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Healing Sulfurous Thermal Waters in Health Resort Medicine: Therapies, Indications, and Contraindications

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Minerals latu sensu and Human Health

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Abstract

This chapter will mainly focus on the general assets and applications of sulfur- or H2S-bearing thermal mineral waters on a world scale. It deals with basic information on hydrogen sulfide properties, on biological effects, and on the therapies traditionally used in medical hydrology as treatment for skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal disorders. The authors provide information on additional therapeutic benefits of sulfurous waters in diseases such as myalgia (muscle pain), rheumatic diseases (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia), respiratory diseases (upper and lower respiratory tracts), dermatological/skin diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and other diseases (cancer, wound healing in diabetic patients). Possible side effects or situations of diseases for which sulfurous thermal waters are contraindicated are reported too.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Francisco M. L. Amado

  2. Department of Geosciences, Researcher of the Research Unit “GeoBioTec”, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Eduardo A. F. Silva

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  1. Department of Geosciences, Researcher of the Research Unit “GeoBioTec”, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Celso Gomes

  2. Docteur d’État ès Sciences Physiques, Retired of University of Orléans, Orléans, France

    Michel Rautureau

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Amado, F.M.L., Silva, E.A.F. (2021). Healing Sulfurous Thermal Waters in Health Resort Medicine: Therapies, Indications, and Contraindications. In: Gomes, C., Rautureau, M. (eds) Minerals latu sensu and Human Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65706-2_15

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