systems diseases in addition to the skin diseases by burring the patient in the hot sands.
There are more into those cities, let us introduce you the places where you can find special kinds of therapy…
Salt Caves:
Salt caves are a new method of therapy for mental relaxation and getting rid of negative energy. According to the Egyptian Tourism Campaigns on Facebook, the cave is a building which consists of intertwining rooms. Its walls and ceiling are completely covered in salt that was brought from the Siwa Oasis which is famous for having the finest types of salt in the world, and as for the floors they’re made from salt cubes that were brought from the Dead Sea.
Inside a Salt Cave.
The cave has a light and sound system that was set specifically by psychologists to fit the type of treatment that is being received. It differs from a type to another as each of the colours of light in the ceiling has something to do with a specific body organ and according to the type of treatment you are receiving convenient music and lights are set. Whoever gets in, they have to leave their mobiles, negative thoughts and problems at the door before they get in the cave and start a journey of relaxation and quietness.
Salt caves are very beneficial as they help with the treatment of Rheumatism, Body moisture, Negative energy, mental and nervous pressure, and chest allergy. There is also a follow up checking with specialized doctors and therapists.
The cave has many visitors from all around the world because this type of treatment is famous globally because of salt’s ability to eliminate negative energy. Salt caves could be found in Cairo, Taba, Charm El-Sheikh, Alexandria and Siwa.
Countryside Houses in Luxor and Aswan:
Not only is Luxor known for having one third of historical monuments all over the world. But, there are rural places with countryside houses that care for the environment, and use natural therapies as there is a small port without any attractions of its own where it boasts mineral springs and special sands that have given it an international reputation as a centre of therapeutic tourism.
Countryside House in Luxor.
The therapies served in those places in Luxor help in medicating the heart, and asthma. “Focusing on the usage of Sun for a certain time of the day.” – Dr. Mervat said.
There is also a reserve called “Al-Dababeya” in Southern Luxor which is considered the oldest place as it is 55 million years according to geologists. The west bank area where it has an integral medical environmental centre typical to the one in Siwa.
Al-Dababeya Reserve.
Moving on to Aswan, it is known for the best pure atmosphere and environment there that centre such as cardiac and centres taking care of respiratory system diseases all chose Aswan as a place for therapy.
Aswan.
The most well-known therapies for relaxation in Aswan are:
Natural Therapy in Aswan:
Ever since Pharaonic time, Aswan was known for its environmental and climatic therapy. As scenes on walls of the Komombo temple reveal. The calm and beautiful landscape and pollution free environment also contribute to speedy recovery. Aswan's, clear sunshine all the year round together with extremely dry weather provide an ideal atmosphere for curing rheumatism and bronchial asthma.
1. Aroma Therapy:
Massages feel good, but it can have a host of therapeutic advantages too. Nubian people learn from long life that message has secret benefits which are; destress, blood pressure benefits, and others…
2. Sand burring Therapy:
There is nothing like a sand bath to melt away rheumatism pains or even just stress. It is a natural and low impact way to reap the benefits of Nature.
Someone trying the sand-bathing.
Cleopatra Bath in Matrouh:
Marsa Matrouh city is one of the most famous Mediterranean cities in Egypt as it is known that it is a major tourist resort where visitors can find the soft white sand beaches with the calm transparent waters. It also holds a historical memory where visitors can found the famous Cleopatra bath.
Cleopatra beach in Matrouh.
The Cleopatra Bath was named after one of history’s most famous empresses, Cleopatra as she had a palace there that overlooked her basin known today as the Cleopatra beach. A myth mentioned that Cleopatra used to have a bath in a mixture of donkey milk and honey on daily basis in order to preserve her beauty and youth, using this as a therapy and was called after her famous beach in Matrouh.
Scientists have found the benefits of those ingredients as honey is rich with amino acids, minerals and trace elements which are beneficial in treating burns and wounds. It also reduces inflammation and kills bacteria. Milk or specially the donkey milk that has pH which is identical to the pH value of skin and it is able to protect its acidic layer as it prevents vaginitis as well. Those are beneficial as it protects the skin from the appearance of wrinkles and refreshes the face and body as well.
Cleopatra Bath.
As seen from the cities mentioned above, Egypt has a rich land and there could be a bright future for medical and therapeutic tourism in Egypt if it focused more on marketing those places and worked hard on protecting those places for future generations with the help of the Ministry. However, recently the Ministry of Tourism started to focus with medical tourism, how beneficial it is and started to make campaigns to help raising awareness.
“The website has many campaigns to support this kind of tourism by Dr. Khaled Al-Anany and Dr. Adl Ragab. And, of course this will help in the flourishment of our economy as this will help in getting income from the places visited and from the hotels etc… Egyptians know about the places but they don’t know the benefits of the cities they visit have, as for example, Safaga; it is not a place for tourism and more of therapeutic area.” Dr. Mervat Hussein commented.
