- Title: Iraqis soak in mud from sulphur spring to treat skin conditions
- Date: 29th August 2019
- Summary: MOSUL, IRAQ (AUGUST 20, 2019) (REUTERS) MEN AND BOYS GATHERING IN SULPHUR SPRING ALONG TIGRIS RIVER VARIOUS OF BATHERS POURING WATER ON THEIR BODY VARIOUS OF MAN COVERING HIS BODY WITH MUD FROM SPRING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN BATHING IN SULPHUR SPRING, SAAD-ALLAH KAMIL, SAYING: "I get blisters on my body and medication does not work on it, I went to doctors and I tried treatment two or three times and they were still there. But using the Sulphur and this water and mud two or three times, make the blisters completely disappear." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN BATHING MAN COVERING CHILD WITH MUD WATER BEING POURED ON MAN SUFFERING FROM SKIN DISEASE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN BATHING IN SULPHUR SPRING, HAYTHEM ABDUL-KARIM, SAYING: "I hope this becomes a tourist spot and that many people come and visit it. It is a shame that this area is abandoned like this, if it were in another country, it would have had a park and it would have been nicer than what we have here." VARIOUS OF MAN POURING WATER ON MAN COVERED WITH DRY MUD VARIOUS OF BATHERS COVERING THEIR BODIES WITH MUD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN BATHING IN SULPHUR SPRING, AHMED AKRAM, SAYING: "There are people from outside Mosul who come here, people coming from the south (of the country) and the north. They cover their bodies with this mud and then they bathe. We remain covered with mud under the sun until it is dried and then we swim in the Sulphur spring." VARIOUS OF MAN AND CHILD COVERING FEET WITH MUD DOCTOR CHECKING ON MAN SUFFERING FROM SKIN DISEASE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DERMATOLOGIST, FARIS AL-SHAHWANI, SAYING: "Simply applying mineral water soothes the skin and clears itchiness on the skin because the mineral water in Hammam al-Alil (hot springs spa) and the Sulphur spring in Mosul near Bashtabiya castle contains Sulphur. Sulphur is used until today in treating skin diseases, specifically to treat itchiness." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING IN SPRING BASHTABIYA CASTLE BASHTABIYA CASTLE ON BANKS OF TIGRIS RIVER
- Embargoed: 12th September 2019 13:45
- Keywords: sulphur spring sulphur for skin treatment sulphur fountain in Mosul sulphur treatment for skin disease
- Location: MOSUL, IRAQ
- City: MOSUL, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001AU9UEZ9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Iraqis are soaking in mud from a natural Sulphur spring in the city of Mosul seeking the water's benefits to treat skin ailments.
Many of the bathers who visit the site believe the mineral-rich mud can treat skin conditions causing itchiness and also treat fungal infections.
Mosul resident, Saad-Allah Kamil, said he frequents the spring to treat a skin disease which causes blisters to spread across his body.
Visits to doctors and several rounds of medication had not worked, he added.
People coming from within Mosul and across Iraq bathe in the spring situated along the Tigris River and cover themselves in the mud until it is dry.
Although the natural Sulphur spring is more than 1,000 years old, it is far less known than the much larger Hammam al-Alil springs, famous for their healing hot waters.
The Sulphur spring is different from Hammam al-Alil in that the former has cool water and is specifically known to treat skin diseases, while Hammam al-Alil attracts rheumatism patients as well.
Dermatologist Faris al-Shahwani said mineral waters from the springs can soothe the skin because it contains Sulphur, which often used in modern medicine.
And for those not seeking treatment for a skin condition, the spring still offers a relaxing recreational activity where they can cool off and take a dip in the water with an ancient castle as the backdrop.
Bather Haythem Abdul-Karim believes the spring has a lot of potential to become a tourist spot and hopes it will be developed soon to attract more visitors.
(Kawa Omar, Maher Nazeh, Mohammed Katfan) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
