1 CFR Iaşi Clinical Hospital, CFR Suceava Outpatient Clinic; Department of Health and Human
Development, Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Romania
2Department of Geography, Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Romania
3Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy; Cluj-Napoca Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital,
Romania 4Meteorologist I. PhD. Regional Meteorological Centre of Moldova Iaşi, National Meteorological
Administration, Romania
Pages:
42 - 64
Publishing date:
22 December 2020
Abstract:
The beneficial effects of natural healing factors (mineral or thermal
waters, mud, topoclimate and microclimate) have been known ever since
antiquity. In our country there are proofs of the presence and effects of mineral/
thermal waters ever since the Dacian period. They used mineral waters for
therapeutic purposes or for their healing effects. The first doctor in Dacia Felix
was Marcus Valerius Longinus. The use of mineral and thermal waters continued
during the Roman period, but also after the departure of the Roman legions from
Dacia. In the Middle Ages the use of natural healing factors was in profound
decline, but the interest in balneology on our territory was reborn since the 18th
century. The beginning of the scientific stage of balneology was marked by
studies of mineral waters and coincides with the middle of the 19th century. Most
scientific studies appreciated internationally were conducted in the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. Thus, the Society of Medical Hydrology and Climatology was
established in 1922. Its activities were carried out from 1922 to 1943, then from
1943 to 1946 it was called the Romanian Balneoclimaterical Society having
Professor Sturza as the President. Under the patronage of this society was also
printed the magazine of the society called 'Balneoclimaterical Magazine'. In 1924,
Professor Teohari organised the Balneology Institute in Bucureşti. He was the
founder of the Romanian modern balneology by introducing experimental
research whose results were published in the Bulletin of the Balneology Institute.
In 1949, the Institute of Balneology became the Institute of Balneology and
Physiotherapy. Unfortunately, at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of
the 21st century, balneology started to be slightly in decline. However, in recent
years there was revival of interest in balneology, materialized through a large
number of published studies, restoring spas and inserting them into the spa
circuit, increasing spa flows. As we know our balneary past, it is our duty to
continue tradition and to use correctly the spa resources that are so numerous
and so valuable in our country.