Those who seek alternative therapy in Siwa have nothing to fear, according to Siwan residents, who have countermeasures against such threats.
Siwa is striving to reach a virus free state during the Corona epidemic, with many measures put in place to guarantee the safety of both Egyptians and foreigners while they are encouraged to continue their medical tourism as normal.
“The city of Siwa is being constantly purified and the services we provide are continuing as normal, many people are already taking part in this seasons medical therapy.” Fathy Abdallah, resident of Siwa and owner of an alternative therapy centre.
The therapy centre owners are facing a problem with a noticeably lesser number of foreigners visiting Siwa. The centres are used to having some who arrive with contractions that need treating, or weak bones that become weaker with age. Sometimes they get cases who need medical operations to treat their problems, but they offer them a way to treat these problems without having to perform an operation.
Siwa’s alternative therapy services are different depending on which time you decide to visit during the year, For the summer it’s the hot sand baths that offer a solution to rheumatoid related diseases like arthritis and rheumatism, During the winter it’s offering services to detoxify the body using a therapy including a mixture of salt and fresh water with varying temperatures.
How Alternative Therapy can help in preventing the Corona Virus.
While both services provide a multitude of benefits, currently with the worldwide panic due to the Covid-19 virus spread, one particular benefit to Siwas alternative therapy is a boost to the immune system through detoxification. Through the therapies provided, the body is forced to undergo a series of sudden changes that force it to sweat out its impurities, reaching a rare state of healthiness.
By detoxifying their body, the visitor can enjoy a feeling of freshness. More importantly, by getting rid of the toxins in the body, they are effectively revitalizing their immunity system, giving them a greater fighting chance to counter the virus.
Efforts from Siwa to Curb the Covid-19 Virus.
Currently foreign tourism in Siwa is in decline, with tourists who were already in Siwa since before the quarantine being monitored hourly. However, Egyptian tourism remains stable in Siwa, due to the measures put in place to protect those who are conducting medical therapy.
One of these measures is to check any individual visiting Siwa, 7 km before arrival in case they have the virus. Another of these measures is that the city is being sterilized constantly, to further ensure the safety of tourists and residents.
How the future looks for Siwa’s Alternative Therapy.
Fathy Abdallah, guarantees that the Corona epidemic still has not reached Siwa, but the general panic and self-imposed quarantines may affect the big therapy season on the 15th of June, where usually there’s a boom in tourists who come seeking therapeutic attention.
The big boom in tourism doesn’t just affect Siwa and its alternative therapies, most of medical therapy related tourism in Egypt occurs during that time, as it is the optimal time to get the best results out of the Egyptian sun.
Siwan Sand Baths process and results.
The sand baths, which Siwa is most famous for, also start their activity in June. The hot summer weather contributes to the heat of the sand, an imperative factor in the therapy process.
The sand baths process includes the visitor being buried in the sand, while fully dressed in winter clothes. Though outside the temperature may be incredibly hot, while buried the body will feel a cold sensation. The contrast between the hot and cold sensations helps the body sweat out its impurities.The subsequent activities conducted by the visitor calms it down and helps it reach a state of relaxation.
The viability of Siwan Alternative therapy.
The Siwa alternative therapy centres and places are mostly inherited, so they are a family business. Most practitioners aren’t licenced doctors and are taking on the mantle of alternative therapists out of interest in the profession.
There isn’t a financial incentive to owning these therapies, according to Mr. Fathy Abdallah
“Not everyone who offers medical tourism services is waiting for a financial return. Not everyone owns medical tourism centres as a business. We usually work with sand, which isn’t easy or ethical to monetise. Back in Cairo, I know that others work in medical tourism as a strong business, but over here, the possibilities to create a business of it are very low.”
