- Title: EGYPT-SAND TREATMENT Egyptian sand treatment helps patients with joint pains
- Date: 13th September 2015
- Summary: SIWA, EGYPT (SEPTEMBER 7, 2015) (REUTERS) SIWA OASIS VIEW OF THE ALEXANDER THE GREAT TOMB PATIENTS ARRIVING TO HEALING SPOT VARIOUS OF HOLES IN THE SAND/TENTS PEOPLE DIGGING HOLES PATIENTS BURIED IN SAND PATIENTS IN SAND WITH BLANKET COVERING HEAD PATIENTS BEING BURIED IN SAND PATIENTS BEING MASSAGED HEALERS STEPPING ON PATIENTS IN SAND PATIENT IN SAND VARIOUS OF HEALER APPLYING PRESSURE ON SAND PATIENT IN SAND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAIN HEALER, HELAL IBRAHIM, SAYING: "The first stage is digging the hole. We bury them in sand. The body is engulfed in sand. The back, the groin and armpits, the whole body is in the sand, there are no gaps. The sand then starts to open the body pores. The pressure is increased as if a vacuum is sucking out the sweat which has salts, toxins and fat in it." VARIOUS OF VIEW FROM INSIDE OLD HOUSE PATIENT IN BLANKET BEING HELPED AS HE WALKS VARIOUS OF PATIENTS WALKING INSIDE TENT PATIENT INSIDE TENT SAND BATH OWNER, ABDELRAHMAN AL SHARAEK, CLOSING TENT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PATIENT, ALSAYED HASSAN, SAYING: "I reached a state of despair and I got medicine from the United States. It acted as a painkiller for one day. A doctor recommended this place and I immediately came. After 20 days from starting here there was a great improvement. After the 20 days I felt like I was 20 years old again." HEALERS BURYING PATIENTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PATIENT, NAGY AL SHAMY, SAYING: "I was not able to move my legs. I had cramps. Thank God there is a great improvement. Thank God the situation is much better now. It's made a difference." VARIOUS OF PATIENTS IN BLANKETS LEAVING VARIOUS OF PATIENT IN HOUSE DRINKING SOUP AND LEMONADE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAND BATH OWNER, ABDELRAHMAN AL SHARAEK, SAYING: "This started 150 years ago. There was a foreign doctor with two patients who suffered from rheumatism. My grandfather lived here. He took my grandfather as a worker where he taught him how to perform this. For two to three years the doctor used to bring people and he [my grandfather] used to work with him. Afterwards, the doctor used to send people to him and my grandfather worked alone." PEOPLE DIGGING SAND AND TENTS
- Embargoed: 28th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAE30RR8BXYRZGKK2ENAC1GEQ0I
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A cure for patients suffering from rheumatoid pain could be buried deep in the sands of the Siwa oasis, according to residents of the city which lies 900 km. away from Cairo.
People from around Egypt suffering from rheumatic diseases have been visiting the ancient oasis to receive treatment, a service which has now become a source of income for some Siwa residents.
The scorching hot sand of Siwa acts as the incubator for the patients during June, July and August - the hottest months of the year. They are buried neck deep in the sand for 15 minutes every day for three days.
The patients then move from the sand to a tent that is set up from early morning. The tent is shut off completely to act like a natural sauna where patients are served an ancient hot drink known as "Helba".
During the 3-7 day rehabilitative period, the patients are constantly wrapped in blankets and ordered to stay away from cold winds while eating and drinking hot foods and drinks.
Healers allege that the special dry climate of Siwa with specific minerals in the sand and water aid the healing process.
The oldest and most experienced healer, Helal Ibrahim, said that the hot sand and 40 degrees hot climate act like a vacuum sucking out toxins from the body.
"The first stage is digging the hole. We bury them in sand. The body is engulfed in sand. The back, the groin and armpits, the whole body is in the sand, there are no gaps. The sand then starts to open the body pores. The pressure is increased as if a vacuum is sucking out the sweat which has salts, toxins and fat in it," he said.
One patient suffering from rheumatism, Al Sayed Hassan, said that he was despairing after traditional treatments weren't working.
"I reached a state of despair and I got medicine from the United States. It acted as a painkiller for one day. A doctor recommended this place and I immediately came. After 20 days from starting here there was a great improvement. After the 20 days I felt like I was 20 years old again," he said.
Another patient, Nagy Al Shamy, also said that the treatment helped him.
"I was not able to move my legs. I had cramps. Thank God there is a great improvement. Thank God the situation is much better now. It's made a difference," he said.
The treatment is not exclusive to those suffering joint problems - people with liver disease and sexual issues also seek the sand bath method.
The owner of the main sand bath centre in Siwa, Abdelrahman Al-Sharaek, said the treatment was passed down through his family.
"This started 150 years ago. There was a foreign doctor with two patients who suffered from rheumatism. My grandfather lived here. He took my grandfather as a worker where he taught him how to perform this. For two to three years the doctor used to bring people and he [my grandfather] used to work with him. Afterwards the doctor used to send people to him and my grandfather worked alone," he said.
Sharaek typically charges 250EGP (32 US dollars) per day including accommodation for a three day treatment period.
He says business was better before the 2011 uprising that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak, when many tourists used to come from Europe seeking the treatment.
Although patients allege that their health improved after the treatment, the practice has yet to be validated by doctors. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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